Positive Train Control

The Southern California Regional Railroad Agency (SCRRA) that operates the Metrolink regional commuter rail plans to implement a positive train control (PTC) system by 2012, ahead of the deadline set for the end of 2015. Implementation of the PTC system is required by the Rail Safety Improvement Act (RSIA) of 2008. The RSIA requires all Class I railroads, intercity passenger and commuter railroads to implement a PTC system on all main-line tracks where intercity passenger railroads and commuter railroads operate and where toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials are transported.

The five county members of the SCRRA are jointly funding the development of an interoperable PTC system to improve safety for freight and commuter railroads in the region. PTC is designed to prevent train collisions using GPS tracking to remotely monitor train movements. In a typical PTC system, onboard equipment on the train uses GPS satellites to transmit speed and location data over wireless or hard line communications links to an operations center. A back office system at the operations center analyzes the data using software that determine the likelihood of a collision or derailment. An advance alert is sent by the dispatch center to the locomotive and brakes are automatically engaged if the warnings are not acted on by the train engineer. Federal regulations does not prescribe the type of technology a PTC system uses as long as it can accomplish the following functions: preventing train-to-train collisions, derailment from over speeding, incursions into designated work zone areas and train movements caused by switches left in the wrong position.

To learn more about the implementation of PTC services in the region, view the information in the following update documents: Positive Train Control History and Plans for Deployment; Positive Train Control Regional ITS Architecture Elements; and Recommended Positive Train Control Subregional ITS Elements.

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Executive Director’s Monthly Report, November 2024

California State Budget Reduces Barriers to Housing Production and Extends Deadline for Regional Early Action Planning (REAP 2.0) Program 

Earlier this week, the governor signed the 2025-2026 state budget, which includes a suite of reforms to reduce barriers to housing production.

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Executive Director’s Monthly Report, November 2024

Connect SoCal 2024 Implementation Update: Sustainable Communities Strategy Accepted

On May 7, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) informed SCAG that it had accepted SCAG’s determination that the Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) meets CARB’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets.

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Executive Director’s Monthly Report, November 2024

General Assembly Elects 2025-26 Board Officers

The General Assembly voted to approve the nominations for the SCAG 2025-26 Regional Council officers as recommended by the Regional Council: Hon. Cindy Allen (City of Long Beach) will serve as 2025-26 Regional Council president; Hon. Ray Marquez (City of Chino Hills) will serve as Regional Council first vice president; and Hon. Jenny Crosswhite (City of Santa Paula) will serve as Regional Council second vice president. Leadership also recognized Hon.

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Executive Director’s Monthly Report, November 2024

Surface Transportation Block Grant and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Call for Project Nominations Now Open

The federal fiscal year 2026-27 and federal fiscal year 2027-28 Surface Transportation Block Grant program (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program (CMAQ) SCAG online application opened for all eligible applicants on March 31. This application will be available through May 16 at 5 p.m.

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Executive Director’s Monthly Report, November 2024

Surface Transportation Block Grant and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Guidelines Now Available 

On March 6, the SCAG Regional Council approved the federal fiscal year 2026-27 and federal fiscal year 2027-28 Surface Transportation Block Grant program (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program (CMAQ) Program Guidelines.

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