New State Grant Awards Give Big Boost to Bay Area Rail Expansion, Modernization Projects

Transportation Leaders Applaud as Winners Include Caltrain, BART, VTA, SMART

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) members and Bay Area transit leaders this afternoon thanked state legislators, Gov. Gavin Newsom and California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Secretary Toks Omishakin for their leadership in advancing a new generation of Bay Area transit investment through the more than $2.5 billion of grants awarded by CalSTA today through the state's Transit and Intercity Rail Capital program (TIRCP).

Among the grants awarded in the latest round of TIRCP funding are $375 million to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to help finance the BART extension to be built by VTA from the current terminus at the Berryessa/North San Jose station through downtown San Jose to Santa Clara; $367 million for Caltrain to complete the ongoing electrification of the Caltrain corridor between San Jose and San Francisco; $250 million to BART for its Core Capacity initiative to boost service frequencies through the Transbay Tube linking San Francisco and Oakland; and $34 million to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District to extend the SMART corridor north to Windsor.

"Metro areas around the state compete fiercely for TIRCP grants," explained MTC Chair and Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza. "The Bay Area chose to focus on a small number of projects that already are either under construction or set to begin construction soon, and that also have already earned commitments of federal dollars. This focus was reinforced last fall when MTC adopted a new Major Projects Advancement Policy, which specifically identified VTA's Silicon Valley BART extension, Caltrain electrification and the BART Core Capacity effort. This strategic approach paid off, as Bay Area investments received 85 percent of the $1.2 billion in TIRCP funds available for projects outside Southern California. In addition to Gov. Newsom and Secretary Omishakin, the state Legislature deserves a lot of credit for using some of last year's budget surplus to beef up the TIRCP program."

Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard echoed Pedroza's thanks to the Bay Area legislative delegation, Gov. Newsom and Director Omashakin, also adding appreciation for the work done by CalSTA Undersecretary Mark Tollefson and Chief Deputy Secretary Chad Edison, among others. "We appreciate that the state recognizes the importance of Caltrain Electrification and we are excited to now have the funding necessary to complete the project in 2024. Electrification of Caltrain will be a transformative experience for our riders, with more frequent service and enhanced amenities. Not only will it significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions, it is a major advancement for transit in the Bay Area, connecting communities to a transportation network they deserve."

Santa Clara County Supervisor and MTC Commissioner Cindy Chavez noted the importance of today's grant awards for the South Bay. "Bay Area commuters throughout Santa Clara County and the South Bay will be rejoicing over this significant state matching grant to help bring BART to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara. This will make getting around the Bay Area easier and help alleviate bumper-to-bumper traffic congestion. Today's grant would not have been possible without the strong leadership of the Bay Area's legislative delegation in crafting the historic transportation package in last year's budget deal."

MTC is the regional transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission