Rep. Doris Matsui Applauds Sacramento Railyards Groundbreaking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 23, 2009

CONTACT: Alexis Marks or Mara Lee
(202)225-7163

Today, Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-05), applauded the infrastructure groundbreaking of the Sacramento railyards at Railyards Boulevard, part of a project that when completed, will nearly double downtown Sacramento's size and make it home to thousands of residents, hundreds of businesses, and a major train and transit center.

"Today's celebration of the groundbreaking of the Sacramento railyards is an important step forward in our efforts to make efficient public transit a reality in Sacramento. Paired with our work to relocate the current tracks, the two projects will link the new railyard to a thriving downtown Sacramento," said Rep. Matsui.

Congresswoman Matsui has successfully secured federal funding for the relocation of the downtown rail lines and the accompanying intermodal station in coordination with the City of Sacramento and Sacramento Area Council of Goverments' (SACOG) larger transportation blueprint. Rep. Matsui secured $392,000 for the rail line relocation through the federal appropriations process in Fiscal Year andlsquo;08; and $950,000 in Fiscal Year '09 alone.

In addition to federal funding secured by Rep. Matsui, project monies contributing include: Propositions 1B and 1C, City of Sacramento Parking Revenue Bond and Redevelopment Tax Increment, Measure A and federal stimulus funds.
In total, approximately $288 million in federal, state and local funds have been allocated to various infrastructure improvements at the railyards site, the project's roads and utilities. Funding is required to adequately connect existing roadways in downtown and along the river to the site, which includes the track relocation project and the new transit facility at the south end of the railyard. Most recently, SACOG allocated $20 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, which Rep. Matsui voted for in the U.S House of Representatives, for the track relocation project.

Congresswoman Matsui has also played a central role in pushing this project forward. In August of 2008, she hosted a meeting in her office with the relevant federal and state agencies, and encouraged them to work together and also make the track relocation/intermodal a priority. Since then, Rep. Matsui's staff has hosted meetings every other week to ensure the federal agencies and state agencies continue to work together toward completion of the project.

"I have a view from my office of the railyards, and every time I look out the window I once again recommit myself to making this project a reality. It is something I want to see in my lifetime and I am working to make sure that it does," stated Rep. Matsui.