REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 16, 2025
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application to the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the electronic submission of a grant application to the United States Federal Railroad Administration requesting $40,000,000 under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program discretionary grant call-for-projects to construct a grade separation project on Vista Road, in the Helendale area.
2. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to electronically sign and submit the grant application, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Works to transmit the grant application to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of submission.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Pursuant to the terms of the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program (FSP), the County is required to provide a 20 percent local match. The total estimated cost to construct the Vista Road grade separation project in the Helendale area (Project) is estimated to be $50,000,000. If awarded funding, the United States (U.S.) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will fund $40,000,000 of the Project cost while the 20 percent local match requirement of $10,000,000 will be funded by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF). The County received a Letter of Commitment from BNSF in connection with the Project and agreement to provide the $10,000,000 match funding. If the grant is awarded, the Department of Public Works (Department) will present an item to the Board of Supervisors (Board) to accept the award and will work with BNSF to bring a funding agreement with the FRA before the Board, as well as an agreement with BNSF, for the 20 percent local match requirement of $10,000,000.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The FSP funds capital projects that restore rail infrastructure to a state of good repair, improve performance, or expand or establish new intercity passenger rail service, including privately operated intercity passenger rail service. The proposed Project, for which the Department is requesting funding from the FSP, will eliminate potential conflicts between vehicle traffic and passenger rail to improve system performance. The Project will construct a grade-separated bridge south of the current at-grade crossing at Vista Road and the BNSF mainline tracks, which are used by the Amtrak passenger rail line, easterly to National Trails Highway. The Project addresses mobility train/vehicle conflicts affecting users of nearby roadways and residents of area communities, improves emergency access, and enhances safety for motorists and pedestrians. The Project also supports increasing rail volumes and freight traffic along one of the nation’s more heavily used freight corridors.
The FSP is a discretionary grant program, established by the federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and administered by the FRA, with $5,070,784,989 in appropriated funds for 2024-25 and for 2025-26, the FAST Act authorizes and appropriates $7,200,000,000 to be awarded by the FRA. On September 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the call-for-projects. Because the FSP is a highly competitive grant, submission of an application does not guarantee funding. The terms included in the grant application require a local match. The grant application is due on February 6, 2026. Approval of this item will delegate authority to the Director of the Department to electronically sign and submit the grant application prior to the application deadline. The FSP Program grant awards are anticipated to be announced in 2026.
Following the grant award announcement, the FRA will contact the designated point of contact for selected applicants to initiate negotiation of a project-specific grant agreement. The FRA requires satisfaction of applicable requirements by the applicant and a formal agreement signed by both the grantee and the FRA, including an approved scope, schedule, and budget, before obligating the grant. If selected as a grant recipient, the Department will return to the Board for approval to accept the grant award and approval of all other applicable requirements for the grant.
This item aligns with the County and Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives for ensuring the development of a well-planned, balanced and sustainable County by improving the traffic movement within the subject areas, and by working cooperatively with other agencies to complete these various projects.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 10, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on December 1, 2025.