By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 02/23/15, 12:47 PM PST | Updated: 55 secs ago
REDLANDS >> When voters approved an extension of Measure I in 2004, they also voted to fund the Redlands Passenger Rail Project, which was specified in the measure.
The San Bernardino Associated Governments, or SanBAG, administers Measure I revenue. The funds are allocated based on a strategic plan. The SanBAG board of directors in April 2009 approved the strategic plan for the 2010-40 Measure I revenue.
Measure I sets aside 8 percent of revenue for rail projects, including the Redlands Passenger Rail and extension of the L.A. Metro Gold Line light rail.
Measure I funding will make up about 46 percent of the project’s total $242 million estimated cost, said Justin Fornelli, chief of transit and rail programs with SanBAG.
The remaining costs will be provided through state and federal funds, including Proposition 1B, the state’s transportation bond program, the Transportation Development Act, Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Funds, 5307 and 5309 grants and private funds.
About 35 percent of the funding will be federal money and 19 percent will be state money, Fornelli said.
According to the EIR, annual operations and maintenance costs for the project are estimated to be about $8 million, but the estimated cost has been refined to $6 million, said Tim Watkins, SanBAG chief of legislative and public affairs.
Operations and maintenance will be covered by Measure I revenues through 2040.
This does not include revenue generated from ticket sales, Fornelli said.
“Right now we won’t have any estimates on farebox. We haven’t gotten to the point of laying out the fare structure,” Fornelli said.
Although an operator has yet to be selected, the farebox recovery for the Metrolink line in San Bernardino is about 55 percent, Fornelli said, with the remaining funds coming from Measure I.
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So they expect people to take a train from Redlands into San Bernardino to commute to work, when you can drive this in 10-12 minutes? Now they expect commuters to tack on more time to their commute? It just won’t happen. Even if someone decides to ride it and the trains late, which it will be occasionally, they will never ride it again, trust me.
Even if you took the Metrolink out of San Bernardino, you can make the drive from Redlands to Metrolink station in 15 minutes max. This sounds like that failure of a bus line they just made.
Look at it again. This time take driving a car out of the equation.
I love the high speed look of the train engine. Oh wait, is that a ladder I see on the side? That increases the drag coefficient of the train. Are those left-over Amtrak coaches?
THE GREAT REDLANDS TRAIN ROBBERY
The residents of Redlands are being robbed of their community, dignity and self determination by the Rail to Redlands project currently under construction.
The Taxpayers of Redlands are being robbed because the project is not fully funded by existing sales tax.
Redlands will be required to pay for the massive parking structures, dozens of traffic signal modifications, street modifications, and rail station appurtenances costing untold Millions of additional dollars to the City residents.
South Redlands businesses will be robbed of their customers because consumers will avoid the impossible gridlock of new traffic congestion.
San Bernardino Airport and Ontario Airport are being robbed from being connected to existing Metrolink service routes.
We Are Not Against Trains
IETA is not against trains. It is against this particular train route that will destroy the community of Redlands and everything that makes it the best place to live in Southern California. Study the train route and see which of the grade crossings you will be stuck at when it is already hard enough to get to the freeway. Compare how traffic patterns will impact your business. Read the Environmental Impact Report that contains many warnings about the many severe impacts this train imposes on Redland’s residents and businesses.
Most Sustainable Alternative
There are several other better uses for this railway right of way. Many prefer it to be used as a Human Corridor for the movement and use of non motorized transportation. Bicycles and trains do not mix. Railroad grade crossings are dangerous to all humans including pedestrians and cyclists.
Where the Money Should Be Used
SANBAG train funding should be used to connect Metrolink to regional airports and for double tracking existing train route to Los Angeles to provide for express trains. The existing Metrolink rail stations are run down, dirty, full of trash, debris and ridership has already been decreasing.
Redlands Deserves Better
The Rail to Redlands project is already under construction with the first mile of track costing $104 Million. How much do you think the next Nine miles will cost?
Redlands deserves better than this. Local politicians from Redlands are paid handsomely by SANBAG to attend board meetings where they are expected to go along with any and all of the planner’s schemes to forever destroy your town and way of life.
Don’t Get Railroaded
What are you willing to do to stop this crazy train? Together, we can do it. Stand up and say NO to this train route.