San Joaquin RTD receives state funding for corridors

The California State Transportation Agency recently announced that it has given a $6.8 million competitive grant to the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) to fund the completion of two new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes.

The new routes will include the Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Corridor and the Crosstown Miner Corridor in Stockton.

The new corridors will offer buses and infrastructure the necessary space to expand the BRT system, which is called the Metro Express. The new service is designed to improve the connectivity, efficiency and convenience of the project region.

The BRT project is one out of 14 projects that has been chosen for funding. All 14 projects amount to more than $224 million, which will be financed by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund using proceeds from the California cap-and-trade auctions.

“RTD is excited to proceed with its plans to expand its BRT service to Stockton communities that will greatly benefit from faster and more convenient transportation to work, school, shops, and more,” San Joaquin RTD’s General Manager and CEO Donna DeMartino said. “This project will build upon RTD’s existing and highly successful BRT network of three routes that serve the Pacific, Airport, and Hammer corridors. The project is a product of RTD’s mission to provide a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system for the region.”