California agency awards $224 million in grants for transit, intercity rail

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) earlier this week announced the recipients of $224 million in grants for public transportation projects that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The grants will fund transit and intercity rail capital projects such as station and service improvements to light-rail service in Los Angeles, expanding light-rail in the Bay Area, refurbishing rail cars for future express service in Sacramento and increasing commuter-rail service in Southern California, CalSTA officials said in a press release.

"These grants help support nearly $720 million in transportation investments in clean, affordable and low-stress commuting and traveling options by improving the quality and reliability of public transportation choices," said California State Transportation Agency Secretary Brian Kelly. "At a time of ever-increasing extreme weather — and an uncertain future — these investments help California take control of the emissions that cause climate change by offering more sustainable travel options."

The recipients and grant amounts include:
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), $38.5 million for the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station and Blue Line light-rail operational improvement projects;
• Sacramento Regional Transit, $6.4 million for the project to refurbish seven light-rail vehicles;
• San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, $41.2 million to expand the agency’s light-rail fleet;
• Metrolink, $41.2 million to purchase nine fuel-efficient locomotives that meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 4 emission standard;
• LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, $1.7 million for the Pacific Surfliner transit transfer program;
• San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, $31.9 million for the trolley capacity improvements project; and
• Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District, $11 million for the SMART rail-car capacity project.