Oakland, CA – October 29, 2024 – Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) announced today it has been awarded $20 million from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which will be matched with $5 million from the California State Transportation Agency’s (CalSTA) Strategic Rail Assistance (SRA) Program. These combined funds will strengthen rail safety along the Capitol Corridor route at high-priority locations in Solano, Contra Costa, and Alameda Counties, as part of the Right-of-Way Safety Improvement Program.
“Safety is always our top priority, and this $20 million investment will make a meaningful impact to the safety of our corridor,” said Robert Padgette, Managing Director of CCJPA. “These improvements will help prevent fatalities, injuries, and service disruptions, making the corridor safer and more reliable for passengers and the communities we serve.”
“We express our appreciation to Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration for their dedication to supporting safety initiatives along our corridor,” said CCJPA Board Chair, Robert Raburn. “Our passengers will benefit from this partnership as we continue our commitment to service improvements.”
The CRISI funds will support CCJPA’s Right-of-Way (ROW) Safety Improvement Program, which seeks to reduce trespassing and minimize delays caused by unauthorized access to the tracks. The project target’s high-risk locations along the route responsible for 67% of Capitol Corridor’s safety incidents, including 59 fatalities since 2016. Planned improvements include installing 17 miles of new security fencing along the Union Pacific Railroad’s (UPRR) right-of-way. These enhancements will significantly reduce the risk of trespassing-related fatalities and injuries, creating safer conditions for both the public and railroad employees.
About CCJPA and the Capitol Corridor®
Managed by the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), the Capitol Corridor is an intercity rail service that connects Northern California’s most economically vibrant urban centers, from Sacramento to Silicon Valley, including San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. With free Wi-Fi onboard, Capitol Corridor trains offer a convenient, reliable, and comfortable alternative to the region’s congested freeways. The service now transports over one million passengers annually. For more information, visit capitolcorridor.org.
Contact: Vernaé Graham, Capitol Corridor