REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 17, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works -Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application to the California Transportation Commission for the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Grant Application to the California Transportation Commission, requesting $35,000,000 under the 2026 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program call for projects, to implement a grade separation safety and mobility infrastructure project in the Helendale area.
2. Approve a Letter of Commitment, committing $2,500,000 from the Public Works Local Match Reserves as the County’s portion of the required 30 percent local match for the grant application in Recommendation No. 1.
3. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer or the Director of the Department of Public Works to sign and submit the letter of commitment, grant application, and any necessary non-substantive amendments to the California Transportation Commission under the 2026 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program, subject to review by County Counsel.
4. Direct the Director of Public Works to transmit the letter of commitment, grant application and any non-substantive amendments related to the grant application to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Department of Public Works (Department) is requesting funding from the 2026 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) for a proposed grade separation project in the Helendale area (Project). For projects nominated under the regional share of the 2026 (TCEP), the California Transportation Commission (CTC) requires matching funds equal to at least 30 percent of the total cost of the project phases requested for funding. The total estimated Project cost is $50,000,000; therefore, the County will request $35,000,000 in TCEP funding and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway will provide a portion of the required 30 percent match in the amount of $12,500,000. To address the County’s portion of the TCEP grant match requirement, the Department is requesting Board authorization to utilize funding from the Public Works Local Match Reserves (PWLMR). In 2025-26, the Board of Supervisors (Board) established the PWLMR to facilitate the award of grant funding by providing a dedicated funding source for required local match contributions, thereby enabling the Department to efficiently leverage available federal, state, and other grant funding opportunities.
Per the TCEP grant guidelines, the CTC will only program and allocate funding for fully funded projects. The letter of commitment must be signed by the Chief Executive Officer or other officer authorized by the applicant’s governing board. If the TCEP grant is awarded, the Department intends to use PWLMR as the funding source for the required $2,500,000 match. No PWLMR allocation is being requested at this time. The Department will return to the Board to request acceptance of the grant award and allocation of the required PWLMR funds.
|
Project |
Total Project Cost Estimate |
TCEP Grant Funding Request |
Anticipated BNSF Match Amount |
Local Match Request (PWLMR) |
|
Helendale Grade Separation |
$50,000,000 |
$35,000,000 |
$12,500,000 |
$2,500,000 |
BNSF is also providing the services of its grant-writing consultant to prepare the application at no cost to the County. The County expects to receive a letter of commitment from BNSF in connection with the Project and enter into an agreement regarding the required match.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department is requesting funding from the 2026 TCEP for the Project. The Project is intended to address freight mobility, traffic, and safety concerns at the existing at-grade BNSF rail crossing on Vista Road, where up to 70 trains travel through the corridor each day.
The Project would close the existing Vista Road crossing and redirect traffic approximately one mile south of Jordan Road, where a new bridge would be constructed over the BNSF rail line and connect to National Trails Highway. By separating the train and roadway movements, the Project would improve public safety, traffic circulation, and mobility in the area.
TCEP is a competitive state program established by Senate Bill 1 and administered by the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The 2026 TCEP provides an estimated $1,287,958,000 for projects programmed in fiscal years 2027-28 and 2028-29. The program funds freight infrastructure improvements on corridors with high freight volumes. Eligible projects include freight rail improvements, grade separations, and local road and connector improvements that facilitate the efficient movement of goods.
On August 20, 2026, the CTC adopted the 2026 TCEP Guidelines and issued the call for projects. Project nominations are due November 20, 2026, and program adoption is scheduled for June 24-25, 2027. Because TCEP is competitive, submission of a nomination (grant application) does not guarantee funding.
Approval of this item will delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer or the Director of the Department to finalize, electronically execute, and submit the grant application before the application deadline. If the Project is selected for funding, the Commission will require an approved baseline agreement that establishes the Project’s scope, schedule, cost, expected benefits, and reporting responsibilities before allocation. If successful, the Department will return to the Board for approval to accept the award and satisfy all other applicable grant requirements.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 6, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Scott Bruckner, Administrative Analyst, 387-4020) on November 2, 2026.