Caltrain Receives $367 Million in State Funding to Finish Electrification Project

Funding from the State’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program keeps the project on track for completion in 2024 and strengthens Caltrain’s financial outlook

Caltrain announced today that it will receive $367M to finish its Electrification Project, scheduled to be completed in Fall 2024. The funding award, which comes from California’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program’s (TIRCP) Cycle 6 Existing Project Reserve, represents the remaining funding needed to complete the project and begin running passenger electrified rail service. Additionally, this new state funding will allow Caltrain to maintain operations funding identified as a possible means to finishing the project. This strengthens Caltrain’s financial outlook and delays a potential “fiscal cliff,” which had been projected for July 2023. 

“We are thrilled that Caltrain has been awarded $367M for the Caltrain Electrification project. We want to thank the Caltrain Legislative Delegation, Governor Newsom, CalSTA Secretary Omishakin, Undersecretary Tollefson, Chief Deputy Secretary Edison, and all our state, federal and local partners for their continued support,” said Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard. “The Electrification of Caltrain will be a transformational experience for our riders, with more frequent service and enhanced amenities. Not only will it significantly decrease greenhouse gases emissions, it is a major advancement for transit in the Bay Area connecting communities to a transportation network they deserve. We appreciate that the State recognizes the importance of this project and we are excited to now have the funding to complete Electrification in 2024.”

Caltrain also recently received $43M in federal funding for the Electrification Project as part of the omnibus spending bill, which passed Congress and was signed by President Biden in December 2022. The combination of these Federal and State funds means Caltrain has filled the $410M funding gap that was identified in late 2021. 

“I congratulate Caltrain on receiving this award as part of the Newsom Administration’s historic investments in transit and intercity rail projects,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “This funding will help get this transformative project over the finish line and into operation so Bay Area residents can enjoy more of the mobility, safety, environmental and equity benefits that come with riding transit.”

“I’m elated to hear that Caltrain was approved for this grant, which I was proud to support,” said Senator Scott Wiener (Senate District 11, D-San Francisco). “Caltrain electrification will modernize the rail system connecting San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties. The project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, allow Caltrain to improve and increase service, and prepare the corridor for future high speed rail service. We must invest in our public transit system to meet California’s ambitious climate goals, and Caltrain electrification represents a key investment in our future. I thank Governor Newsom and his administration for their strong support of this critical project.”

“I’m excited that the state has provided additional funds for Caltrain electrification! This money will help modernize Caltrain as we fight to maintain and expand public transportation services on the Peninsula,” said Senator Josh Becker (District 13, D-Palo Alto).

“As Assembly Budget Chair, I’m pleased to see our state transit dollars being utilized with federal dollars to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand transit service, and increase ridership on our vital local rail system. The future of Bay Area transit is exciting,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (District 19, D-San Francisco).

“A modern, electrified Caltrain will be the foundation for faster and more frequent service,” said Assemblymember Diane Papan (District 21, D-San Mateo). “This investment will complete the conversion of the rail service to a 21st century transit system. This is a good day for Caltrain and our communities.”

“This is a huge deal. The state providing highly competitive TIRCP funding to the Caltrain Electrification project means that Peninsula residents will breathe cleaner air and have both quieter communities and more frequent and reliable transit service,” said Assemblymember Marc Berman (District 23, D-Palo Alto). “I want to recognize the tremendous and tireless work of Caltrain staff who have worked for years to make this critically important project a reality.”

“This critical TIRCP funding will help us take a huge step toward the electrification of Caltrain to better provide residents across the Bay Area with a fast, reliable option to get where they’re going without having to depend on traveling by car,” said Assemblymember Ash Kalra (District 25, D-San Jose). “As a former member of CalTrain’s Board of Directors, I was honored to support this request for funding and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our state’s climate goals.”

“Today’s news is exciting,” said Speaker Designate Robert Rivas (District 30, D-Salinas). “This funding is a step in the right direction toward a more connected and climate-friendly California.”

TIRCP was created by Senate Bill 862 to provide grants from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to fund transformative improvements that modernize California’s intercity, commuter, and urban rail systems, and bus and ferry transit systems, to significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, vehicle miles traveled, and congestion. The most recent round of funding was provided as part of last year’s State budget.

Caltrain is at an important inflection point in its nearly 160 years of serving passengers along the corridor. Caltrain Electrification is the first undertaking in North America in a generation in which diesel trains and their infrastructure components are transitioned to an electrified system. The project will improve the customer experience by increasing the number of trains, modernizing service and adding new safety elements. The new trains will feature on board displays with digital trip information, increased storage capacities, baby-changing tables, WiFi and power outlets at every seat. Electrification will also help meet ambitious regional and state climate action goals by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and relieving traffic congestion. Additionally, electrified service will advance equity along the corridor by reducing noise and air pollution while increasing access for priority equity communities. It will also set the framework for California’s future High Speed Rail network that will run on the Caltrain corridor.

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About Caltrain: Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with commute service to Gilroy. Serving the region since 1863, Caltrain is the oldest continually operating rail system west of the Mississippi. Looking to the future, Caltrain is set to electrify the corridor by 2024, which will reduce diesel emissions and add more service to more stations while advancing the agency’s equity goals.

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Media Contact: Dan Lieberman, 650.622.2492