California awards $690 million in transit funding

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) this week awarded $690 million in grants to 28 projects through the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP).

The program funds capital improvement projects that modernize intercity rail, bus and ferry transit systems to reduce emissions and congestion. Combined, the 28 projects will directly benefit disadvantaged communities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 2 million metric tons, California Gov. Gavin Newsom administration officials said in a press release.

The funding is part of a multiyear, multibillion-dollar investment to upgrade the state’s transit systems. In January, the state awarded $2.54 billion to 16 projects under TIRCP’s previous round of funding.

"Our state is placing a high priority on investing in public transportation projects that aim to shift away from fossil fuels while making public travel more rider friendly," Newsom said.

The awards include:

• $100 million to the North County Transit District and San Diego Association of Governments to advance the second phase of the San Dieguito Bridge Replacement, Double Track and Special Events Platform Project. The project involves replacing a 107-year-old bridge in Del Mar, adding about 1 mile of double track to the area and constructing a special events platform at the area fairgrounds;
• $46 million to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to complete funding for the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector project, a light-rail extension that will connect the existing Alum Rock Station to the Eastridge Transit Center with an elevated guideway primarily located in the center of Capitol Expressway;
• $45 million to the Orange County Transportation Authority. Of those funds, $5 million will go toward the Coastal Rail Corridor Relocation Study that is examining long-term options to relocate 11 miles of track on the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo rail corridor, where emergency crews recently completed work to stabilize the tracks; and
• $25.5 million to Metrolink. Of those funds, $15.5 million will go toward a joint double-track project with the Riverside County Transportation Commission along Metrolink’s 91/Perris Valley Line between Moreno Valley and Perris. The remaining $10 million will go toward Metrolink’s fuel efficiency and maintenance modernization project, which is designed to reduce the transit agency’s operating costs by combining fuel reduction and innovative maintenance strategies using remote monitoring, real-time diagnostics and operating training and coaching.