SACRAMENTO — Today, Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) announced a bill to electrify California’s commuter rail system, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut Southern California commute times in half by January 2028.

Funding for the electrification will be redirected from the California High-Speed Rail Project, which is billions over budget, years behind schedule and unlikely to deliver a viable route from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

“California deserves immediate solutions, not baby steps,” said Lackey. “This Republican New Deal is a common sense solution to get cars off the road without spending new taxpayer dollars. High-Speed Rail is a disaster – it’s time to put that money towards projects that will actually do some good..”

AB 1848 will provide $4 billion to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority to fund improvements to the Metrolink commuter rail system along the following corridors:

The Palmdale to the Los Angeles Union Station, via Santa Clarita and Newhall

The Riverside to the Los Angeles Union Station, via Corona, Fullerton, and Buena Park

The Oceanside to the Los Angeles Union Station, via Irvine

Assemblyman Lackey proudly represents the 36th Assembly District, which contains portions of Kern, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, including the communities of Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, Quartz Hill, Acton, Boron, Littlerock, Pearblossom, Mojave, Rosamond, California City, Phelan and Piñon Hills.