California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16

the total investment and local entities, the Federal government, Amtrak, and the private
railroads have also made major contributions.
However, adequate State funding is not projected to be available to fund the
unconstrained capital program. The only ongoing capital funding source is a limited
portion of the STIP. The lack of a stable and adequate funding source for the capital
program is a major concern and the Department will continue to explore mechanisms
for stable funding. Rail equipment does not have access to the State Highway Account
(SHA) funding in the STIP because Article XIX of the State Constitution prevents rail
equipment from being funded by the SHA.
INTERCITY RAIL ROLLING STOCK PROGRAM
The State has an intercity rail rolling stock program unparalleled by any other state
in the nation. The State owns its own fleet of 88 cars and 17 locomotives and has
spent over $300 million on the design and acquisition of cars and locomotives since
the early 1990s with the majority of funding from bonds. In addition to equipment
procurement, the Equipment Program also includes warranty, rework, and modification
of procured equipment; scheduled maintenance; heavy equipment overhaul; equipment
modernization; inspection and safety monitoring; and rehabilitation of damaged
equipment.
RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING IMPROVEMENT
AND SEPARATION PROGRAMS
The Department has a number of programs to improve safety at rail-highway grade
crossings as well as improve rail and road operations. The Federal Section 1010/1103
Program and the Federal Section 130 Program focus on improving safety and
operations at grade crossings. The State Section 190 Program focuses on constructing
grade separations. These programs combined receive, in general, approximately
$35 million a year in funds.
Chapter III–Operations Program
OPERATIONS PROGRAM GOALS
• Provide cost-effective service that will reach or exceed the Department’s 50 percent
farebox ratio standard.
• Provide safe, reliable, and convenient intercity rail and connecting bus service with
enough schedule flexibility to meet a wide range of traveler’s needs.
• Increase service attractiveness and customer satisfaction through improved on-time
performance, operations, and service amenities.
• Create a “seamless” network where intercity rail services and schedules are well
connected to commuter and urban rail, and transit.
TEN-YEAR INTERCITY RAIL SERVICE LEVELS AND
FINANCIAL PLAN
This chapter presents the Department’s ten-year proposed intercity passenger rail
ridership and service levels; projected revenue, expense, and farebox ratio for existing
routes; and projected state costs for existing and new routes. In developing increased
4 Executive Summary California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16