ACE gets $20M grant to keep trains running

STOCKTON -- The public agency that operates the Altamont Corridor Express rail service for workers commuting from the Valley to the Bay Area has been awarded a $20 million federal grant to continue train service during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

ACE has seen its ridership plummet 95% since the advent of the pandemic led to massive job cuts and shelter-in-place orders throughout the commuter train service area. That in turn has severely reduced fare revenue.

In response, ACE has suspended its Saturday service,, two westbound and two eastbound daily trains; and reduced train size to five cars.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration recently announced the grant award of $20.2 million to the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act approved by Congress and signed by the president March 27.

“We know many of our nation’s public transportation systems are facing extraordinary challenges and these funds will go a long way to assisting our transit industry partners in battling COVID-19,” Federal Transit Administration acting administrator Jane Williams said in a statement regarding the CARES Act grants.

“These federal funds will support operating assistance to transit agencies of all sizes providing essential travel and supporting transit workers across the country who are unable to work because of the public health emergency.”