Reps. Lofgren and Panetta Announce $1 Million in Federal Funding to Expand Railway Services Along the Central Coast

WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, April 30 U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will distribute $1,000,000 to the California Department of Transportation to expand and improve railway service through San Jose, along the Central Coast, and between hubs in Northern California and Nevada.

 

“Public transportation is a vital resource that connects our communities and local economies. Thanks in part to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Democrats passed in the last Congress, more people in California will have access to reliable rail service to and from different areas. We’re proud to announce this important federal funding that will help create good-paying jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase regional travel,” said Reps. Lofgren and Panetta. “We are particularly pleased that federal and state governments recognize the importance of the growing Salinas Valley area and its transit needs. We will continue to advocate for more projects like this one that benefit Salinas, Watsonville, Hollister, and/or other cities that can often be overlooked by their larger neighbors.”

 

The FRA funding comes from the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program, which supports the planning and development of passenger rail services. The proposed corridor includes added frequencies between San Jose and San Luis Obispo, CA, as well as extensions to San Francisco, Salinas, and Novato, CA and Reno and Sparks, NV. The project also includes an assessment and phase-in of rail segments from San Jose to Salinas, CA and Santa Cruz to Watsonville, CA.

 

This funding was provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Reps. Lofgren and Panetta voted in favor of.