The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has awarded approximately $97 million to ten rail-related projects that it said prioritize public transit in communities most affected by pollution. They will be funded by the California Climate Investments (CCI) initiative through the Low Carbon Transit Operation Program (LCTOP).
Another 134 non-rail-related projects will receive $123 million, Caltrans reported Jan. 14 (scroll down to download the complete list).
“The CCI steers billions of Cap-and-Invest dollars toward strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities,” according to the government agency. “It is designed to reduce greenhouse gases from the largest emission sources in California, drive innovation and guide the state towards a clean energy economy.”
Following are rail-related projects receiving awards (listed by transit agency/commission):
- Sacramento Regional Transit District, $2.4 million: Blue Line Light Rail Station Conversions – Phase 2. This project will convert up to 19 light rail stations to low-floor platforms on the SacRT Blue Line. “In order for low-floor light rail vehicles to be accessible, light rail stations platform must be at least eight inches above the top of rail,” Caltran’s reporrted. “This allows the ramp to deploy from the vehicle to the station platform with the proper slope for passengers to board.”
- San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, $10.8 million: BART-to-Antioch Operating Funds (2.0 Year 1). The funding will be used for the operation of the BART-to-Antioch Extension that Caltrans said uses DMUs (Diesel Multiple Units) to connect BART’s Pittsburg/Bay Point station to Antioch.
- Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, $7.8 million: Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension SVBX (BART to San Jose) Operating Funds. According to Caltrans, the funds will be used for the operation of the SVBX project, which extends service from the existing BART rail system at the Warm Spring/South Fremont Station to new stations in Santa Clara County at Milpitas Station in the City of Milpitas and Berryessa Station in the City of San Jose.
- Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit District, $760,918: SMART Transit Operations. This project supports operations of commuter rail services in the SMART system, according to Caltrans. SMART operates 42 weekday trips as of FY24-25, an increase of four weekday trips from the prior year. SMART in FY24-25 opened a new station at Petaluma North; it opened an additional new station in Windsor, which included three new miles of track.
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, $48.8 million: Metro A Line Operations. Funding will support the operations of LACMTA’s A Line (light rail). The new and expanded transit service serves 44 stations and runs seven days per week.
- Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), $4.2 million: FY26 Student/Youth Discount. Metrolink will provide 50% discounted passes to secondary, college, and university students. The program will attract new riders and help occasional riders become regular riders, Caltrans noted, “thus reducing roadway VMT, traffic congestion, GHGs, and air pollution.”
- Riverside County Transportation Commission, $1.3 million: SCRRA Service Optimization in Riverside County. The Commission will use the funding “to expand rail service by increasing the number of weekday trains as part of SCRRA’s Metrolink regional passenger rail service,” Caltrans reported. New trains were added in October 2024.
- San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, $602,220: ACE Operational Support Program (Year 5). This program will provide operational funding related to the continued operation of the four ACE round trips from Stockton to San Jose, according to Caltrans.
- Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, $2.6 million: Ridership Recovery Service Enhancement. Caltrans reported that the funding will “[c]ontinue and maintain enhanced rail service, while supporting alternative transportation services (Operations).”
- City of San Francisco, $18.4 million: Free Muni for seniors, people with disabilities, and youth. According to Caltrans, this program is available to San Francisco residents aged 65 and above, whose gross annual family income is at or below 100% of the Bay Area Median Income. San Francisco residents with disabilities and a gross annual family income at or below 100% of the Bay Area median income can also participate. Muni fares for regular service for all individuals aged 18 and younger are eliminated.
“Partnering with local transportation agencies, we’re building a thriving, more connected California by investing in projects that will improve outcomes for all roadway users and help the state achieve its ambitious climate goals,” Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy said. “These clean transportation projects will better serve communities most affected by air pollution, expand bus and rail service and support free or reduced fare programs and encourage fewer, shorter automobile trips.”
