Railway project to connect Coachella Valley with Los Angeles
The proposed Coachella Valley Rail would stretch across about 144 miles between downtown Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley. It would connect desert communities and attractions with Los Angeles and its surrounding cities.
"If you're gonna spend three or four hours on a freeway, why not just spend, you know, maybe three hours on the train and be able to relax," said the mayor of Desert Hot Springs Scott Matas. "This is an opportunity to get out of that traffic, and as the Coachella Valley grows, traffic becomes more of an issue.”
The project proposes two daily round-trips. The trip would be about three hours and 15 minutes with planned stops in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. RCTC said Amtrak will likely provide the intercity service on existing tracks.
"I think it's going to be a huge boost for our economy," said Matas.
"It's a way to boost the tourism industry in the Coachella Valley," said RCTC spokesperson Cheryl Donahue.
Many studies examining the railway’s impact have been done. Looking at everything from land use and climate change, to safety. The public is encouraged to comment on the proposed rail project and environmental studies conducted. There will be a virtual public hearing on June 26 at 6 p.m.
The Riverside County Transportation Commission is working with the California Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration to bring the project to life.
"Probably the biggest hurdle of all is coming up with the funding for the project which we're estimating at around a billion dollars," said Donahue. "We would need to be able to secure state and federal funds to make this project a reality."
The project organizers are currently listening to public comments regarding the studies and taking them into consideration. The next steps will be to gain funding, decide on station locations, and decide when construction can begin.
"We don't foresee it happening, you know, in the next couple of years, but in the next five to 10 years, it could be a real possibility for the Coachella Valley," said Matas.
Click here to find out more about the studies conducted and how to share public comments.
