CA AB1848

Appropriates $4,000,000,000 from the High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Fund to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority for Metrolink commuter rail system improvements.

Requires improvements to support blended operation with high-speed trainsets upon completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the California high-speed rail system.

Goals include reducing rail passenger commute times by 50 percent or more by January 1, 2028, on three corridors: Palmdale to Los Angeles Union Station, Riverside to Los Angeles Union Station, and Oceanside to Los Angeles Union Station.

Infrastructure upgrades must make corridors suitable and ready for high-speed train operation, enabling high-speed trains to operate immediately or after additional planned investments.

Metrolink operates 536 route miles serving six southern California counties with 21.5 million residents and carried nearly 12 million passengers during fiscal year 2018-19.