California: Governor Newsom announces nearly $1.3 billion for cleaner transportation, stronger transit connections
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Nov 10, 2026

Governor Newsom announces nearly $1.3 billion for cleaner transportation, stronger transit connections

While Trump pushes transit cuts, California is keeping trains running, putting cleaner buses on the road, and building better connections to jobs and schools

What you need to know: As Governor Newsom and the California delegation travel to Türkiye for COP31, California is putting nearly $1.3 billion to work protecting essential train service, expanding clean transportation and better connecting communities statewide. The investments will help prevent major Metrolink service cuts, move Caltrain's downtown San Francisco extension forward and bring more than 75 zero-emission buses and smaller transit vehicles to California communities.

SACRAMENTO – As Governor Gavin Newsom and the California delegation take the Golden State's clean transportation leadership to Türkiye for the United Nations climate conference, COP31, the Governor today announced nearly $1.3 billion to protect passenger rail service, expand clean transportation and make everyday trips easier for Californians.

The 28 awards are through the California State Transportation Agency's Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) and State Rail Assistance program and help prevent major Metrolink service cuts in Southern California, advance Caltrain's extension into downtown San Francisco and bring more than 75 zero-emission buses and smaller transit vehicles to communities across the state. The investments connect California's climate goals with everyday needs: dependable transportation to work, school, and other destinations.

California has shown that investing in cleaner transportation can improve people's everyday lives. These investments build on that progress, funding cleaner buses, better rail connections, and the train service families count on to get to work and school. As we take California's experience to the world stage, we're continuing to build a cleaner, more connected state.

Governor Gavin Newsom

"California is turning big transit ideas into everyday trips," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. "From Caltrain's extension into downtown San Francisco to clean buses in the Central Valley and tap-and-pay fares across Metrolink, these awards make transit cleaner, faster and easier for riders across the state."

Connecting more Californians to jobs, schools, and communities

Under Governor Newsom's leadership, California is investing in cleaner transportation that connects more people to jobs, schools and their communities. These awards build on that work with new buses, stronger rail connections, and improvements that make transit easier to use

In the Bay Area, a $750 million investment will advance The Portal, a major project that will extend Caltrain approximately two miles from Fourth and King streets into downtown San Francisco.

Led by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, the project will connect Caltrain to the Salesforce Transit Center, creating a major regional transit connection and establishing the future San Francisco terminus for California high-speed rail. The state's investment builds on local and regional funding commitments as the project advances through the Federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grant program.

Other projects expanding transportation connections across California include:
  • Central Valley: Modernizing transit facilities and introducing battery-electric buses in Kings County to connect communities to future high-speed rail service, while expanding zero-emission microtransit options in Merced County.
  • Sacramento Region: Adding 21 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses to support increased service between Sacramento and Davis.
  • Central Coast: Advancing rail infrastructure improvements needed to bring passenger rail service to Salinas and supporting transit facility improvements in Santa Cruz County.
  • Bay Area: Adding a second main track through Fremont and Newark to improve Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) operations and advancing Caltrain's battery-electric train pilot between San Jose and Gilroy.
  • Southern California: Expanding local transit options in Ventura, Riverside and Los Angeles counties, including new fixed-route service, microtransit and zero-emission buses.

Additional projects will improve transit access at BART's Ashby Station in Berkeley, expand e-bike share in Truckee, and improve pedestrian safety near Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) tracks.

Delivering cleaner, more convenient transportation

Governor Newsom's investment in cleaner transportation, backed by the Legislature, will help put more than 75 new zero-emission buses and microtransit vehicles will help agencies transition to cleaner fleets while improving service for riders.

In Santa Monica, new battery-electric buses will complete the transition of the city's Big Blue Bus fleet to all-electric vehicles. Additional zero-emission buses will serve communities in Sacramento, Kings County, Marin County and Montebello, while Merced County will expand cleaner microtransit options.

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The awards will also make transit more convenient, including introducing tap-to-pay fares using a bank card or phone across Metrolink, improving access at Downtown Burbank Station and modernizing California's statewide bi-level intercity passenger rail fleet.

Other projects include new track and safety infrastructure for Caltrain, pedestrian safety improvements at SMART's Ward neighborhood rail crossing, and planning to improve service along the Los Angeles–San Diego–San Luis Obispo rail corridor ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Keeping Californians moving

Governor Newsom secured a $4.64 billion transit recovery package with the Legislature to help keep buses and trains running and fund transit improvements across California. Today's awards build on that commitment, helping keep essential trains running while requiring work toward long-term financial stability.

