Transportation Agency Awards $500 Million to Support Transit and Intercity Rail
BURBANK, CA (April 23, 2020) – The California State Transportation Agency yesterday announced it has awarded $500 million to 17 recipients in Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grants for transformative transit and rail projects.
Out of the $500 million awarded, The Metrolink Antelope Valley double track project received $107 million. This will be combined with Measure M funding to complete the project. This will result in 30-minute bi-directional service between Los Angeles Union Station and Santa Clarita, with trains stopping every 30 minutes at each station in both directions all day. Downtown Burbank will have trains even more frequently because of the Metrolink Ventura Line trains.
“The $107 million in grant awards made to the Metrolink Antelope Valley double track project will help increase transit service, ease traffic congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Burbank Mayor Sharon Springer. “This is a big win for our community, and when you add the Ventura Line and Amtrak, we get close to our goal of a train from Burbank to downtown LA every 15 minutes.”
Since 2015, TIRCP has provided more than $5.8 billion in multi-year capital funding towards 74 projects or project phases with a total cost of more than $25 billion. TIRCP funding is provided through the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB 1), and from the Cap and Trade program proceeds. The funded projects will provide significant benefits to Californians through expanded transit and rail offerings that are faster, more frequent, and more reliable. The program provides major benefits towards meeting the State’s climate and air quality goals, with a total reduction of 5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
A complete list of this year’s recipients can be found here:
Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program 2020 Awards (PDF)