Priscilla Kalugdan, Author at Get on Board!

National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15, 2023

Each year from September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and the cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central, and South America. First established in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson, it later expanded to a 30-day national celebration as observed today by President Ronald Reagan.

Many Hispanic/Latino families immigrated to the US for a better life and more opportunities. In fact, U.S. railroads employed a large population of them (mostly of Mexican descent), between the mid-19th–and–early-20th centuries. Known as traqueros, these railroad workers relocated to the Midwest and western parts of the country, and many lived in boxcars only a few feet away from railroad tracks.

Mexican box car rail workers standing on unbuilt tracks — Unidentified group of Mexican railroad workers, courtesy of New Mexico History Museum

As the most convenient and affordable way to work along tracks, boxcars became a permanent home to many workers and families, although living and working conditions were suboptimal. By 1925, about 1.8 million workers were employed by U.S. railroads.

To learn more, check out the Boxcar People documentary, which highlights the personal stories and struggles of Mexican railroad workers and families.

How you can celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

There are many ways to celebrate Hispanic heritage all year-long. From museums, dining, and shopping in San Francisco’s Mission District, Oakland’s Fruitvale District, and in many San Jose neighborhoods, there’s no shortage of places to visit along Capitol Corridor’s route!

Events

Take the train to an event! Events below are near stations along Capitol Corridor’s route. With our seamless connections to BART, buses, and light rail, getting to your destination is easy.

September 15 – October 15, 2023: (San Jose) There are various Hispanic Heritage Events at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, MACLA, and Peralta Adobe.

Friday, September 22, 2023: (Oakland) Friday Nights at OMCA is the place to be for celebratory and meaningful things to see and be part of, with plenty of signature features including Off the Grid food trucks as well as music, dancing, late-night access to OMCA’s award-winning galleries with a Museum ticket, and more. Many of their September programs celebrate Latinx Heritage Month. Check out the first one!

Saturday, September 30 – October 1, 2023: (Oakland) Join Children’s Fairyland for the Latinx Heritage Celebration in the park for a vibrant, uplifting, and inspired weekend of family fun honoring the heritages and cultures within the Latinx community.

Friday, October 13, 2023: (Sacramento) Celebrate the new exhibit Arte Activista: Dia de los Muertos 2023 at the California Museum’s annual Día de los Muertos Fiesta!
Register HERE

Sunday, October 29, 2023: (Sacramento) Immerse yourself in the rich sounds and melodies of Mariachi music as talented musicians take the stage at the iconic Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.
Register HERE

Placer County to receive $25 million to help expand Capitol Corridor Service

June 29, 2023

Additional track will help increase passenger rail frequency and reliability

OAKLAND, CALIF., June 29, 2023— Yesterday, the California Transportation Commission approved $25 million in funds from Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP) for Placer County Transportation Planning Authority (PCTPA) and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), to support Phase 1 of the Sacramento to Roseville 3rd Main Track Project (SR3T).

Phase 1 of the SR3T involves construction work and track improvements that will allow the Capitol Corridor to operate up to three round trips (6 trains) daily between Sacramento and Roseville, increasing service from the current single daily round trip. Once fully completed, the SR3T Phase 1 project will construct approximately 7 miles of third main track and a new layover/servicing facility for Capitol Corridor trains in Roseville.

Following the announcement, CCJPA Board Vice Chair and PCTPA Board Director Bruce Houdesheldt said, “We are grateful to the CTC for this award, which will help build greater connection for Placer County communities to Sacramento and beyond. The two additional Capitol Corridor roundtrips enabled by completion of Phase 1 will triple the current frequency of Capitol Corridor service in the area between Roseville and Sacramento. Expanding transportation options within Placer County is critical for the area, and when this project is fully completed, the improvements will allow for greater frequency and reliability for both freight and passenger operations through the region.”

“Capitol Corridor riders have long awaited additional service in the Placer County area, and we are pleased to get one step closer to realizing the goal of bringing more trains to the region” said Capitol Corridor Managing Director Robert Padgette. “Additional track will help us to run our service more reliably, as it will allow both freight and passenger trains to run through the area.”

The award of SCCP funding represents the last of the state funding share for Phase 1 of the SR3T. The SCCP funding also includes specific improvements for a key phase of the Sacramento Valley Station improvement project. To become fully funded for Phase 1 of this project, CCJPA awaits approximately $43M in Federal funding from one of two nearly identical grant applications made to the Federal Railway Administration (FRA). CCJPA is nearing the 90% design completion and is working to secure additional right-of-way in preparation of entering the construction phase of the project in late 2024.

