Capitol Corridor, UP join forces on federal funds
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefThe Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) has applied for $57.2 million in Fiscal Year 2010 High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail funds to improve infrastructure between Roseville and Donner Summit and between the cities of Fremont and Newark. Union Pacific will contribute $10.3 million to the $51.1 million Roseville-Donner Summit project.
The improvements will allow the CCJPA to increase train service to Placer County and improve service reliability in Alameda County. Both projects are included in Caltrans Division of Rail’s $582 million funding request to connect its existing passenger rail system to California’s planned high speed rail system.
The Fremont-Newark project includes a Fremont/Centerville Depot platform extension that will enable improved schedule coordination of Capitol Corridor and ACE (Altamont Commuter Express) trains. Amtrak is the contract operator of both services; these projects would also benefit other Amtrak-operated train services that use UP-owned tracks in Northern California, such as California Zephyr long-distance trains.
The Roseville-Donner Summit improvements are in addition to work UP funded in 2009 to raise tunnel clearances over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. “By working with the CCJPA, we can leverage private dollars with public funds to achieve mutual benefits,” said Union Pacific Vice President Public Affairs Scott Moore. "Both the Placer County and Fremont projects are great examples of how UP and CCJPA can create innovative solutions in transportation."
CCJPA said 570 jobs would be created with the federal funding.
