The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) recently announced its support of the federal Full Funding Grant Agreement which supports the Caltrain Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project.
President Donald Trump had put the project on hold in February at the urging of 14 members of California’s Republican congressional delegation.
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao will release $100 million on May 22, pledging an additional $408 million in appropriations.
Federal funding is the final step in the planning stage of the project; $1.3 billion was raised by state, regional and local governments, and contracts have been awarded for design and construction.
The San Francisco-area project will replace Caltrain’s diesel locomotives with electric versions. The Peninsula Corridor is traveled by 65,000 commuters daily and offers an alternative to U.S. 101.
“This investment won’t just help Bay Area commuters—it’ll create jobs and strengthen domestic manufacturing all across the U.S.” NARP President and CEO Jim Mathews said. “Americans are ready to get to work rebuilding our infrastructure, and it’s too important to let politics get in the way of good projects.”
Opponents to the project said it has yet to prove its financial viability.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) calls the project a bait and switch.
“Caltrain is not, nor will it ever be, ‘high speed’ and should not be funded with high-speed rail dollars, especially when that project has yet to prove its own financial viability,” Denham said. “California’s — and America’s — taxpayers have a right to know where their money is going.”