Caltrain Receives $18.7M Grant For Safety Improvements

PALO ALTO, CA – The U.S. Department of Transportation has given an $18.7 million grant to Caltrain to implement advanced technology for monitoring and controlling train movements, according to Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto.

The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, which owns Caltrain, will use the technology for safety modifications, such as automatically stopping trains to prevent accidents like collisions and derailments.

"I'm glad to see federal funds put towards improving the safety of our local rail systems," Lofgren said in a statement. "This federal grant will benefit millions of residents and many businesses from San Jose to San
Francisco."

Caltrain is a commuter rail line that crosses Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco counties.

Eshoo said the new technology, known as positive train control, is a "game changer" in railway safety. The federal grant will be provided under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Program.

"This is a critical component to the modernization of Caltrain, the spine of our region's transportation system," she said in a statement.

In 2017, Caltrain reported an average weekday ridership of 62,190 people. Seven people have died in fatal Caltrain strikes this year.

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--Bay City News/Image via Renee Schiavone