7/2/2026
Rail News: Passenger Rail
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom on June 26 signed an executive order that directs California transportation agencies to “accelerate statewide technologies and strategies” to assist local transit and passenger-rail systems.
Newsom’s order is a “direct response” to the proposed federal fiscal-year 2027 budget requested by President Trump, which would cut federal public transit funding by about 23% and passenger-rail funding by about 82%, California government officials said, citing a report by SmartCitiesDive.
The executive order directs the California State Transportation Agency to do, among other things, the following:
Consolidate critical local and regional projects into a state-wide priority list
Establish public grant dashboardsÂ
Create common standards for transit data and payment systems
Develop design and permitting standards for transit infrastructure on the state highway system
Direct CalTrans to coordinate bus and rail services across the state
Publish data standards and expand the California Integrated Travel Project