Caltrain officials hail California state budget's impact on transit

Caltrain officials yesterday applauded the California Legislature's passage of a $108 billion state budget that includes $1.7 billion for public transportation improvements and future transportation initiatives.

The 2014-15 budget appropriates funding to transit-related programs, including $25 million for transit operations, $25 million for transit and intercity rail, $130 million for housing and sustainable communities, $200 million for low carbon transportation, and $250 million for high-speed rail, Caltrain officials said in a press release.

The state's long-term cap-and-trade program, which will begin in fiscal-year 2015, allocates percentages of the cap-and-trade revenue to statewide transit programs.

"Caltrain is well positioned to use these funds towards vital improvements that will reduce regional traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions while increasing capacity on a rail service that is overcrowded and is straining at the seams," agency officials said.

Caltrain's modernization program will transform the agency from a diesel-based service to an electrified rail system. The modern system will feature high-performance trains that enhance capacity and enable the system to deliver cleaner, quieter and faster service to the region, Caltrain officials said.