Indio City Council approves resolution to adopt results of transportation hub study

The Indio City Council unanimously approved a resolution to adopt the results of a study to provide greater transportation options for residents and visitors. This includes a potential location for an Amtrak passenger rail route between Los Angeles Union Station and Indio.

"Better Connected Indio," was a feasibility study conducted from 2018 to 2019 that came about as the result of growing interest in providing improved passenger rail services within the Coachella Valley.

"With a rapidly growing population, this study is essential to ensuring the City’s transportation infrastructure meets existing and future travel needs by providing an opportunity to enhance how Indio residents and visitors safely walk, bicycle, or ride transit, in addition to traveling by personal automobile," reads an overview of the study.

The purpose of the study was to find possible locations for a multi-modal transportation hub throughout Indio. Multi-modal transportation centers are places where people can make connections between public transit and other travel options.

An overview of the study shows that the most likely location for a possible rail service would be on the east side of Indio Boulevard at the Civic Center Mall. Some of the positives of the location include:

• Size of site sufficient width for platform, depth for platform, and contain MMH activities
• Would provide a gateway for the city
• Less impact to bus operations
• Site has good vehicular access
• Better located for bicycle and pedestrian access
• No cost to acquire site or to relocate businesses
• Does not impact lower-income populations
• Consistent with Downtown plans and economic development

The only two negative points of the location noted in the study were how far it is from Interstate 10 and the CV Link.

“Better Connected Indio” provided one rail station concept with three construction phases, reflecting a range of services, and a range of costs to construct.

Among the options leading up to a full transit center, are enhanced transit waiting areas, improved walkways and street crossings, bikeways, bike parking, bike lockers, carshare and a larger station building with amenities.

“This transportation study reinforced our belief that Indio is not only a prime location for rail service in the Coachella Valley, but is ready to forward that goal within our Downtown,” said Mayor Glenn Miller.

The study was funded through a grant from the California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning.

A rail passenger platform and needed track modifications at the Indio MMH site will be constructed as part of the grant received to provide a three-weekend Coachella Valley Special Events Train.

The passenger train operations are funded over a five-year period, beginning in 2021, according to the study.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage on the project.