Modesto celebrates its reborn 1915 depot, a hub for expanded passenger rail in the future
Local leaders gathered Thursday at the newly renovated Modesto Transit Center, a hub for bus service now and for rail in a few years.
At its heart is a 1915 depot built by Southern Pacific Railroad, which had passenger service until 1971. The building, at Ninth and J streets, could be a stop on the Altamont Corridor Express by late 2026.
ACE now runs four weekday round trips between Stockton and San Jose, timed for commuters to the Bay Area. It has about $1.8 billion in state and federal grants to expand into Stanislaus, Merced and Sacramento counties. Future funding could bring much more frequent service in all directions.
Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen noted how the rail plans mesh with efforts to create vibrant districts around the stations.
“I can imagine mixed-use developments that provide affordable housing for working and commuting professionals,” she said. “... Free of the stress of gridlocked traffic, these professionals would be able to walk to their favorite downtown restaurant or catch a concert in the plaza to unwind from a hard day’s work.”
The dedication took place just outside the old depot, with buses passing not far behind the podium. The remodeling was done by Simile Construction Services of Modesto on a $5.23 million contract with the city.
Simile had to protect the Mission Revival architecture as it carried out the job. It removed an interior wall to increase lobby space. It installed new restrooms, heating and air conditioning. Workers refurbished the tile floor and painted the walls white. The roof and exterior stucco were patched.
Bus bays get upgrade
The bus bays at the Transit Center date to 1993. They got new lighting, landscaping, security cameras and paint. The service is run by the Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority.
The old depot will not have trains for now, but bus passengers can use its ticket booth, waiting room and restrooms.
“This new system will make it feel safer, be more comfortable,” said Adam Barth, chief executive officer for SRTA. “... It even provides more plugs for people to charge their phones.”
ACE now has stations in Stockton, at the Manteca/Lathrop border and in Tracy, Livermore, Pleasanton, Fremont, Santa Clara and San Jose.
Planners had hoped to have much of the southern branch ready by now, with double tracking where needed to avoid conflict with freight trains. The Union Pacific Railroad operates on this track and must sign off on each detailed set of plans.
The branch will have stations in north Lathrop, downtown Manteca, Ripon, Modesto, Ceres, Turlock, Livingston and Merced. It will connect with California’s first segment of high-speed rail, down to Bakersfield, if this controversial project survives.
The northern branch will have stations west of Lodi, in northwest Elk Grove and at Sacramento City College, Midtown, Old North Sacramento and Natomas.
Amtrak will expand, too
Modesto long has had an Amtrak station, but it is on the east side of town rather than the core. This line has five daily round trips between Bakersfield and Oakland and a sixth branching to Sacramento.
The $1.8 billion in grants includes money for adding two Amtrak trips to Sacramento, sharing stations with ACE’s northern branch.
The expansion is overseen by the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission. Its vice chair is Tracy Mayor Nancy Young, who joined in Modesto’s celebration.
“It restores the station back to its rightful glory as the birthplace of Modesto,” she said. The city was founded in 1870 by the Central Pacific Railroad, using a depot that predated the current building.
ACE emerged in 1998 as an option for people who drive to Bay Area jobs from the Northern San Joaquin Valley.
That does not have to be a one-way flow, said Channce Condit, chairman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors.
“We also hope to attract those commuting here for employment,” he said, “and that is only going to increase connectivity for transportation throughout our region.”
