The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority is pleased that a portion of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s $80 million in Recovery Act High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) funds, released on May 27, will go towards improving the Capitol Corridor train service. The $6.2 million award to the City of Sacramento will be used to help fund the $43 million track relocation and station modernizing project at the Sacramento Valley station, which is the seventh busiest station in the Amtrak system.
“We are thrilled that the Capitol Corridor is a part of President Obama’s historic high-speed and intercity passenger rail program,†Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Chair Jim Holmes said. “Twenty percent of all Capitol Corridor passengers start or end their trip at Sacramento Valley station. The rail relocation and station improvement project will allow this station to meet current service demands as well as accommodate our future service expansion plans. More importantly, the entire project will help the economy by creating over 1200 jobs.â€
Details About the Track Relocation Project
The $43 million project consists of relocating approximately 2.3 miles of freight rail tracks, installing new passenger rail tracks and station platforms; providing tunnels for passengers and workers; modernizing utilities and providing new walkways and connections between the station and adjacent areas. The new tracks will reduce delays, allow for faster travel time and sets the groundwork for the Capitol Corridor to add future train service to Placer County.
