The Bay Area’s legislative delegation has asked Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders to earmark $2.2 billion annually from cap-and-trade revenues for projects in the region that will eventually connect to the state’s high-speed rail line.
What happened: Nine members of the Senate and Assembly sent a letter Tuesday to Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and the lead cap-and-trade negotiators for each chamber — Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and Sen. Monique Limón — arguing that success for high-speed rail hinges on whether the project connects to population centers in the Bay Area and Los Angeles.
“The Bay Area isn’t just a region, it’s the economic engine of California and the nation,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement. “Investing here isn’t a gamble, it’s the smartest bet we can make on California’s future growth and our nation’s global competitiveness.”
The lawmakers highlighted the need for funding to improve San Jose’s train station, extend Caltrain into downtown San Francisco and electrify commuter rail between Gilroy and San Jose.
