AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 12, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

98

Introduced by Senator Blakespear

(Coauthors: Senators Allen, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cortese, Gonzalez, Grayson, Laird, Limón, McNerney, Menjivar, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Smallwood-Cuevas, Umberg, Wahab, Weber Pierson, and Wiener)

May 19, 2025

Relative to California Rail Month.

Fiscal committee: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

This measure would recognize May 2025 2026 as California Rail Month.

WHEREAS, California is home to millions of residents and has a world-leading economy, highlighting the need for a seamless network of connected transportation systems that are resilient, accessible, and high quality; and

WHEREAS, Rail transportation is a central component of the state’s mobility needs and facilitates a travel option that reduces emissions, avoids traffic, and improves the quality of life in the regions it serves; and

WHEREAS, Since California become became the 31st state in 1850, rail has been historically important in connecting communities to the rest of the nation and growing economic opportunity, making rail services a vital public infrastructure that is intrinsically linked to many of the state’s most important goals and celebrated successes; and

WHEREAS, California was originally connected to the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869; and

WHEREAS, The LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority are responsible for operating state-supported intercity rail services: the Pacific Surfliner, the Capitol Corridor, and San Joaquins; and

WHEREAS, There are five local agencies responsible for operating regional rail services: the Southern California Regional Rail Authority operating Metrolink, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board operating Caltrain, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission operating the Altamont Corridor Express, the North County Transit District operating COASTER, and the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District operating Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit; and

WHEREAS, Collectively, these agencies move millions of Californians every year on a sustainable travel mode that reduces emissions and connects communities to opportunities every day; and

WHEREAS, The California State Rail Plan establishes a long-term vision for passenger and freight rail services across the state, recognizing the urgency of developing a rail network by 2050 that is zero emission, provides reliable and frequent service, and is interconnected as part of a multimodal transportation ecosystem; and

WHEREAS, The California State Rail Plan has set a goal of providing nearly 200,000,000 daily passenger-miles on a statewide rail network by 2050; and

WHEREAS, The California State Rail Plan has identified $65,000,000,000 in federal, state, local, and private investment to be completed in the state over the next 10 years, and has a vision for a total investment of $307,000,000,000 by 2050 which will create an economic return of over $537,000,000,000 for the state; and be it further

WHEREAS, The state plans to have approximately 1,500 miles of rail electrified by 2050 and 440 miles of rail constructed over the next 10 years; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That May 2025 2026 be recognized as California Rail Month in recognition of the invaluable contributions that rail has made to the state; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the Transportation Agency, the Department of Transportation, the California Transit Association, and the author for appropriate distribution.