Proposed Train Service Between Coachella Valley, L.A. Hits Milestone

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — A passenger train service proposed between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley took another step forward this week with the approval of an environmental document.

Following a public hearing Wednesday during its regularly scheduled meeting, the Riverside County Transportation Commission certified the final Tier 1 program-level environmental impact statement/environmental impact report for the Coachella Valley-San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor Service Program.

Additional Tier 2 or “project level” environmental review is still needed before any construction can begin on the project, but Wednesday's certification is considered a major milestone.

"Every day, the project is closer to becoming a reality as an alternative to driving to and from the Coachella Valley," said RCTC 1st Vice Chair and Lake Elsinore Councilmember Bob Magee. "With the help of our state and federal partners, we continue to take steps toward service that will help our disadvantaged residents expand their travel and employment options, improve air quality for our region, and boost tourism and our desert economy."

The proposed project would bring twice-daily passenger rail round trips between Los Angeles Union Station and the Coachella Valley. The 144-mile corridor would include stops in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, including in the Banning-Beaumont Pass Area. Existing rail stations in Los Angeles, Fullerton and Riverside would be part of the rail line, the existing station in Palm Springs would be improved for use and up to five new stations could be built east of Colton with a service endpoint in Coachella.

The service is planned with an approximate trip time of 3 hours and 15 minutes. Amtrak will likely provide the intercity service on existing tracks shared with other freight and passenger rail operators, according to the RCTC.

The estimated project cost is $1 billion.

With Wednesday's certification, the RCTC is positioned to start work on Tier 2 project-level environmental studies once $60 million of funding is secured.

Last year, RCTC received close to $25 million from the state’s Regional Transportation Improvement Program and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla is pursuing $5 million through the House Appropriations Committee Community Project Funding process.

The next environmental studies would provide an in-depth analysis of needed infrastructure improvements and station locations, according to the RCTC.