Calif. awards Metrolink $10.5M to bolster safety, service reliability

The California State Transportation Agency awarded $10.5 million to Calif.’s Metrolink commuter rail system for signal and track modernization, which will improve safety, speed, and reliability for Metrolink and Amtrak trains arriving and departing from Los Angeles Union Station.

Metrolink was one of seven recipients to receive funding. Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) created the State Rail Assistance (SRA) program by directing a portion of new revenue specifically to intercity rail and commuter rail. The SRA program provides California’s commuter and intercity rail agencies with dependable supplemental revenue that they can use to improve rail service in various ways, including:

• Operations funding for expanded service.
• Increased customer amenities such as discounted tickets.
• Capital investments such as new and cleaner-emissions rolling stock to increase capacity and reduce emissions.
• Track and station investments that can reduce travel times, delays, improve accessibility, and enhance the customer experience.

“I would like to thank the California State Transportation Agency for recognizing the State of Good Repair in Southern California that will benefit tens of thousands of Southland commuters and others,” said Metrolink Board Chair Andrew Kotyuk. “This project is critical to modernizing Metrolink’s signal system near L.A. Union Station and will improve safety, speed, and reliability of all Metrolink trains, as well as Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains coming into L.A. Union Station.”

Metrolink will use SRA funds for the replacement of aging mechanical signals with modern electric units, new switches, crossovers, upgraded track infrastructure, and other improvements near Union Station. The total project cost is $16,252,000 funded by the state and Metrolink funding.