In Southern California, a $20 million investment will help Metrolink avoid proposed service reductions of 29% on weekdays and 40% on weekends compared with its 2025 schedule. The funding will help maintain service for workers, students and families through summer 2028, as the region prepares to host the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The investment comes with an expectation that Metrolink and its member agencies will work with the state to identify long-term solutions to the system's funding challenges.

Additional investments will help maintain existing COASTER commuter rail service in San Diego County and improve reliability along some of California's busiest passenger rail corridors.

Projects include replacing aging railroad signals and infrastructure near Davis Station to reduce disruptions along the Capitol Corridor, constructing new rail infrastructure in Santa Clara County to improve passenger and freight rail operations, and upgrading signals and communications along the SPRINTER rail line between Oceanside and Escondido.

"We are grateful to Governor Newsom, Secretary Omishakin and the State of California for recognizing the essential role Metrolink plays in connecting Southern California's communities," said Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle. "This critical investment helps us maintain the service our riders depend on to get to work, attend school and access opportunities throughout the region. It also provides much-needed stability as we work with the state and our member agencies to build a more sustainable future for regional rail. Reliable, accessible transportation is vital to our region's economic health and quality of life, and this funding helps ensure we can continue delivering on that commitment."

Putting California's climate investments to work

Governor Newsom is putting California's climate investments to work building cleaner transportation and stronger transit connections. Backed by the Legislature, these awards will help preserve transportation services that Californians count on today while funding improvements for the future. Nearly $1.3 billion will support 19 projects through the eighth cycle of TIRCP, which funds improvements to California's intercity, commuter and urban rail systems, as well as bus and ferry transit systems.

Since 2015, TIRCP has awarded more than $12.7 billion to 171 projects statewide, supporting improvements that expand transit service, increase ridership, improve safety and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

An additional $66.5 million in State Rail Assistance funding will support eight projects that protect existing passenger rail service and improve rail safety, reliability, and operations.

Both programs receive funding through Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. TIRCP also receives funding through California's Cap-and-Invest program and is part of California Climate Investments, which puts Cap-and-Invest dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment.

Together, these investments help preserve the transportation Californians rely on today while building cleaner, more connected communities for the future.

California's transportation leadership

Under Governor Newsom, California is investing in cleaner transportation, stronger transit connections, and infrastructure that helps people and goods move across the state.
  • Transportation and innovation. The California State Transportation Agency oversees more than $12 billion in annual transportation funding across eight state agencies — delivering roads, bridges, rail, transit, and zero-emission infrastructure to every corner of the state. The California Transportation Commission allocates an additional $10 billion annually for transportation projects. Caltrans manages more than 50,000 miles of highway, and recently launched Traffic Mobility Insights, an AI-powered platform that unifies seven statewide traffic systems, refreshes highway bottleneck detection every 25 minutes, and can generate emergency evacuation routes in minutes during wildfires or earthquakes.
  • High-speed rail. California's high-speed rail project is advancing daily, with major segments from Merced to Bakersfield under design and construction. More than 90 miles of guideway are complete, along with 70 fully completed major structures and 22 more structures underway across Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties. In October, the California High-Speed Rail Authority reached two major milestones: approving a contract for high-speed trains and completing the final environmental review for the San Francisco-Los Angeles/Anaheim system.
  • Cleaner cars, trucks, and school buses. Under the Governor's leadership, Californians have purchased almost 2.8 million zero-emission vehicles, and nearly 12,000 have switched to electric cars with incentives from California's MyFirstEV rebate program. The state's clean vehicle manufacturing and infrastructure industries have also announced more than 25,000 jobs. In 2025, San Bernardino County made history by welcoming the first hydrogen-powered passenger train into revenue service in North America. In May, Governor Newsom launched a $1 billion rebate program for electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and in April 2025, announced $500 million for 1,000 clean school buses statewide. Demand for zero-emission bus and truck incentives has more than doubled year-over-year.

Governor Newsom's Build More, Faster – For All infrastructure agenda has driven historic investments in transportation that will benefit all Californians for decades to come. More than 29,000 California infrastructure projects are tracked at build.ca.gov.

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