Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao signed off on the funding agreement for the Caltrain electrification project Monday, and will release $100 million for the San Francisco-area project. In a recent spending bill, Congress directed the administration to fully fund the Caltrain Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project, but it dragged its feet on releasing the funds, saying the president might not ask for funding to complete the project in future years. Chao's move Monday also commits the Department of Transportation to prioritizing an additional $408 million in appropriations for the project in the future. Caltrain CEO Jim Hartnett said in a statement that signing the funding agreement leads the way to starting the electrification project after years of work. "More commuters are going to love faster and more frequent service at Caltrain stations, almost no pollution and quieter rides."

Source: Los Angeles Times May 22, 2017 21:35 UTC