California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16

2005-06 – 2015-16 California State Rail Plan
that are generated by excise taxes on fuel. The SHA is the primary funding source
for the STIP and transportation capital projects.
Then Chapter 622, Statutes of 1997 [Senate Bill (SB) 45-Kopp], was passed which
gives intercity rail projects a minimum of nine percent of the interregional portion
of the STIP as part of the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program
(ITIP). Intercity rail projects can also be funded in the Regional Transportation
Improvement Program (RTIP). As a result, in the 1996 STIP, 1998 STIP,
the 1998 STIP Augmentation, the 2000 STIP, and the 2002 STIP a total of
$450 million was programmed for intercity rail projects. Of that amount,
$323 million has been allocated. Due to severe funding constraints, the 2004 STIP
did not program any new funding for intercity rail projects. It includes only
projects previously programmed in the 2002 STIP, but not yet allocated.
Since the passage of SB 45 in 1997, most intercity rail funding provided by the
State has come from projects proposed by the Department in the ITIP, which
receives only 25 percent of all STIP funding. The RTIP, for which projects are
proposed by the Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPAs), receives
the remaining 75 percent of STIP funding. However, as part of the partnership
between the Department and the RTPAs, significant intercity rail expansions will
require funding commitments from RTPAs in the RTIP.
Chapter 91, Statutes of 2000 [Assembly Bill (AB) 2928 – Torlakson], established
the Governor’s TCRP to be funded from the TCRF. The TCRP contained
$201.5 million for specific intercity rail capital projects, including $148.5 million
for the Pacific Surfliners for the Los Angeles run-through tracks project to reduce
running times through Union Station in Los Angeles, a triple-track project in
Los Angeles County, double-track projects in San Diego County, a new San Diego
area maintenance facility, and a parking structure at Oceanside. Also, $25 million
was reserved to double-track portions of the San Joaquins, and $28 million was
reserved for the Capitol Corridor for track and signal improvements between
Oakland and San Jose, for track improvements at the Emeryville and Oakland
stations, and for a new station at Hercules.
Two recent State Budgets provided funding from the General Fund (GF) for
intercity rail capital projects. The 1999-00 Budget provided $17.5 million for
equipment acquisition. The 2000-01 Budget included $30 million for equipment,
and $20 million for track improvements on the San Joaquin Route.
Also in 1999-00, $17 million in proceeds from leveraged leaseback of the existing
California Car and locomotive fleet was received for purchase of new intercity rail
equipment. The 2001-02 Budget included $91 million in PTA funds for track
improvements on all three State-supported routes.
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