SAN DIEGO, CA — Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, both D- California, announced Monday that Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner route will receive more than $150 million in federal grants for rail improvements in San Diego County.
The Federal Railroad Administration's Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail program will provide $124,429,778 to the San Diego Association of Governments -- the region's transportation agency comprising all 18 cities and the unincorporated county -- and $33.6 million to the city of Encinitas.
"I am proud to help deliver over $150 million in new safety and modernization upgrades across our Amtrak Pacific Surfliner route to improve pedestrian access," Schiff said. "From extending pedestrian underpasses to increasing reliability, this essential investment will improve safety, efficiency, and reduce travel times for Californians -- making travel seamless and keeping pedestrians safe."
The grants, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation, are intended to improve railroad performance, expand passenger rail service and provide more reliable connections and improved safety.
"I'm proud to announce more than $150 million in federal funding for Amtrak -- an investment in the reliable, affordable rail service Californians count on," Padilla said. "Reliable rail service means good jobs, less gridlock, and better transportation options for Californians."
The lion's share of the funding headed to SANDAG is part of a larger effort to double-track the entire San Diego subdivision of the LOSSAN (Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo) Corridor. It will go towards constructing a new double-track segment, bridge replacement, realigning pedestrian access to a bike path, extending a pedestrian underpass, and rail crossing safety upgrades in the city of Oceanside, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and other cities along infrastructure owned by North County Transit San Diego Railroad.
Encinitas' grant will be used to install new vehicle and pedestrian gates at three existing crossings, close one pedestrian crossing, construct two new pedestrian and bicycle at-grade crossings and build a new pedestrian and bicycle undercrossing.
— City News Service
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