On Friday, July 19th, a Groundbreaking Event occurred in Redlands which signified the beginning of construction on a new passenger rail service that will connect a significant portion of the population with a regional, multi-modal transportation system serving all of Southern California called the Arrow.
In an effort to find cleaner, quieter, more efficient forms of moving people throughout the county, Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) are being implemented as the vehicle of choice for this new service. DMUs operate more like the hybrid vehicle that you drive every day. They burn more fuel to generate electricity, which drives electric motors that power the train. “We’re excited about introducing this DMU technology to our region. And while we’re doing that we’re already thinking about the future … as we’re already exploring going from DMU to ZMU, or zero emission multiple units,” president of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, Darcy McNaboe said. The zero-emission units would be the first of their kind in North America.
The passenger rail service is being developed to address a regional transportation need. According to the Redlands Passenger Rail Project, the new passenger rail service will create a safe, reliable, and cost-effective travel alternative for the communities along and beyond the corridor including San Bernardino, Loma Linda, Redlands, and surrounding areas. The rail service will connect residents, businesses, and visitors to a variety of leisure, education, healthcare and other destinations. The nine-mile passenger rail service will run between the San Bernardino Transit Center located at Rialto Avenue and E Street in Downtown San Bernardino adjacent to San Manuel Stadium and will end at the University of Redlands.
Because the railway being used for this project will be implemented at the site of old railroad locations, safety is a prime concern during construction, during testing, and when the service is active, projected for 2021. “Start early and respect the rail now,” said McNaboe. “This is going to be an amazing service when the project is complete, but in the meantime, we want to be accident-free.”
The Groundbreaking Event honored and thanked those who made the new railway a reality, including the voters who allowed the fundings to pass. Honorary guest speakers included Congressman Pete Aguilar, Mayor of Redlands, Paul W. Foster and CEO of Metrolink, Stephanie Wiggins, among others. The event concluded with the dignitaries celebrating with ceremonial shovels signifying the achievement of beginning construction on the Arrow system.