Capitol Corridor Applauds Federal & State Agreement to Boost U.S. Economy & Passenger Rail
U.S. Department of Transportation Obligates $68 Million to California for Made-in-America Rail Cars & Locomotives
OAKLAND, CALIF., August 4, 2011 —The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) received welcome news from federal officials yesterday, August 3. The U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) announced its commitment to award $336.2 million for state-of-the art, American-made passenger rail cars to run on intercity passenger train routes in five states, including California’s popular intercity passenger rail services. The US DOT obligated $68 million to Caltrans Division of Rail to procure 15 bi-level train cars and four cleaner-running locomotives.
“We want to express our gratitude to the Obama Administration for its remarkable support for a national intercity passenger rail system,†Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Chair Bob Franklin said. “The CCJPA is pleased our partner, Caltrans Division of Rail, is a recipient of this federal boost as the new fleet will be shared by intercity passenger rail services in Northern California. The additional American-made rail cars will help to create much needed jobs, accommodate our growing ridership and increase revenue and service efficiency.â€
Resources Committed to California Train Cars
The $68 million supplements a prior obligation of $100 million in federal funds earmarked for 27 bi-level cars and two locomotives for California. To secure the $168 million, California met the required 20% match of $42 million dollars, bringing the total resources committed to $210 million. CCJPA officials expect 10 new cars will be assigned to the Capitol Corridor, which are expected to be in service within four years.
About Capitol Corridor
The Capitol Corridor serves sixteen stations along the 170-mile rail corridor connecting Placer, Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties, paralleling both the I-80/I-680 and I-880 corridors in segments from Sacramento to San Jose.
In July 1998, the management of the service was transferred to the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), which oversees the service with day-to-day management and staff support from San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART). The CCJPA partners with Amtrak, Union Pacific Railroad, Caltrans and the communities comprising the CCJPA to offer cost-effective intercity passenger rail and offers a convenient way to
travel between the Sierra Foothills, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley/San Jose.
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