Caltrain electrification project earns statewide honors for safety teamwork and infrastructure impact
San Mateo, California – Caltrain’s big project to electrify the tracks earned fresh statewide recognition. The Associated General Contractors of California gave out awards at their Installation and Awards Gala in January. The train agency won Owner of the Year, and its construction partner, Balfour Beatty US, received awards for a Heavy Civil Project worth more than $100 million and for being an excellent partner.
The yearly event honors the best construction projects and leaders in California. It focuses on projects that show excellent safety procedures, teamwork, and contributions to public infrastructure that matter. Organizers stressed how important it is to work together and do things right in order to make changes that help communities all around the state.
Read also: California shifts utility strategy toward lower bills and stronger clean energy infrastructure
Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard described the electrification of the corridor as a complex undertaking that required the coordinated work of hundreds of people across multiple organizations.
“Electrifying the Caltrain corridor was a challenging task that took the efforts of hundreds of people throughout our organization and those of our partners,” said Bouchard.
“Today, that hard work is paying off for tens of thousands of commuters every day, and we couldn’t be prouder of what we were able to achieve together.”
AGC of California Chief Executive Officer Peter Tateishi also pointed to partnership as a defining element of the work.
“Projects like this don’t come together without strong partnerships,” said Peter Tateishi.
“Caltrain and Balfour Beatty US set a high bar for collaboration, safety, and execution to deliver critical infrastructure for our communities.”
The latest honors add to a growing list of accolades connected to the electrification program. Since the project began, Caltrain has received multiple awards, including a 2025 Sustainability Award from Sustainable San Mateo County, the American Public Transit Association’s Commuter Rail Safety Gold Award, and a Build America Highway and Transportation Renovation Award from the Associated General Contractors of America. Together, the recognitions underscore the project’s expanding impact and its role in reshaping regional transit.
