Amtrak's Plans For California

The national passenger rail corporation announced a $10 billion plan to dramatically improve service in the state.

1 minute read

March 10, 2001, 11:00 AM PST

By California 2000


This week, California policy-makers and Amtrak officials unveiled a new plan to improve rail service throughout the state. The $10 billion plan, which would include straight service between San Francisco and Los Angeles and more frequent service between Sacramento and San Jose, is receiving strong support from state officials. Although a similar bill was rejected in Congress last year, the new plan is expected to pass, partially thanks to Norm Mineta, former Bay Area congressman and now Secretary of Transportation under the Bush administration. The project, which has already gained widespread support, would focus on already popular routes and existing right-of-ways, ensuring increased use and decreasing environmental concerns. The new Amtrak lines would increase train frequency and, by allowing trains to travel up to 125 mph, decrease transit time drastically. Officials hope that the proposed rail lines will encourage rail travel and help relieve congestion problems.

Thanks to California 2000 Project

Wednesday, March 7, 2001 in The Sacramento Bee

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

7 hours ago - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

July 6 - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

July 6 - InTransition Magazine