Valley Rail
What is Valley Rail?
Valley Rail is a joint program that includes improvements and expansions of both ACE and Amtrak San Joaquins that is focused on improvements between Sacramento and the San Joaquin Valley. Valley Rail implements two new daily round-trips for the Amtrak San Joaquins service to better connect San Joaquin Valley travelers with the Sacramento Area, and extends Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) service between Sacramento and Merced. In addition, Valley Rail will convert the entire fleet including the thruway bus network to renewable diesel fuel, providing greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits across the entire existing (449 track miles) and proposed expanded (119 track miles) San Joaquins and ACE services.
Valley Rail's Latest
For Immediate Release Federal Infrastructure Bill Brings Major Investment to California Rail Network Funding Package Supports Several ACE Rail and …
Federal Infrastructure Bill Brings Major Investment to California Rail Network Read More »
Read More Federal Infrastructure Bill Brings Major Investment to California Rail Network
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 3, 2020 Stockton Diamond Grade Separation Project Wins $100 Million TCEP Grant from State …
EIR Released for Valley Rail Project Public Comment Period Now Open Regarding Track Improvements, New Station Buildout, and Increased Passenger …
Station Project Updates
The Valley Rail Projects that aim to improve travel in the San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento, and the Bay are in various project phases. The dropdown menu allows you to view current project phases: Planning, Design, Construction, and Completed.
Key
San Joaquins Rail
ACE Rail
ACE Rail, San Joaquins Rail
Project Highlights
New stations
16 new stations are being constructed
Increased Service
7 new daily round-trips will be added between the two services
Serving the community
30% of disadantaged communities in California served
Environmental Benefits
52 Million metric tons of C02 GHG
Community Health
Improve public health and reduce Fataties/Injuries
New Equipment
New trainsets for ACE and San Joaquins
Shaping the Future of SJRRC
Why is Valley Rail Important to California?
Valley Rail improves geographic equity by connecting key locations in the Central Valley including Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, and Fresno Counties to each other and beyond to the Bay Area and the greater California rail network via three future high-speed rail (HSR) connections in Merced and San Jose. This transformative, megaregional project helps further the State's vision for an integrated rail network and provides direct mobility and air quality benefits to citizens in nine counties, including over 30% of the disadvantaged communities in California. SJJPA SJRRC TIRCP Grant Announcement Press Release
Based on environmental clearance and funding, the Valley Rail Program consists of two segments one South and one North of Stockton. Each segment includes several projects each with individual costs and schedules.
Current contract work includes engineering and property assessments for different station and track work locations at Ceres, Modesto, Manteca, Lathrop, Stockton, Lodi, Elk Grove, Midtown Sacramento, and Natomas. Additional contracts will be awarded in the future for stations and associated track work.
Milestones
2016
Secured $16.4 million in TIRCP funding from the state to expand ACE platforms to accommodate longer trains
April 2017
Secured $400 million in state funding from SB 132 for ACE to extend to Ceres
July 2017
In preparation for the 2018 TIRCP application, a joint SJRRC/SJJPA study called for investment in five new stations in Sacramento region and connectivity to the HSR network for intercity service between Sacramento and the Central Valley, consistent with HSR Connected Corridors Study
April 2018
Secured $500.5 million in TIRCP funding from the state for the Sacramento Extension
August 2018
Completed the Final EIR for Modesto/Ceres Segment
September 2018
Caltrans released the California State Rail Plan that highlighted the vision for expanded San Joaquins and ACE service including additional trains and new stations and the extension north of Sacramento
October 2019
SJRRC created the Station/Facilities Development Committee to make decisions and reflect community interests in the design and delivery of new stations for Valley Rail
2019
Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Partnerships with SJRRC:
Secured $17.9 million for Grand View Village, Visionary Home Builders, a 62-unit affordable housing project in downtown Stockton west of Cabral Station, including $9.9M for affordable housing, $4 million for ACE rail car and $3.7 million for other transportation projects and programs
Secured $24.7 million for Archway Commons, EAH Housing in Modesto, a 73-unit affordable housing project, with a grant of $4 million for ACE rail car
February 2020
CHSRA Business Plan included direct connections with Valley Rail services in Merced
September 2020
Awarded $20 million in federal funding from the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program for the Stockton Diamond project
October 2020
Completed Final EIR for Sac Extension
November 2020
SJJPA signed an MOU with CHSRA and CalSTA to position SJJPA to be the rail service provider of the Interim HSR Service
December 2020
Awarded $100 million in Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) funding through California's SB 1 to support the Stockton Diamond project
January 2021
SJRRC signed MOU with the Tri-Valley - San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority to position SJRRC to operate future Valley Link commuter rail service to connect BART's rapid transit system to the ACE commuter service
August 2021
SJRRC Station/Facilities Development Committee approved 'Design Principles' for Valley Rail stations - 1) People-First Approach, 2) Serving All Communities, 3) Design Continuity, 4) Durable and Resilient, 5) Adaptable for the Future
