The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on Oct. 30 reported securing $54.5 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Mega (National Infrastructure Project Assistance) grant program for the construction of the Madera High-Speed Rail Station as a part of the California High-Speed Rail (CHSR) Merced-Bakersfield Early Operating Segment.
The project is planned for completion by 2030 to coincide with California High-Speed Rail Authority’s operating schedule for its Early Operating Segment.
SJJPA, California High-Speed Rail Authority, and California State Transportation Agency have partnered to implement the 171-mile CHSR Early Operating Segment in each direction from Merced to Bakersfield, with intermediate stations at Madera, Fresno, and Kings/Tulare (see map, right). The system will be integrated at the new Merced High-Speed Rail Station with Amtrak San Joaquins (trains and Thruway buses) and ACE commuter rail services to provide improved connectivity across California.
The Mega grant—$4.53 million for FY 2025 and $50 million for FY 2026—will go toward construction at the future relocated Madera Amtrak Station site along Avenue 12, “transforming it into a state-of-the-art” Madera High-Speed Rail Station, serving Madera County and Northern Fresno County, according to SJJPA and Caltrans.
The grant, they said, will fund design and construction of station infrastructure, including new platforms, trackwork, an overhead contact system, a bus depot, expanded auto parking, an access roadway network, a multi-use path, and station building.
The Madera High-Speed Rail Station will be built as an at-grade facility on an undeveloped site, “streamlining the construction process and reducing potential challenges,” SJJPA and Caltrans pointed out.
The Mega grant program supports “large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits,” according to the USDOT, which selected 11 projects in the most recent funding round. The Madera High-Speed Rail Station project, it said, “will encourage mode shift from vehicles to trains for intercity trips across California, particularly for commuters from Madera County to Fresno,” and add bike lanes near the new station to reduce vehicle dependence.
“Partnering with state and local agencies, California is using its transportation dollars to provide travelers with more options that support the department’s commitment to reduce planet-warming pollution, improve air quality, and create a more equitable and sustainable system that works for all users,” Caltrans Director Tony Tavares said.
“This award is crucial for the San Joaquin Valley and California,” added Stacey Mortensen, Executive Director of SJJPA. “We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Transportation for this critical funding. The Madera Station Project will play a pivotal role in connecting this region to key destinations across California through an integrated network of High-Speed Rail, San Joaquins, and ACE Rail services. The improvements to this station will drive economic opportunities while supporting the state’s efforts to reduce emissions and promote sustainable development.”
