Rep. Matsui Secures $41 Million for Sacramento Transportation Priorities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 23, 2009
CONTACT: Mara Lee
(202) 225-7163
Rep. Matsui Secures $41 Million for Sacramento Transportation PrioritiesAppropriations Funds Will Deliver Over $40 Million for Light Rail Extension
Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) secured $41 million dollars for Sacramento area transportation projects through the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill passed today by the U.S. House of Representatives. The $41 million in federal funding will help fund three of Sacramento's transportation priorities, including $40 million for Sacramento Regional Transit District's South Line light rail extension.
The Sacramento South Corridor Phase II funding will be used to extend light rail service from its existing terminus Meadowview Road to Cosumnes River College. The extension will link the rapidly developing south Sacramento corridor with downtown Sacramento and will connect two Los Rios community colleges with a combined enrollment of over 36,000 students. The Sacramento South Corridor Phase II project will generate over 2,000 new transit trips an average weekday, which in turn will reduce congestion on local highways, help the region meet its air quality goals, and boost the region's economy with 1,700 new jobs.
"By investing in our transit infrastructure, we are making our communities more livable, invigorating the local economy, and continuing to give Sacramentans the various transportation options they want and deserve," stated Rep. Matsui. "The people of Sacramento rely heavily on our transportation infrastructure and light rail each day to get to work, to school, and to safely transport our friends and family. In these harsh economic times of shrinking state and local budgets, I am pleased to announce the federal government's continued commitment to three of Sacramento's transportation priorities."
The legislation passed today also provides $750,000 for the Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility Rail Line Relocation, which relocates the existing track at Amtrak depot, allowing the intermodal transit center project to continue. Funding will be used to relocate and straighten the mainline Union Pacific freight and passenger rail tracks, passing through the station area. The track relocation project will include new passenger platforms and pedestrian connections between the terminal and the platforms. Improvements will allow for increased capacity for both freight trains and passenger service, with additional benefits to regional rail service on the Amtrak capitol corridor service.
Rep. Matsui also secured $200,000 for pedestrian, ADA and safety improvements on Mather Field Road in Rancho Cordova which will be awarded to the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Funding will be used to add sidewalks and enhance pedestrian and disabled access on the west side of Mather Field Road, between Folsom Boulevard and Rockingham Drive, and allow greater access to the historic Mills Station Light Rail Station and enhance access to both bus and light rail transit.
"The legislation passed today builds on the work of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and our long term economic plan to make smart investments that will provide short-term help in the form of new construction jobs to those hurt most by the economic downturn and long-term solutions like public transit and improved roads to put our economy on sound footing for the future," said Congresswoman Matsui.
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