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11/4/2022
The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 9 at the downtown Burbank rail station to kick off the Burbank Junction Speed Improvement Project.
Part of the authority's Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) initiative, the project calls for the interchange of the existing Brighton Siding trackwork with new, higher-speed track. The project aims to reduce travel times by up to a minute and a half in both directions with increased speed and more fluid operations, Metrolink officials said in a press release.
The work also will involve the realignment of a small portion of existing mainline track; installation of new trackwork between the existing main lines; replacement of a half-mile of existing track; and installation of new right-of-way safety fencing.
Local entities have contributed more than $595 million toward the Burbank project. Metrolink leveraged those funds to apply for state grants. In 2018, the California Department of Transportation awarded Metrolink with a $876 million grant from the California Transit Intercity Rail Capital Program for the first phase of SCORE.
To date, Metrolink has secured nearly a quarter — or $2.3 billion — of the $10 billion funding goal for SCORE projects. It's pursuing additional opportunities to reach the funding goal, agency officials said.
The SCORE initiative is in part being implemented in preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in Los Angeles.