California State Rail Plan
As of March 10, 2023, the draft California State Rail Plan is now available online for public comment over the next 60 days. The Rail Plan lays out a strategy for investments and needed steps designed to increase California’s economic growth, improve quality of life, improve equity of the state’s most vulnerable and impacted communities, and advance the state’s ambitious climate action goals.
Factsheet (PDF)
California State Rail Plan Public Draft* (PDF)
Appendix* (PDF)
Please submit comments by May 10th. Comments may be submitted to: RailPlan@dot.ca.gov
*Accessibility Assistance: Caltrans makes every attempt to ensure our documents are accessible. Due to variances between assistive technologies, there may be portions of this document which are not accessible. Where documents cannot be made accessible, we are committed to providing alternative access to the content. Should you need additional assistance, please contact us at , RailPlan@dot.ca.gov or visit https://dot.ca.gov/request-ada-compliant-documents.
If you have any questions about the plan, please contact us at RailPlan@dot.ca.gov.
About the Rail Plan
For over 150 years, California’s state rail system has been an essential part of our transportation infrastructure, and it will play an even more crucial role in our future—expanding our options for moving people and goods in a sustainable way.
The California State Rail Plan (Rail Plan) establishes a long-term vision for an integrated, cohesive statewide rail system that offers efficient passenger and freight service, supports California’s economy, and helps achieve critical climate goals.
Development of the Rail Plan involves collaborating effectively with State agencies, regional and local governments, transportation agencies, commuter rail operators, freight railroads, and other partners across California to implement the vision.
Equity is a key goal for the Rail Plan. Equity priority communities, Native American tribal governments, and other disenfranchised and disadvantaged populations are part of the plan development process.
Outreach
Virtual Public Workshops
A virtual public workshop was held on April 19, 2023, to discuss the draft Plan and provide the public and stakeholders with an opportunity to provide feedback.
YouTube Video of April 19,2023 State Rail Plan Workshop
Presentation: State Rail Plan Workshop Introduction and Summary (PDF)
Presentation: Northern California Breakout Group (PDF)
Presentation: Southern California Breakout Group (PDF)
Equity Priority Workshops
Recently, the project team for the Rail Plan hosted a series of interactive, regional workshops (via webinar) to collect input on how the rail system could contribute to eliminating barriers and creating a more resilient transportation system that equitably distributes the benefits and burdens to the current and future generations of Californians.
The workshops featured a brief overview presentation of the purpose of the Rail Plan and interactive discussions with participants about how the plan may incorporate strategies and measures that promote equity and resiliency. The project team will post a summary report of the workshops in the weeks ahead. View one or more of the workshop videos below.
Documents and Resources
2018 California State Rail Plan
The 2018 Rail Plan is the existing framework. It is available to review here.
Short Line Rail Improvement Plan
Published in August 2021, the Short Line Rail Improvement Plan presents a rich understanding of the needs of the short line railroad industry within California and best practices for implementing a sustaining program of support to meet those needs. Caltrans engaged a broad and diverse range of stakeholders connected with the California short line railroad industry to inform this plan’s findings.
Short Line Rail Improvement Plan (PDF)
Reach Out to the Project Team
To provide your input, please send the project team an email to RailPlan@dot.ca.gov.