“With the rapid population growth in South Placer County, these funds are a critical piece that will help bring the much-needed transportation options provided by the Capitol Corridor third main track to Roseville and Placer County. I am thankful to the CTC for this $25,000,000 award,” said CCJPA Board Director Jim Holmes.

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Contacts:

Priscilla Kalugdan, CCJPA Communications Officer, (510) 464-6992
Matt Click, PCTPA Executive Director, (530) 823-4030

About CCJPA and the Capitol Corridor®
Managed by the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), the Capitol Corridor is an intercity rail service connecting the most economically vibrant urban centers in Northern California – from Sacramento to Silicon Valley, and including San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. With free Wi-i Fi on board, Capitol Corridor trains provide a convenient, reliable, and comfortable alternative to the congested I-80, I-680, and I-880 freeways for more than 700,000 passengers a year. For more information, visit www.capitolcorridor.org

About PCTPA

Placer County Transportation Planning Agency (PCTPA) is the forum for making decisions about the regional transportation system in Placer County. The decisions made are reflected in PCTPA’s planning and programming of the area’s state and federal transportation funds. In developing and adopting plans and strategies, we not only make the best use of these funds, but also fulfill the requirements of our state designation as the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for Placer County. For more information, visit pctpa.net

Placer County to receive $25 million to help expand Capitol Corridor Service

Additional track will help increase passenger rail frequency and reliability

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Contacts:

Priscilla Kalugdan, CCJPA Communications Officer, (510) 464-6992
Matt Click, PCTPA Executive Director, (530) 823-4030

About PCTPA

Capitol Corridor Awarded $42 million from California State Transportation Agency

April 25, 2023

Funds will support projects to create and improve access to intercity rail, connecting transit, and local communities

OAKLAND, CALIF., April 25, 2023— California STA yesterday announced the state awarded $42 million dollars to the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) and its partners to help enhance access and connections to the system. The $42 million comes from the state’s Transit Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) – the CCJPA’s funded projects amount to two of 28 projects that received funds.

This TIRCP funding award allows CCJPA and its partners to unlock megaregional travel potential. These projects are all part of the Capitol Corridor Emerging Market Access Program (EMAP)—projects that invest in the growing communities along the route, to improve access to and modernize the service. “Passenger rail cannot be stagnant—we need to continually improve and update service throughout the region to support climate change goals and to promote better transportation choices,” said CCJPA Chair Robert Raburn.

California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin made the announcement on behalf of Governor Gavin Newsom at a news conference in Santa Cruz on Monday.

CA Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin and CCJPA Deputy Director Leo Sanchez on board a Capitol Corridor train. Photo credit: Annmarie Wong, CCJPA

“As the Capitol Corridor services continue to rebound and evolve to meet the traveling public’s needs, it’s our goal to keep the Capitol Corridor accessible, modern, and connected to Northern California communities,” added CCJPA Managing Director Rob Padgette.

CCJPA and its partners’ funded projects include fully funding the Sacramento Valley Station (SVS) Transit Center multimodal access improvements, expansion of contactless EMV readers to support payments on connecting buses, design of multimodal transit facility Hercules Hub, and Sacramento-Roseville Third Track, netting an award of $30.9 million. Together, these projects aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 161,000 metric tons of CO2 (MTCO2e).

Included in the TIRCP award is $11.3 million in funding for the Link21 Megaregional Rail Program–a plan to transform Northern California’s rail network into a faster, more connected system. The funding will be used for the Design and Environment Advancement Phases 1 and 2 of the Link21 program.

TIRCP funds are used to integrate transit services and ensure they reduce climate impacts. They are instrumental as discretionary grants to leverage state funds to obtain federal infrastructure funding.

Capitol Corridor scores big win in the race to combat climate change

April 22, 2023

A more sustainable fuel made from renewable raw materials will soon run rail fleets in California

Oakland, CA, April 22, 2023 – Capitol Corridor and San Joaquins intercity passenger rail services will achieve their goal to run their entire fleets on renewable diesel by end of May 2023. The transition will begin on May 8^,at the Oakland Maintenance Facility when the renewable diesel tank is slated for delivery.

