California Transit to Modernize Caltrain

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The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) has announced that Caltrain Modernization will receive one of 14 grants awarded to projects that focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the state’s public transportation infrastructure. The $20 million investment will be used to deliver the electrification project, which will replace Caltrain’s diesel equipment with high-performance electric trains.

Caltrain projects that the electrification project will reduce emissions by 97 percent by 2040, and reduce greenhouse gases by 176,000 metric tons of CO2 a year.

Caltrain electrification is projected to cost $1.98 Billion. $713 million of the total funding will be provided through the State / California High Speed Rail Authority. The program will also be funded through a combination of federal, regional and member agency contributions.

Caltrain electrification was one of two projects accepted into the engineering phase of the Federal Transit Administration Core Capacity Program. That program is expected to provide $643 million towards the project. The electrification work was also among 41 applications for state funding, 14 of which were selected. Those projects will receive a combined $390 million in state Cap and Trade funds. Those funds will be supported by auction proceeds from eight auctions that will be held over the course of the next fiscal year.

The Caltrain Electrification Project will electrify the system between San Francisco and the Tamien Station in San Jose and convert Caltrain’s diesel-based system to Electric Multiple Units (EMUs).