Improving the State's Passenger Rail Services

April 16, 2025

The Honorable Toks Omishakin, Secretary
State Transportation Agency (CalSTA)
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2340
Sacramento, CA 95814
 

The Honorable Tony Tavares, Director
Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
1120 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
 

Dear Secretary Omishakin and Director Tavares:
 

Thank you for your continued partnership in meeting California’s transportation needs. I write to you to raise the importance of three areas of interest to the state’s passenger rail services.

First, conducting the necessary long-range planning to ensure the state’s intercity fleet and equipment needs are met. It is vital to have a public plan that outlines the state’s vision for service improvements, expansions and deploying zero-emission equipment that require the state to either purchase or lease additional equipment. Second, preparing financial modeling for the Intercity Passenger Rail Program to ensure sustained and robust state investments. It is critical for all stakeholders to have a clear understanding of need and available state resources to support services. Third, please provide an update on the status of the state-led study currently underway in San Clemente. The nature of multi-agency planning in the LOSSAN corridor requires all stakeholders to speak clearly on goals, timelines and deliverables associated with resiliency-related planning.

Thank you for your attention to these matters, I look forward to further work together.
 

Sincerely,
Catherine Blakespear
Senator, District 38