California panel OKs $91 million to boost rail service for 2028 LA Olympics

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) yesterday allocated $91.2 million to Metrolink to advance projects aimed at boosting rail safety and service ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant will go toward the first projects in the Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program, a $10 billion plan to build infrastructure enabling at least 30-minute service frequency in the region.

Other SCORE benefits include better connections with transit providers in the area, Metrolink officials said in a press release.

In all, Metrolink will receive $875.7 million from the CTC through a six-year agreement.

"SCORE investments provide infrastructure improvements that enable Metrolink to run more trains to improve service," said Metrolink Chair Andrew Kotyuk. "SCORE is essential to the long-range vision of transforming Southern California's regional-rail system."

In August, the CTC awarded $6.5 million to begin design, rail operations modeling and environmental assessment on the first of the SCORE projects as part of the $875.7 million package.