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U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded several grants to California transit agencies to enhance rail service and programs.

North County Transit District was awarded a $13.4 million grant to help build SPRINTER, a 22-mile commuter-rail line from Oceanside to Escondido, Calif. The $352 million project — which includes 13 stations — is scheduled to open in December 2005. The grant is USDOT’s second installment of a $152 million Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA).

USDOT also granted $39.8 million to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the final installment of a $681 million FFGA for the Metro Red Line’s North Hollywood extension. Completed in 2000, the line serves more than 100,000 daily passengers.

Finally, San Francisco Municipal Railway obtained a $500,000 grant for safety and security programs, such as installing video surveillance on station platforms, and developing safety programs for passengers and maintenance facility workers.