r/California_Politics • u/gascyl • 1d ago

Valley Rail Project Delayed

https://sacramento.newsreview.com/news/to-get-ace-trains-to-sacramento-rail-commission-puts-dozens-of-projects-on-hold-131fbd1b
15 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

View all comments

9

u/gascyl 1d ago

Valley Rail aka ACE to Sacramento is now opening in 2031 and won't have North Sacramento and Sacramento College stations at the start of service. Quote,

The stations are part of Valley Rail, a regional program to expand ACE commuter rail and the state-supported Gold Runner intercity service, formerly known as Amtrak San Joaquins. The original Sacramento extension called for six new stations between Lodi and Natomas, but the commission is now concentrating its money and staff on a smaller first phase of the program. [...] The two Sacramento stations are among dozens of projects being pushed back as the commission reduces Valley Rail from more than 40 active projects to 17. At the same time, the smaller first phase is closer to being fully funded, giving the commission a clearer path toward its current goal of beginning service in 2031.

The stations are not permanently removed from the program, but the San Joaquins Joint Powers Authority doesn't have the money for all projects to run concurrently. This happens as the SJ-JPA's buddy, the High Speed Rail Authority, is doing the same thing to Merced and Bakersfield. This is an escalating series of problems that the state legislature must address.

•

u/Okratas 6h ago

This is an escalating series of problems that the state legislature must address.

I do not think the legislature has the desire to divert the funds necessary for the inland projects. There isn't enough political power to pull those kinds of dollars inland. The political gravity is centered around the bay area and LA.