As part of the funding, MTS received $48,315,000 for Phase 2 of the Orange Line Improvement Project, also known as Rail Ready. This project, the agency says, will deliver critical upgrades to the aging Orange Line corridor, “improving safety, reliability, and long-term state of good repair across approximately 18 miles of track.” Phase 2 focuses on enhancements from Massachusetts Station through El Cajon Transit Center, “building on prior investments and advancing system performance across the eastern segment of the line.” Project elements include: Grade crossing safety enhancements. New universal interlocking crossovers. Replacement of aging signal interfaces. Additional signal, track, and communications improvements. This funding, MTS says, builds on earlier investments from a 2022 TIRCP award, which supported Phase 1 improvements from 32nd & Commercial Street Station through West Massachusetts Avenue Station. Phase 1 modernized track, signal, grade crossing, and variable message sign (VMS) systems. Infrastructure design for Phase 2 was completed on Dec. 18, 2025, and construction is anticipated to begin in July 2026. As part of the grant process, MTS requested formal allocation of TIRCP funds from the California Transportation Commission (CTC) this month. Following approval at the March 20 meeting, the funds will be obligated to MTS, enabling construction to proceed as scheduled. The funding allocated by the CTC is part of TIRCP’s Cycle 6 awards. In 2023, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) allocated more than $3.4 billion statewide for initiatives that “enhance transit safety, increase ridership, modernize infrastructure and strengthen regional connectivity.” “This investment from the…
