10/26/2012

Maintenance Of Way Article
California Transportation Commission to help fund three major rail projects

On Wednesday, the California Transportation Commission allocated $287 million for 23 transportation projects involving roads, rail lines, transit systems and bridges. The allocations include $259 million from Proposition 1B, a transportation bond approved by voters in 2006.

"We are building transportation improvements that will benefit the state for decades and will also boost job growth in every region of California," said California Department of Transportation Director Malcolm Dougherty in a prepared statement.

The rail-related allocations include:
• $65.8 million to the Port of Oakland to complete rail access improvements from a Union Pacific Railroad mainline to the existing Joint Intermodal Terminal, connect a new 200-car rail yard, and build new lead tracks off the Martinez Subdivision near the Emeryville yard, which will become the main entry point for all rail traffic to and from the port;

• $25.9 million to the San Diego Association of Governments to add tracks to an existing rail yard between Beyer Boulevard and the Mexico border for the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railroad; and

• $10.97 million to the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission to build a 2.6-mile dedicated passenger-rail track north of the downtown Stockton interlocking between UP and BNSF Railway Co. lines.