By converting its power source from fossil fuels to electricity, trains travelling between San Francisco and San Jose will be faster, more frequent and far less polluting.
A Caltrain electric locomotive on a test track in Pueblo, Colorado. The transit agency is working to convert from fossil fuels to electricity and needs a cash infusion of $260 million to finish.
“There’s an unprecedented amount of money for capital projects, and this is one of the flagship projects in the region,” said Adina Levin, executive director of the advocacy group Green Caltrain. “It’s long awaited, it’s very beneficial, it helps provide faster, more frequent, less polluting service. Out of all of the things that one would contemplate spending money on, this is a really strong candidate.
Caltrain has filled close to half of its funding gap using American Rescue Plan funds, as well as bonds backed by Measure RR sales tax revenue. But a $260 million hole remains. If all else fails, Caltrain could ask San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, along with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, to pony up. The four parties, which jointly fund Caltrain, agreed to contribute up to $50 million apiece in contingency funds in the event of cost overruns, for a possible total of $200 million.
In the first few years after the project is completed, electric trains will be in service alongside diesel trains, which will continue to serve the non-electrified portion of the line between San Jose and Gilroy as well as a futureto Monterey County. Caltrain is exploring the possibility of ordering hybrid zero emissions trains that can run on overhead electric power as well as hydrogen or other kinds of batteries.
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