Capitol Corridor certifies environmental impact report for Sacramento-Roseville passenger-rail project

The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority's (CCJPA) board earlier this week certified a final environmental impact report for a project to build a 17.8-mile third main track between Sacramento and Roseville, Calif.

Union Pacific Railroad will add the new track, which will allow the Class I to maintain its freight operations and the CCJPA to increase Capitol Corridor passenger-rail service. The project is slated to lower the region's greenhouse gas emissions and drive sustainable economic development, CCJPA officials said in a press release.

The next step is for the CCJPA to finalize the environmental assessment for approval by the Federal Railroad Administration.

The project is aimed at providing more connections and improved mobility within the Sacramento region, along with creating critical links to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Additionally, the enhanced service will offer more flexibility in schedule, which is expected to provide convenience for existing riders and attract new ones, CCJPA officials said.

"Capitol Corridor rail service has enjoyed tremendous popularity with our residents even though it only has one round trip per day," said Celia McAdam of the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency. "This project gives us the opportunity to build on that momentum and make passenger rail travel really blossom."