FTA 06-03
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Contact: Kristi Clemens
Tel.:
(202) 366-4043
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $351 Million
to North San Diego County Transit Development Board for Oceanside-Escondido Rail
Corridor
SAN DIEGO, CA – U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Norman Y. Mineta today announced the signing of a Full Funding Grant Agreement
for $351 million to the North San Diego County Transit Development Board for the
Oceanside-Escondido Rail Corridor project.
“The Full Funding Grant Agreement signed today
represents the Bush Administration’s commitment to transportation as a
strategic investment that strengthens the economy, protects the environment and
maximizes the freedom of mobility for all Americans,” said Secretary Mineta.
During the signing ceremony held at the Oceanside
Transit Center, Federal Transit Administrator Jennifer Dorn stated, “The
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is pleased to partner with the North San
Diego County Transit Development Board in their efforts to provide common sense
transit solutions, allowing residents to participate more fully in their
communities. This partnership is an
example of the FTA’s efforts to promote independence and opportunity through
increasing successful coordination of transportations services.”
The North County Transit District is proposing to
convert an existing 22-mile freight rail corridor into a diesel multiple unit
transit system running east from the coastal city of Oceanside through the
cities of Vista, San Marcos and portions of San Diego County, to the City of
Escondido. The alignment will
include a 1.7-mile loop of new right-of-way to serve the campus of California
State University-San Marcos. The
proposed project is located along the State Highway 78 corridor, connecting
Interstate Highways 5 and 15, the primary east-west corridor in Northern San
Diego County. The proposed project
also includes the construction of 15 stations, four of which are at existing
transit centers. The North County
Transit District estimates that average daily ridership in 2020 will total
19,000 passengers.
The total project cost under the current proposed Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) is $351.52 million, with a federal share of $152.10 million. A FFGA is the federal government’s commitment to support a transit project over the course of several years, contingent upon the availability of funds. As funds are appropriated, the full funding projects receive priority consideration.
# # #