RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A plan for passenger rail service between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley — the area including Palm Springs and Indio — has moved forward, with the Riverside County Transportation Commission adopting a service plan for the proposed route.
Patch.com reports the commission has certified the final Tier I environmental impact statement/environmental impact report for the proposed service. A Tier 2 environmental review would still be required before any construction can begin, which could still be 10 years off and cost up to $1 billion.
The website Urbanize Los Angeles reports the planned 144-mile corridor would see two daily round trips between Los Angeles and Coachella. It would make use of an existing Metrolink line and stations in Fullerton and Riverside, but would require significant infrastructure upgrades on Union Pacific’s Yuma Subdivision, including addition of a third main line, a new bridge at the Santa Ana River, and other improvements.
Plans call for up to five new stations in addition to the existing Palm Springs stop used by Amtrak’s Sunset Limited.
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