Letter Requesting Funding for Metrolink
June 9, 2026
The Honorable Monique Limón
President Pro Tem, California State Senate
1021 O Street, Suite 8518
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Robert Rivas
Speaker, California State Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 8330
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Toks Omishakin
Secretary, State Transportation Agency
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2340
Sacramento, CA 95814
Darren Kettle
Chief Executive Officer, Metrolink
900 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1500
Los Angeles, CA 90017
RE: Metrolink FY 2026-27 Budget
Dear Senate President Pro Tem Limón, Assembly Speaker Rivas, Secretary Omishakin and CEO Kettle:
I am writing to urge the state and Metrolink to take immediate action to prevent service disruptions resulting from the agency’s fiscal crisis. We should fully utilize every available state and local funding source that can support operations, and if a funding gap remains, we should work together to provide the additional resources needed to avoid service disruptions.
Since 2022, the Senate Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency has been reviewing the fiscal, management and infrastructure challenges facing the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor and the three passenger rail services. Simply put, the region’s inability to identify a funding plan that fully funds rail service connecting six counties and millions of Californians is cause for alarm.
A failure to properly fund and manage rail services would have serious consequences for passengers, local communities and the state and its economy. Any short-term solution should maximize available state funding that could be used toward operations, including the State Rail Assistance Program. It should also reflect the totality of available local funding and any other available revenues.
The challenges facing Metrolink are significant and reflect a broader crisis confronting transit providers across all modes and regions of the state. Allowing major service cuts would undermine reliability, drive away riders and accelerate a downward spiral that becomes increasingly difficult and costly to reverse. It is clear the Legislature and local agencies must act to provide the funding needed to stabilize service while advancing long overdue reforms to how California funds, plans and delivers transit services. Waiting any longer will only make matters worse.
While not a state-supported intercity rail service, the state has made sustained investments in Metrolink operations and capital projects. These funds include competitive grants and formula-based revenues that include Metrolink’s share based on attributable services. If this funding environment is not sustainable, then the region must consider the necessary changes to how the Metrolink agency accesses and receives state funding.
Rail is crucial to meeting the state’s climate goals and modern transportation needs. We must act now, if we want it to succeed. Thank you for your partnership and support of Southern California’s rail network.
Sincerely,
Catherine S. Blakespear
State Senator, District 38
