Proposed Train Line Hopes to Expand Use of Public Transportation Around Loma Linda

The Redlands Passenger Rail project could not only cut the amount of traffic on the roads, but could help spur residential and commercial development that could entice residents to choose public transportation more often than not.

That’s the plan presented at three scoping meetings conducted by the San Bernardino Associated Governments.

The final meeting was held Tuesday night at the San Bernardino Santa Fe Train Station. SANBAG officials set up boards with conceptual drawings with everything from a map of the route to a proposed pedestrian bridge.

A handful of residents, along with county and San Bernardino city officials, made up a crowd of 40.

The goal behind the meetings was to get public comments, officials said. The project proposes using existing rail tracks to create a nine-mile transportation corridor from the Santa Fe Depot to the University of Redlands. The route travels southeast, barely nearing Loma Linda.

The rail project team is preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Report, or EIR, to assess the impact of any construction on the land or the communities around it. Public input is needed, SANBAG officials said.

SANBAG is working closely with Loma Linda, Redlands and San Bernardino on the project. As part of the plans, San Bernardino is proposing to create what they call a transit-oriented development that intermingles residential with commercial and transportation hubs

Loma Linda recently got a presentation on the project, but expressed disappointment that the most convenient tie to the city would be connecting to the Transit Center to be built at Rialto and E streets in San Bernardino via Omnitrans' sbX Rapid Transit bus line, officials said. The proposed bus line will come into Loma Linda via Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino, then south on Anderson Street and into Loma Linda, ending at the VA Hospital.

Officials are planning on opening stops for the proposed train line in three phases. The first two phases consist of the line running southeast from San Bernardino and ending at the University of Redlands. The third stage would loop around through Highland and include stops near San Bernardino Airport.

The project’s preliminary plans were completed in March 2011. Final design will begin in June 2011 and iss scheduled to be completed by December 2011.

The scoping period for the project ends in June. Officials ask anyone who wants to submit comments to do so by June 10.