ACE

ACE officials are anticipating that expansion into Stanislaus and Sacramento counties will begin in late 2026, The Modesto Bee reports. (ACE Photograph)

Transit Briefs: ACE, Amtrak, BART, Brightline West

ACE’s (Altamont Corridor Express) timeline is being pushed back for its commuter rail service expansion into Stanislaus and Sacramento counties in California. Also, Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission are seeking a federal study for new long-distance service across Mississippi and Louisiana to Texas; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) proposes fare increases in 2024 and 2025; and Brightline West teams with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California (SBCTC) and the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union on its planned 218-mile high-speed rail system connecting Las Vegas and Southern California.

CalSTA awarded Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) $375 million for the six-mile, four-station BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension Project that will bring BART service to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara. Project completion is scheduled for 2033.

CalSTA Awards $2.5B for Rail Transit Projects

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) are among the 14 California agencies that will share $2.515 billion in TIRCP (Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program) grants from CalSTA (California State Transportation Agency) for rail-related projects.

As part of its Climate Action Plan, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission has moved to the sole use of renewable diesel (R100) for its ACE locomotive fleet.

Transit Briefs: ACE, NJT, STM

San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission has made the switch to 100% renewable diesel for locomotives operating in ACE (Altamont Corridor Express) commuter rail service in California. Also, New Jersey Transit (NJT) and Berkeley College have signed a three-year marketing agreement; and Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has released its 2023 budget and 2023-32 Capital Expenditures Program.

ACE Ceres-Merced Extension Project Advances

The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) Board of Directors has certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project extending Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) service south between Ceres and Merced, Calif.

SJRRC will provide up to 50% off regular ACE commuter rail tickets to qualified riders as part of a one-year pilot program.

SJRRC Caps Fares With CAP

California’s San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) has launched the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) Community Assistance Program (CAP) as a one-year pilot “to address equity and enhance regional mobility.”

$100MM TCEP Grant For Stockton Diamond Grade Separation

A $237 million highway/rail grade separation project on what is described as “the busiest, most congested at-grade rail junction and rail bottleneck in California” has been awarded a $100 million TCEP (Trade Corridor Enhancement Program) grant from the California Transportation Commission (CTC).

ACE charges ahead with Siemens

The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) has awarded Siemens a contract to build four Charger diesel-electric locomotives for Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) service, with an option to purchase four additional units.

San Joaquin, ACE improvements subject of public hearing

Assemblymember Adam C. Gray, who represents California’s 21st Assembly District (Merced County and portions of Stanislaus County) and serves as the Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Rail, will be hosting a  public hearing on  passenger rail services in the San Joaquin Valley on Friday, August 21, 2015 at 10 a.m. at the Modesto City Council/Stanislaus County Chambers in downtown Modesto. The focus of this hearing will be on “promoting the near-term improvement and expansion of the successful San Joaquin and Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) rail services,” according to a statement released by Gray’s office.