“The successful testing of renewable diesel to run locomotives was spearheaded by Capitol Corridor and as a result, intercity passenger rail services throughout California will soon run on cleaner fuel,” Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) Chair Robert Raburn said. CCJPA is the entity that manages Northern California’s intercity passenger rail service. “The project was a collaborative effort of statewide partners committed to advance California’s goal of zero emissions,” Raburn added.

What is Renewable Diesel (RD)?

RD is chemically similar to fossil diesel but made from renewable raw materials such as used cooking oil, not crude oil. Because RD is produced by utilizing the already existing carbon stored in the renewable raw materials in nature, when the fuel is combusted, the carbon dioxide it emits is not considered as adding new carbon to the atmosphere. The use of fossil diesel, on the contrary, releases new carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. Other emissions, such as fine particulates and nitrogen oxides may also be reduced through the use of renewable diesel, which improves local air quality.

State and federal partners collaborate to find new fuel source for California passenger rail

“CCJPA initiated the exploration of alternative fuel options in collaboration with the California Air Resources Board (CARB),” Robert Padgette, CCJPA Managing Director said. “The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) stepped up to fund the testing and worked with the passenger rail equipment manufacturers to ensure the efficacy of the new fuel source. CalSTA also worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to obtain official certification” Robert Padgette, CCJPA Managing Director added.

Transitioning from polluting fuels to a more sustainable option is aimed to reduce a fleet’s environmental impact, but it is an effort that takes technical expertise, funding as well as regional and federal oversight. To protect public health, the EPA has stringent standards to reduce fine particles and other harmful emissions from locomotive engines as well as the fuel trains use.

California Intercity Passenger Rail services team up for cleaner air

Soon passenger rail travelers throughout California will know their trips are helping to combat climate change and air pollution as other rail services will soon fuel their entire fleets with RD.

“Switching to renewable diesel has been a strategic initiative for the San Joaquins,” Brian Schmidt, Director of Equipment Services at the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) said. “SJJPA would like to thank CCJPA for its leadership in converting our shared fleet to renewable diesel. Our collective commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions has taken a large step forward.”

”As we implement on our Climate Commitment, we welcome new ways to support Amtrak trains in California – including the 170-mile long Capitol Corridor route,” said Jeanne Cantu. Amtrak Vice President, California. “We are thrilled that the pilot’s success allows us to operate on renewable diesel resulting in fewer lifecycle emissions throughout California.”

Testing partnership showcases the potential for rail industry to swap to renewable diesel

CCJPA, worked with Amtrak, fuel distributor RD contractor Western States Oil, and RD producer Neste, world’s leading producer of RD, to successfully complete testing of Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ in August 2022. RD certification followed in November 2022. Neste MY Renewable Diesel is fully compatible with all diesel engines and current diesel fuel distribution infrastructure, so Capitol Corridor did not need any extra investments or modifications to make the switch. Made from sustainably sourced, 100% renewable raw materials, Neste MY Renewable Diesel can reduce up to 75% of GHG emissions over its life cycle compared to fossil diesel.*

“We are thrilled to help Capitol Corridor complete the testing of Neste MY Renewable Diesel in their locomotive,” says Carrie Song, Vice President, Americas from Renewable Road Transportation business unit at Neste. “Renewable diesel is a solution available already today to reduce GHG emissions from all diesel engines. This testing showcases the potential of using renewable diesel to combat climate change for the rail industry.”

*Per Neste sources, the GHG emission reduction varies depending on the region-specific legislation that provides the methodology for the calculations (e.g. EU RED II 2018/2001/EU for Europe and US California LCFS for the US), and the raw material mix used to manufacture the product for each market.

About the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA)

Since July 2015, SJJPA has been responsible for the management and administration of Amtrak San Joaquins. SJJPA is governed by Board Members representing each of the ten (10) Member Agencies along the 365-mile San Joaquins Corridor. For more information on SJJPA see www.sjjpa.com. Amtrak San Joaquins is Amtrak’s 6th busiest route with 1 million annual riders and 18 stations providing a safe, comfortable and reliable way to travel throughout California. Prior to service modifications due to the COVID-19 crisis, Amtrak San Joaquins operated 7 daily train round-trips and its Thruway buses provided connecting service to over 100 destinations in California and Nevada including Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Napa Valley, Las Vegas and Reno. To book your next trip, visit www.AmtrakSanJoaquins.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Contacts:
Priscilla Kalugdan