California commission approves millions to improve passenger-rail service

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) recently allocated $359 million for 36 projects, including $140 million for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to purchase new rail cars.

BART received its funds from Proposition 1A, the high-speed rail bond, to purchase 46 cars that will provide new service from the BART/Caltrain Millbrae Station to San Francisco International Airport, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) officials announced in a press release.

The Millbrae facility is one of several key connection points that the California High-Speed Rail Authority has identified to link BART to the state's future high-speed rail system, they said.

Other CTC allocations include:

• $1.75 million for improvements to the Sacramento Intermodal Facility High-Speed Rail Program. This project calls for connecting Sacramento Regional Transit service to high-speed rail, and includes the relocation of existing light-rail track, storage track, and passenger platform and associated systems;

• $500,000 to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority/Metrolink in Los Angeles for safety improvements at the Woodley Avenue grade crossing, including the installation of pre-signals, traffic control and signal devices, and lengthening existing barriers; and

• funds for 3.8 miles of new double track from the city of Escalon to Stockton to improve efficiency and on-time performance of passenger-rail service in the San Joaquin Corridor.