California agency showcases new Venture passenger rail cars, highlights safety, climate, jobs and equity

A California State Transportation Agency official at a launch event said new Venture passenger rail cars will be a "game changer for mobility in this state," tying the project to safety, climate action, economic growth and equity.

The official opened by thanking agency staff, local partners and private-sector manufacturers, singling out "our director, Tony Tavares," Caltrans District 10 staff and private partners including Siemens and Sumitomo for their roles in bringing the cars to completion. "You'll hear more from them later," the speaker said.

The speaker framed the project around the agency's "core 4" priorities. On safety, the official argued that moving travelers from personal cars to passenger rail "is gonna decrease conflict points" and could reduce roadway crashes. On climate, the speaker called rail "a cleaner way for people to be able to get about our cities, our communities, and our state," saying fewer emissions would follow from greater rail use. Economic benefits were described as job creation tied to building, maintaining and operating the trains and to station-area development that can attract businesses. On equity, the official said rail will provide "a more affordable way to travel" compared with personal vehicle costs.

The event also included acknowledgments of specific personnel and partners. The speaker named Tammy McGowan as the agency's deputy secretary for communications and Chad Edison as chief deputy secretary for rail and mass transit; Kyle Gradinger was identified as a Caltrans staffer active on rail and mass transit work. The speaker thanked local partners including Stacy Mortensen and referenced the role of the regional joint power authority (JPA). Private firms Siemens and Sumitomo were singled out for manufacturing and leadership roles; the speaker described a recent tour of Siemens' Sacramento facility as ‘‘an impressive facility.’’

Quoting the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, the speaker said transportation decisions shape both connections and barriers people encounter in daily life and thereby affect upward mobility. The talk closed with appreciation for local elected officials and a look ahead: the official said they "look forward to hopping in the rail" and to seeing the cars in operation across the San Joaquin Valley.

No cost figures, delivery timelines, procurement details or formal operational start dates were provided during the remarks. The speaker repeatedly credited state legislative and gubernatorial support for funding but did not specify amounts or funding mechanisms.

Next steps: the speaker indicated there would be additional remarks from industry partners later in the event; no formal votes or agency actions were recorded during the speech.