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The California Transportation Commission (CTC) yesterday approved the release of $39.8 million in allocations for "critical work" on the Caltrain modernization project — a major funding milestone in preparing Caltrain's electrification for California's high-speed rail program, Caltrain officials said in a prepared statement.

The funding will be used for design work on Caltrain's advanced signal system project known as the communications-based overlay signal system with positive train control (PTC).

Improved safety is one of the key features of the new signal system, Caltrain officials said, adding that the project will include PTC. The project is an essential component of electrification of the corridor and is necessary to achieve the performance advantages of an electrified system, they said.

With the CTC's vote, "Caltrain can continue on the track to meeting its commitment to bring a cleaner, quieter, faster and/or more frequent service to the corridor by 2019 and take more cars off the region's roads and highways," said Adrienne Tissier, who chairs Caltrain's Joint Powers Board. "The advanced signal system will play a key role in improving the efficiency of the trains and will Caltrain to safely provide more service to more stations."

The $231 million system will be designed to be interoperable with freight traffic using the Caltrain corridor and future high-speed trains.