Roseville to Donner Summit rail improvements sought

Union Pacific Railroad to Commit $10.3 Million to Enhance Train Service to Placer County 

Oakland, CA.,-   The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) is vying for $57.2 million in FY2010 High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) funds to improve track infrastructure between Roseville and Donner Summit and between the cities of Fremont and Newark, which in turn will allow the CCJPA to increase train service to Placer County and improve service reliability in Alameda County. Union Pacific Railroad supports both projects and will commit $10.3 million of its own resources to the $51.1 million Roseville-Reno Project.

The Fremont-Newark Project includes the extension of the platform at the Fremont/Centerville Depot, which will allow for improved schedule coordination of the Capitol Corridor and ACE train service at this station. Both projects are included in Caltrans Division of Rail’s $582 million funding request to connect its existing passenger rail system to California’s future high-speed rail system.

‘The Federal Rail Administration (FRA) FY2010 HSIPR program grants are aimed to improve intercity passenger rail while creating much needed jobs,’ CCJPA Chair Jim Holmes said. ‘UPRR’s commitment to use its own funding to match the CCJPA’s FY2010 HSIPR request helps meet the Capitol Corridor’s vision for additional train service to Placer County.  The CCJPA is proud of our partnership with UPRR and our applications to the FRA indicate that both the CCJPA and the UPRR have $14.3 million in funding and resources lined up to comply with FRA’s funding match requirement.  In addition, our projects are permit-ready. If we are successful in receiving the federal award we can quickly begin projects that will create 570 jobs, expand service to Placer County and improve train efficiency at Fremont Station.’

“The proposed Roseville to Donner Summit improvements are in addition to work Union Pacific funded in 2009 to raise tunnel clearances over the Sierra Nevada Mountains,” Union Pacific Railroad’s Vice President of Public Affairs Scott Moore said. “By working with the CCJPA, we can leverage private dollars with public funds to achieve mutual benefits. Both the Placer County and Fremont projects are great examples of how Union Pacific Railroad and CCJPA can create innovative solutions in transportation.”

These projects would also benefit other Amtrak-operated train services that use UPRR-owned tracks in Northern California.  ‘Amtrak strongly supports these high priority projects. These investments will benefit our Capitol Corridor customers and the performance of the California Zephyr service,’ Amtrak’s Assistant Vice President of Policy and Development Patrick Merrill said.

Increased Ridership on Capitol Corridor this Summer

‘Capitol Corridor’s increased ridership this summer demonstrates that Capitol Corridor continues to play a vital role in Northern California’s transportation infrastructure,’ CCJPA Managing Director David B. Kutrosky said. “In June our ridership shot up seven percent when compared to June 2009 and last month ridership was up five percent over July 2009. Adding another roundtrip train set to Auburn and enhancing train efficiency in Fremont as provided in our FY2010 HSIPR applications will help increase travel options for Northern California residents. More passengers on trains mean fewer cars on the road, cleaner air and reduced climate change emissions in our region that will lead to improved sustainability for the communities along the Capitol Corridor.’

About Capitol Corridor

The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) partners with Amtrak, Union Pacific Railroad, Caltrans and the communities comprising the CCJPA to offer cost-effective, viable and safe intercity passenger rail.  The Capitol Corridor service comprises of 16 stations along a 170-mile rail corridor, and offers a convenient way to travel between the Sierra Foothills, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley/San Jose. For information, visit www.capitolcorridor.org  or call 1-877-9-RIDECC