COACHELLA VALLEY–SAN GORGONIO PASS Corridor Rail Service COACHELLA VALLEY– SAN GORGONIO PASS CORRIDOR RAIL SERVICE Coachella Valley Rail Service Overview The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) have been working on planning and supporting expansion of passenger rail service to the Coachella Valley since the first study in 1991. It has been determined that using Amtrak with a state supported intercity train presents the best alternative for developing service. The 141 mile trip between Los Angeles and Indio would cross four counties and there are proposals for up to 9 stations. Due to the trip length and time of approximately 3 hours, Amtrak service with larger seats and food service would be more appealing to the riders. In addition, the service would operate over Union Pacific and BNSF tracks and, in general, Amtrak has a greater ability to initiate service over freight railroads based on a national agreement. The initial service plan would be for two daily round trips along the corridor. COACHELLA VALLEY- SAN GORGONIO PASS CORRIDOR RAIL SERVICE 14 Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Tracks LOS ANGELES Union Pacific Railroad Tracks COUNTY SCRRA Alignment (San Gabriel Sub) SAN BERNARDINO UP Alignment (Alhambra Sub) 15 COUNTY Existing Station with Rail Connections CRESTLINE LAKE ARROWHEAD 210 RUNNING Potential Station* SPRINGS Catchment Areas (15 mile radius) SAN BERNARDINO MONTCLAIR STATION 62 RIALTO L.A. 210 STATION SAN BERNARDINO UNION STATION REDLANDS/ FONTANA COLTON LOMA LINDA 10 ONTARIO MORONGO STATION VALLEY REDLANDS 10 710 POMONA LOS ANGELES LOMA YUCAIPA GRAND LINDA 605 RIVERSIDE TERRACE DOWNTOWN CALIMESA CHERRY 110 VALLEY 57 STATION DESERT HOT 405 SPRINGS BEAUMONT CABAZON FULLERTON PLACENTIA 60 BANNING PALM 105 YORBA NORCO FULLERTON LINDA 15 RIVERSIDE 10 SPRINGS STATION MORENO STATION NORWALK VALLEY PASS AREA 91 STATION 91 CORONA 215 79 THOUSAND ANAHEIM PALMS ANAHEIM HILLS PALM MID-VALLEY 243 SPRINGS 111 ORANGE RIVERSIDE STATION CATHEDRAL CITY INDIO 22 COUNTY RANCHO MIRAGE DOWNTOWN 79 PALM STATION 74 74 74 DESERT INDIO 405 INDIAN 55 WELLS 10 COACHELLA THERMAL 74 LA QUINTA ORANGE COUNTY 15 79 5 74 MECCA 371 111 OASIS * Not all potential stations would be needed, construction and alignment alternatives will be determined in the future Project Benefits • A new regional intercity passenger rail service to the Coachella Valley will ease congestion on local roads and freeways, providing new economic opportunity, improving mobility and the quality of life in the Inland Empire. • The need for daily, convenient intercity passenger rail service is growing as an environmental friendly alternate to the I-10 freeway. • The Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass area are experiencing rapid population growth and demand on this route will continue to increase. • This new connection would serve both the commuter and leisure market with a safe and reliable transportation option. Please visit rctc.org for more information COACHELLA VALLEY–SAN GORGONIO PASS Corridor Rail Service Status/Next Steps • The State of California Division of Rail (Caltrans) has updated the State Rail Plan and has included the service a potential new service. The service was also included COACHELLA VALLEY– in previous versions of the State Rail Plan for approximately 10 years. SAN GORGONIO PASS • In early 2013, Caltrans completed an Alternatives Analysis Study on the Coachella CORRIDOR RAIL SERVICE Valley that identified the purpose and need of the project and showed strong potential travel markets. • Local communities’ support is growing and local and regional officials are advocating for the new service. Initial Project Supporters: • CVAG is working cooperatively with local agencies to set aside some initial transportation funding to support the project. Riverside County Transportation Commission • RCTC is working in coordination with Caltrans, Federal Railroad Administration, County of Riverside Supervisors and CVAG to initiate the next step in the planning process. This comprehensive Service Development Plan will include detailed ridership and cost estimates. Coachella Valley Association of Governments • Once the Service Development Plan is complete the project will need to proceed with Environmental Documents and after those are approved it will be eligible to Coachella Valley compete for federal rail funding grants. Economic Partnership City of Calimesa Task 1: Project Work Plan & Outreach Plan City of Cathedral City City of Corona Dene Project Approach Identify Stakeholder Outreach City of Indian Wells City of Eastvale Task 2: Preliminary Service Planning and Alternatives City of Jurupa Valley Identify Service Patterns/ Develop Ridership and City of Indio Alternatives Cost Projections City of La Quinta Decision Point: Is the project viable to continue? City of Palm Desert Task 3: Environmental Documentation City of Palm Springs Environmental Outreach Identify Impacts and City of Temecula and Scoping Mitigations Greater Palm Springs Task 4: Service Development Plan Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) Finalize Planning Documents to be eligible for Federal Funds Southwest Rail Passenger Association If you would like to be listed as a supporter, please contact RCTC. Please visit rctc.org for more information.