Summer 2021
Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) was awarded $500,000 in Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Funds to examine North Valley Extension in partnership with SJRRC and SJJPA
November 2021
SJRRC Station/Facilities Development Committee approved the Valley Rail Station Design Guidelines on areas including site circulation, landscape, vertical circulation, platform, wayfinding, facilities, infrastructure
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) released Phase 1 of the SoCo Rail Study to look at creation of an East Bay rail-to-rail transfer hub in Southern Alameda County to serve as the nexus for megaregional rail services and Bay Area rail and bus services
December 2021
Completed Final EIR for Ceres to Merced
Completed Final EIR for Stockton Diamond
Completed Stockton Diamond NEPA
Competed Final EIR for Elk Grove Station
2021
Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Partnerships with SJRRC:
Secured $27 million AHSC grant award with Service First of California for the Hunter House Project, a 120-unit affordable multifamily housing project for special needs populations, with grant including $9.4 million for transportation improvements that includes street improvements, $2.5 million for a new ACE railcar, and $1.35 million for improvements to Cabral and San Joaquins Street stations
Secured $29 million AHSC grant award with EAH Housing for the On Broadway Project (140-unit affordable multifamily housing), with $10 million for transportation improvements that includes street improvements, $6.1 million for two new ACE railcars, and $1.3 million for improvements to Midtown Station
January 2022
BCAG began work on a strategic plan for the North Valley Rail Extension from Sacramento to Chico
March 2022
Federal FY 2022 omnibus spending package included $4.4 million for the Manteca station project, $1.5 million for the North Lathrop Transfer station project, and $1.5 million for an ACE battery-powered locomotive pilot program
May 2022
SJRRC announced The Rail Academy of Central California (TRACC) in partnership with Sacramento City College and Stockton Unified School District to train and place students into quality transportation-related jobs in railroad and transit sectors
July 2022
Received $57 million in TIRCP funding from the state for Ceres-Turlock
October 2022
Began environmental review for Merced Intermodal Track Connector (MITC)
November 2022
SJRRC Station/Facilities Development Committee approved the Station Design Criteria to provide specific direction and standards
November 2022
ACE became the first Northern California commuter rail service to switch to 100% renewable diesel operations as part of its Climate Action Plan, reducing GHG emissions by 99%
January 2023
Federal FY 2023 omnibus spending package included $1.5 million to support workforce development activities at the Stockton Rail Maintenance Facility and $2.1 million for a state-of-good-repair project at the San Joaquins station
February 2023
Awarded $142 million in TIRCP funding from the state to support station construction in Natomas, Elk Grove, North Lathrop, Manteca, Modesto, Ceres, and Madera, ACE platform extensions at Lathrop/Manteca, Tracy, Vasco Rd, Livermore, and Pleasanton stations, and the Stockton Diamond Grade Separation project
June 2023
Awarded (application for $40 million) from the state's Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) to Caltrans and SJRRC for Ceres to Turlock Double Track Project. Completion of the Southern Alameda County Integrated Rail Analysis (SoCo Rail) Study. MTC Link and SJRRC Link.
Anticipated Future Milestones
Fall 2023
Final plan completed for North Valley Rail
2024
Construction begins on Valley Rail track and stations
2025
Construction of Madera Station and Oakley Station Complete.
End of 2026
New stations open in Natomas, Midtown, Elk Grove, Downtown Manteca, Modesto, Ceres
One new ACE Round-Trip Ceres to San Jose
One Existing ACE Round-Trip Extended to Natomas
End of 2027
New stations open in Lodi, Ripon, North Lathrop Transfer Station
Stockton Diamond Grade Separation completed
Two new ACE Round-Trips Ceres to Natomas with ability to transfer to/from San Jose at North Lathrop Transfer Station
One new intercity Round-Trip Stockton to/from Natomas
2029
New stations open in Old North Sacramento (subject to City of Sacramento Redevelopment Study), City College, Turlock
One new San Joaquins Round-Trip Stockton to/from Natomas
Ceres - Turlock Extension
2030-2033
New stations open in Livingston, Atwater (subject to local funding) Merced (new)
Extensions open for Union City and North Valley
Service optimized to meet HSR, including includes additional (5) round-trips from Merced to Natomas (one of these replaces a round-trip between Stockton and Sacramento), the extension of four round-trips to Chico, the three round-trips to/from Union City, and the one additional round trip between Merced and Oakland.
Madera HSR Station improvements completed for the HSR EOS service.
MITC Project completed.
Valley Rail Station Design Guidelines
Valley Rail will consist of shared ACE and San Joaquins stations between Stockton and Natomas, ACE stations for the extension from Lathrop to Ceres/Merced, and San Joaquins stations at Oakley and Madera. As SJJPA/SJRRC have made passenger experience a priority, there is a strong need for blended policies to guide elements of station design and delivery. Additionally, as the program will be implemented through multiple station design projects, with different design teams and over a duration of time, the agency felt there was need for unified principles, guidelines and criteria. These will help guide station and system designs for visibility, safety, and passenger accommodation while reflecting quality design and relating to their local environment. The overall design goal is to balance consistent system-wide functional continuity, while providing distinctive elements that are reflective of surrounding neighborhood character.
The document can be found here.