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.
“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.
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