The Redlands Rail Project Construction to Start in Late 2017

The San Bernardino Association of Governments (SANBAG) Redlands Rail Project is currently in the design phase which will last through late 2017. The Project will connect Redlands to the entire southern California Metro train network making it easier for Redlands residents to travel throughout the southland. Construction for The Redlands Rail Project is anticipated to begin construction in late 2017. Construction is expected to take about three years with passenger rail service is anticipated to begin in 2020. “We are currently anticipating 800-1,000 riders per day will use the train during the first year of service,” said SANBAG’s Michelle Adams from the office of legislative and public affairs. The project runs along existing railroad right-of-way from E Street in San Bernardino east to the city of Redlands, roughly a nine-mile extension of passenger rail service. When completed the rail project will have five stations at: E Street, Tippecanoe or Waterman Avenue, New York Street, Downtown Redlands, and University of Redlands. A possible sixth station is in discussion at the ESRI headquarters. “The purpose of the passenger rail service is to support the region's population and employment growth; providing a way for residents, businesses, and visitors to connect to leisure, education, employment, and healthcare destinations. This project will provide new transportation choices that integrate conveniently with other modes such as auto, bus, and bicycle,” said Adams. “Recognizing a need for a cost-effective travel alternative for communities located along the Redlands Corridor, SANBAG, the county’s transportation authority and commission, developed the Redlands Passenger Rail Project,” said Adams. The $250 million Redlands Rail Project is a key development under the County's self-help sales tax Measure I 2010-2040 Strategic Plan and 10-year Delivery Plan. Station amenities will include: boarding platforms (except at E Street station), ticket machines, shade canopy, seating, walkways, bike racks, lighting and parking. The project will require track improvements including: redesign of the existing track alignment, track ballast, and subgrade foundation. at-grade crossings will be made to improve overall project safety, some at-grade crossings will be modified while others may be closed. Other improvements will include: utility, culvert replacements, extensions, and relocations. “There may be times during the construction phase where we may be required to close local streets for a short period of time. This will be better determined once final design is complete; and, once identified, we will proactively share this information with the affected surrounding community,” said Adams. The project will require parcel acquisitions and relocations. Adams said, SANBAG is committed to minimizing impacts to existing properties along the corridor. Once a preferred alternative is approved, SANBAG will contact impacted properties for parcel acquisitions and relocations. Additional rail and traffic signals will be installed per the final project design. The new train system will operate under Positive Train Control (PTC). PTC is a set of highly-advanced technologies designed to make rail transportation, even safer by automatically stopping a train before certain types of accidents occur. Vehicle procurement is anticipated to begin in 2016 and continue through 2020. “Until we enter the procurement process we will not have an image of the exact vehicle to be used. However, the environmental process has identified Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) as the primary vehicle type. The vehicle type to be used for the Redlands Passenger Rail Project is similar to the Sprinter vehicle which runs from Escondido to Oceanside,” said Adams.