[{"_1":2,"_76":-5,"_77":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6551020,"mediaKeyId","5360768-3ce7889e4dbe45aebc74d279d965a527","parentId",5360768,"title","State senators, Metrolink and SANDAG press for more frequent service, coastal resilience and sustainable funding for Los Angeles rail corridor","audioSeconds",3730,"startMs",40000,"endMs",3770000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5360768-3ce7889e4dbe45aebc74d279d965a527&start=40&end=3770","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5360768-3ce7889e4dbe45aebc74d279d965a527/thumbnail_40000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6551020/California/State-senators-Metrolink-and-SANDAG-press-for-more-frequent-service-coastal-resilience-and-sustainable-funding-for-Los-Angeles-rail-corridor","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551020-1de829eeb8792ed56daee2e7f93ffbc8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770633673&Signature=OqYW80-ichm6dk8Fo~8yLieaI4YWDbWh7nD2WM63nOs0f~7~Vc9QnWPAkB-M5QHN~rQtaZJenXtslRL0GW2JY47MC-0X27QQ4HJQUb61Te5Uo7XOfTgmvkHT-dz7R7~QnMfXuKr9YD7AfwLIzfLyBzRzHVfLZcB2Z-PsQ5HaYsKS4xNYwRR1Ihx0fui0YEpdEsaDMP3Uui3UXoHQNbYEc8SFncibg95kN8z0~3p11RqHNGzCHh-3PrMLonoiuL3nwj3UT-4SDaCcuS36u9yoc3-601nYqAWkLvDTueSlm1sKrSj7Q2LUTNDXuNS6jzTyS~A5KhNI6Cq~WW8rX1Oxkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California State Senate","date","2025-07-10T00:00:00Z","article","The California State Senate Transportation Subcommittee on Los Angeles Rail Corridor Resiliency on Thursday heard presentations from Metrolink, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and the Legislative Analyst's Office on steps to boost ridership, complete capital projects and shore up funding for a corridor threatened by coastal erosion and rising demand.

Committee members were told that Metrolink increased weekday service by 23% this year, adding 32 trains to reach 174 weekday departures, and is pursuing schedule and fare changes to reach riders outside the traditional commute. \"We added 32 trains,\" said Paul Hubler, chief strategy officer at Metrolink, describing a service change intended to add midday and evening options and to make Los Angeles Union Station a more reliable hub for transfers.

Why it matters: the corridor links long-distance commuter service across Southern California and supports other state-backed services such as the Pacific Surfliner. Committee members framed the hearing as assessing near-term actions to keep passenger rail viable as climate change threatens coastal track segments and as major events increase travel demand.

Metrolink data presented to the subcommittee showed ridership gains but incomplete recovery: weekend boardings set an all-time record in March (123,000 riders), average weekday boardings in April were about 23,000, and fiscal year 2025 ended with roughly 7,780,000 boardings, or about 65% of pre-pandemic levels, Hubler said. Metrolink forecasted that completing its SCORE capital projects could grow annual ridership to 14 million–21 million over time, contingent on completing double-tracking, sidings and station work and on funding sustained operations.

Capital projects and coastal resiliency were central to SANDAG's presentation. Dawn Battista, chief financial officer at the San Diego Association of Governments, said the agency has moved the San Diego section of the corridor from about 50% to 75% double-tracked since 2009 and is advancing projects to raise tracks, replace century-old bridges and stabilize bluffs. \"These investments help operators achieve their goals to increase their service and create resiliency and redundancy along the corridor,\" Battista said, citing the Del Mar Bluff Stabilization Project and special-event platforms in downtown San Diego and near the Del Mar fairgrounds.

SANDAG noted that remaining double-track projects face high costs, environmental constraints and local opposition in some coastal communities. Battista said the agency is using a construction manager/general contractor delivery method on several projects to identify constructability issues early and reduce risk but warned that delays in funding increase costs.

Funding constraints were a repeated theme. Hubler described the importance of state grant programs funded from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, including Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) awards that supported SCORE projects. He asked the Legislature to consider reauthorization of cap-and-trade funding that supports these programs. \"As the legislature takes up the reauthorization of cap and trade this summer, please keep in mind\" the role of greenhouse-gas funds in capital improvements, Hubler said.

Speakers also described federal funding challenges and grant options. Metrolink has pursued discretionary federal grants such as RAISE and is eyeing CRISI; Battista said SANDAG has a federal INFRA grant pending execution for a San Diego double-track and special-events platform project. Frank Gimenez of the Legislative Analyst's Office summarized trade-offs for additional state support, noting that \"providing additional funding does come with trade offs\" because it competes with other priorities.

On fares and ridership incentives, Metrolink launched a student program funded initially with state LCTOP support. Paul Hubler said the 100% student discount produced a notable ridership shift: student riders rose from under 20% to roughly a third of riders systemwide, with some lines reaching 50% student ridership. The program was later reduced to a 50% discount when initial funding was exhausted; Hubler said the agency is monitoring impacts of that change.

Committee members pressed operators on priorities for capital work versus operational reliability. Senators emphasized that frequent, reliable service and clear trip planning are primary drivers of riders' choices. Battista said SANDAG has reprioritized some projects to focus near-term efforts on those expected to increase frequency and reliability sooner, while continuing longer-term resiliency work such as potential inland realignments and tunnel studies.

The subcommittee did not vote on legislation at the hearing. Senators asked agencies to keep the Legislature informed about operational constraints, including freight/passenger shared-use conflicts and grant timelines. The hearing closed with the subcommittee encouraging continued public comment and further collaboration among state and regional partners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Transportation Subcommittee on Lossan Rail Corridor Resiliency","oneSentenceSummary","A California State Senate transportation subcommittee heard from Metrolink, SANDAG and the Legislative Analyst's Office on ridership growth strategies, capital projects including double-tracking and coastal bluff stabilization, and funding constraints tied to state and federal programs.","taxTitle","California State Senate, Senate, Legislative, California","taxId",77650,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State senators, Metrolink and SANDAG press for more frequent service, coastal resilience and sustainable funding for Los Angeles rail corridor