Supporters
encouraged by Trump Administration Announcement that infrastructure investment
will focus on nation’s most ready-to-go projects
After spending the week meeting with
key decision-makers in Washington, D.C., Caltrain’s executive director is
optimistic that the agency’s Electrification Project is exactly the kind of
investment that the Trump Administration is hoping to move forward with as part
of their focus in infrastructure investment.
“Since we’ve been here, we
have met with supporters from both sides of the aisle who understand that when
it comes to investing in infrastructure, this project checks all of the boxes,”
said Caltrain Executive Director Jim Hartnett. “Caltrain electrification
upgrades service on an existing system that serves the country’s fastest
growing companies, the rest of the funding is already lined up, it creates
thousands of jobs nationwide, and if the goal is to focus on projects that are
ready to go, we aren’t just shovel ready, our shovels are in the ground waiting
for the OK from Washington to turn some dirt.”
Before construction can start,
Caltrain needs approval of a $647 million funding commitment from the Federal
Transit Administration to match $1.3 billion that has already been secured from
other sources. The federal grant was expected to be approved last month, but
the newly-seated Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao delayed the decision
until the Administration releases its budget recommendations to Congress later
this spring.
Despite the delay, the Trump
Administration announced this week that they intend to prioritize Federal
investment for projects that can begin construction within 90-days of receiving
the funds.
“Caltrain has already awarded
contracts to complete the project and is prepared to issue a notice to proceed
with construction immediately after the federal grant agreement is signed,”
said Hartnett.
The delay has resulted in great
concern among Bay Area businesses and riders who depend on Caltrain to support
the economy of Silicon Valley and beyond. Caltrain’s efforts are supported by
dozens of private sector employers that depend on Caltrain to provide their
employees with a faster commute alternative in the wake of increasing
congestion on the region’s highways. Representatives from these employers
including Facebook, Genentech, Stanford and Prologis, joined Caltrain on the trip
to Washington to advocate for approval of the federal investment.
Caltrain and the agency’s partners
have been working diligently to ensure the federal delay does not hinder the
project’s future, but it has presented tremendous additional challenges. Last
week, Caltrain negotiated an extension of the deadline for contractors to begin
construction, while the agency awaits the federal decision about the execution
of the funding agreement. The contractors agreed to extend the deadline for
four months, from March 1 to June 30.
“I have personally invited the
Secretary of Transportation to come to San Carlos to see this project
first-hand and hear from the companies and communities that depend upon this
work to keep the economy rolling,” said Hartnett. “Moving forward with
this decision will not only benefit Caltrain riders, but it will also benefit
the thousands of American workers standing by to build the project.”
Leaders from throughout California,
including Governor Jerry Brown have all expressed their support for advancing
the project. As Governor Brown has stated “It's ready to go, it's an
obvious project, if you're not for that, you're not for infrastructure. That's
a no brainer. It speeds it up, takes cars off the road, reduces the noise, it
cleans up the air, it's based on American renewable energy."
To learn more about the
Electrification Project, click HERE.
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About Caltrain: Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor
Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides commuter rail service from San Francisco
to San Jose, with limited commute service to Gilroy. Caltrain enjoyed five
years of consecutive monthly ridership increases, surpassing more than 60,000
average weekday riders. While the Joint Powers Board assumed operating
responsibilities for the service in 1992, the railroad celebrated 150 years of
continuous passenger service in 2014. Planning for the next 150 years of
Peninsula rail service, Caltrain is on pace to electrify the corridor, reduce
diesel emissions by 97 percent by 2040 and add more service to more stations.
