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Lofgren-Requested Surface Transportation Projects Totaling $19+M for Santa Clara County Advance in T&I Committee

June 10, 2021

Included are Local Rail-Crossing- & Pedestrian-Safety Projects, San Jose Transit & Morgan Hill Road Improvements, Regional Transportation Conservation Efforts, & Caltrain Technology Optimizations & Accessibility Expansions

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) passed the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act, H.R. 3684, a five-year, $547 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill that included projects requested by U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-19).

The Lofgren-requested projects in California's 19th Congressional District would receive an infusion of $19,068,100 from the federal government if the INVEST in America Act becomes law.

"There is a critical need for bold infrastructure investments across the country and in our community," said Rep. Lofgren. "I've long-been a strong proponent of investments that help improve and modernize our surface transportation. The Santa Clara County projects included in the INVEST in America Act will make our community safer, more accessible, and more connected. The T&I Committee's vote today is the first step in meeting President Biden's vision – that I support – to create good-paying jobs while tackling the climate crisis head-on by rebuilding and re-imagining America's infrastructure. The House should swiftly pass this bill to move our country and the Santa Clara County community forward."

Santa Clara County Project Details

Four Santa Clara County entities have projects included and funded in the T&I-passed INVEST in America Act:

  • The City of San Jose – $12,403,100
  • The Metropolitan Transportation Commission – $5,000,000
  • The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) – $865,000
  • The City of Morgan Hill – $800,000

Project Sponsor

Amount Included

Project Name

Project Description

The City of San Jose

$7,703,100

Warm Springs Grade Crossing Improvements

Safety improvements at four highway-rail crossings on the Warm Springs Subdivision in San Jose, California:

  • (1) 7th Street,
  • (2) Jackson Street,
  • (3) Taylor Street, and
  • (4) Hedding Street.

Improvements include: bulb-outs, sidewalks, crosswalks, detectable warnings, pedestrian channelization railing, pedestrian gates to protect pedestrians from walking into the path of trains, replacement of asphalt track surface with concrete panels, four-quadrant vehicle gates, vehicle gates with channelizers, and traffic signal advance preemption. These improvements will also support the City's effort to permanently establish a quiet zone.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission

$5,000,000

SF Bay Area Regional Advance Mitigation Program (RAMP)

Regional-scale advanced mitigation is an environmental conservation strategy to accelerate project delivery by integrating conservation into transportation project development at multi-jurisdictional scale and in alignment with regional conservation goals and strategies, resulting in better environmental outcomes and lower project costs. This regional lens also supports cross-collaboration from a resiliency perspective.

The Bay Area's advance mitigation program will provide a one-stop shop for transportation projects throughout the nine-county Bay Area. The $5 million in federal funds will serve as initial startup funds to purchase mitigation land/credits based on expected impacts from projects in the regional transportation plan. Once those projects complete the environmental process, the project sponsor would purchase the advance mitigation with project funds. Revenues from the sale of advance mitigation credits will be used to purchase additional land or habitat for future transportation projects, with the intent of creating a self-sustaining advance mitigation fund.

The City of San Jose

$4,700,000

East San Jose Corridor Safety Improvement Project

This funding would provide key pedestrian safety and transit improvements, including high-visibility crosswalks, sidewalk upgrades, and enhanced transit stops on Alum Rock Avenue, from Highway 101 to Millar Avenue. There would be a redesign of Senter Road from Tully Road to Monterrey Road, including over three miles of updated buffered bike lanes physically separating cyclists from traffic.

The City of Morgan Hill

$800,000

Hale Avenue & Expressway Extension Phase 2A

The proposed project would improve Hale Avenue (including Sunnyside Avenue) from Tilton Road South to Watsonville Road. The project would improve intersections with signals and round-abouts, add bike lanes and sidewalks, and construct a new section of roadway approximately 1,000 feet in length.

The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain)

$550,000

Mini-Highs at Caltrain Stations

Mini-highs provide accessible ramps on an elevated loading section that allow passengers needing assistance to board the train without the use of a manual wayside lift. The request is for five stations in CA-19: Tamien, Capitol, Blossom Hill, Morgan Hill, and San Martin stations.

The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain)

$315,000

Caltrain Crossing Optimization Project

For optimized technology at crossings on West Virginia Street and Auzerais Avenue in San Jose. Implementing an optimized crossing system would reduce gate down time at grade crossings. Reduction in gate downs would maintain run time for Caltrain and would facilitate greater vehicle throughput at crossings. Greater operational flexibility for Caltrain would support the agencies 2040 Service Vision which calls for increased service, frequency, and longer trains.

More Information

Click here for Rep. Lofgren's Member-Designated Transportation Projects page. This includes information on project eligibility and transparency requirements for Member requests submitted to the T&I Committee.

Click here for a fact sheet on the INVEST in America Act.

Click here for the full text of the INVEST in America Act.

Click here for a list of organizations that support the INVEST in America Act.

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