Future of Railway Should Include Loma Linda, Council Says

Plans for a nine-mile Passenger Rail project that runs from San Bernardino’s Santa Fe Depot into Redlands sound fine, Loma Linda City Council members told a San Bernardino Associated Governments representative Tuesday night.

But it’s unfortunate that plans, as they currently exist, do little for such a commuter heavy city as Loma Linda, the council said.

The council made its comments following a brief presentation by SANBAG spokesman Tim Watkins at the council’s regular Tuesday night meeting. The county agency was seeking input on the project as it moves from the planning phases toward construction.

The project proposes using existing rail tracks to create a transportation corridor from the Santa Fe Depot to the University of Redlands. The route travels northeast, barely nearing Loma Linda.

The closest tie to the city would be the proposed stop at the Transit Center at Rialto and E streets, where the trains would connect with Omnitrans’ sbX Rapid Transit bus line, Watkins said. The proposed bus line runs from Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino, then south on Anderson Street and into Loma Linda to the VA Hospital.

“It’s frustrating that two largest potential transit users, Loma Linda and almost the whole east valley, will have almost no direct connection to this link,” said councilman Stan Brauer. “Unfortunately we’re stuck with the layout, the geography that’s there of the current rail line.”

He expressed hope that future plans could include ways to connect Loma Linda, a city which sees an influx of thousands of commuters coming in for the university, the medical center and the VA.

This project has been ongoing for at least three years. SANBAG officials said the goal of creating the rail line is to encourage people to use public transportation, cut the use of cars and consumption of gas and oil, begin to reduce pollution.

The Downtown San Bernardino Passenger Rail Project team is preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Report or EIR to assess the impact of any construction on the land or the communities around it. Public is needed, SANBAG officials said.

The public is invited to provide input at an open house scheduled from 4:30–7:30 tonight.

A presentation is set to start at 5:15 p.m. at ESRI at the Cafe, 380 New York St.

There will be displays illustrating key parts of the projects. A presentation will be made to provide more information on the costs, schedule, station area planning and other aspects of the Redlands Passenger Rail Project, organizers said.

Two more are scheduled tomorrow and Friday in San Bernardino. More information is available on the project’s website.