Contract Extension Information
Caltrain serves the third most congested areain the nation. Since 2005, Caltrain's ridership has doubled—quickly outpacing the system’s capacity. Today, Caltrain serves 65,000 daily riders providing a much needed alternative to the heavily congested freeways. This dramatic ridership increase has strained the system, with many peak hour trains operating over maximum capacity. In addition, the vast majority of Caltrain’s current fleet is over 30 years old and needs replacing. An electrified Caltrain system will increase capacity, improve train performance, and offer cleaner, quieter service.
After several decades of planning, Caltrain is poised to implement the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project and become a modern, electric commuter rail. Over $1.3 billion in local, regional, state, and federal non-Core Capacity funds have been secured for the project. Contracts were awarded in September 2016 and design is underway. The project now awaits the final funding component to start construction. Caltrain is waiting for the execution of a $647 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Core Capacity Program—a program designed to make investments in existing transit system projects that expand capacity and accommodate growing ridership.
Since 2001, Caltrain has worked with the FTA to ensure it meets all rigorous statutory and regulatory requirements. The project received a high rating after thorough evaluation, including ridership studies, design assessments, financial analyses, and cost benefit evaluations.
On February 17, 2017, Caltrain completed the last step in the FTA Core Capacity process (completion of the mandatory 30-day Congressional review period) and was eligible for a signature to be executed. FTA then announced that execution of the Core Capacity grant would be delayed until the President’s budget proposal. In response, Caltrain negotiated a four month contract extensionwith the infrastructure and train builders while awaiting a decision from the FTA about the execution of the funding agreement.
Supporters
Caltrain’s electrification project has widespread support from a growing coalition of federal, state, regional, and local stakeholders committed to creating jobs, investing in aging infrastructure addressing congestion between San Francisco and San Jose. For a list of supporters clickhere.
Timeline
| 1999 | Caltrain Strategic Plan makes electrification a priority | |
| 2001 | State and federal environmental clearance process began | |
| 2004 | Draft state Environmental Impact Report and draft federal Environmental Assessment Document | |
| 2004 | Caltrain Strategic Plan lays out electrification implementation | |
| 2009 | FTA approves final Environmental Assessment document | |
| 2014 | Caltrain Strategic Plan reports on electrification efforts and definitive next steps | |
| 2015 | January | Final Environmental Impact Report |
| 2015 | April | FTA accepts the project into the Core Capacity Project Development Phase |
| 2016 | May | FTA confirms receipt of all necessary documents for review |
| 2016 | Aug. 12 | FTA approves project for entry into Core Capacity Engineering Phase |
| 2016 | Aug. 15 | Board approval to execute infrastructure and train builder contracts (terms of the contracts are guaranteed if a Full Notice to Proceed is issued by March 1, 2017 allowing contractors to begin construction) |
| 2016 | Sept. 6 | Limited Notice to Proceed issued, contractors begin to advance project design |
| 2017 | Jan. 18 | Mandatory 30-day Core Capacity Congressional waiting period begins |
| 2017 | Feb. 17 | FTA announces execution of grant delayed until President's budget proposal |
| 2017 | Feb. 27 | Caltrain negotiates contract extension with infrastructure and train builders until June 30, 2017 |