The proposed corridor would provide improvements to the existing state-supported SAN joaquins between sacramento oakland and merced, CA, with an extension north from sacramento to chico and redding, CA

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), doing business as Caltrans, has been awarded a $500,000 Cooperative Agreement by the Federal Railroad Administration under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (CFDA 20.326) program. The funding supports the development of a Service Development Plan (SDP) for a proposed rail corridor improvement project in California. Key tasks include developing a project performance plan, compiling existing planning materials, drafting a statement of work, establishing a project schedule and budget, and preparing a project description for the next phase of the SDP process. The proposed corridor would provide enhancements to the existing state-supported San Joaquins route between Sacramento, Oakland, and Merced, with a northern extension to Chico and Redding. The project aims to improve frequencies and service on this intercity passenger rail corridor in California. The award period runs from April 1, 2024 to October 31, 2026.

The proposed corridor would also include new frequencies. Using service development plan (SDP) SOW framework, the corridor sponsor will develop a project performance plan (task 2.1), existing planning and development materials task 2.1), statement of work (task 2.2), approved project schedule (task 2.3), approved project budget (task 2.4). The outcome of this project will be the project description for CID step 2, to perform the necessary work to complete an SDP. The proposed corridor will serve merced, stockton, oakland, sacramento, and redding as well as communities in between.