Post by jeffe77 on Jul 13, 2007 7:59:49 GMT -8
Article: Transportation officials say Metrolink too costly for southwestern Riverside County
My Thoughts: After that report was released about how Riverside County is going to be the 2nd most populus county in California, I believe that the county should have forsight to construct the line now to anticipate the population explosion over the next few decades. If not, it will cost more down the line because land will become more of a premium. Construction should be done in segments. First to Lake Elsinore and have busses connect from Temecula to the LE train station. The old ATSF right of way can be used to Lake Elsinore. I-15 fwy overpasses already exist so it just a matter of upgrading and constructing rails.
By PHIL PITCHFORD
The Press-Enterprise
Metrolink service to southwestern Riverside County, prized by some as a potential solution to bad traffic on interstates 15 and 215, would cost too much and offer too little benefit to start now, transportation officials have decided.
Creating a commuter rail route between Corona and Temecula, for example, would likely cost $569 million, according to studies prepared for the Riverside County Transportation Commission.
Extending service from Temecula to San Diego could cost even more -- $1.6 billion -- the study found.
Given those costs, it is unlikely that such a system can be built in the next decade.
But local elected officials are pushing to keep the idea on the front burner, including an option to connect Corona and Lake Elsinore with rail at a cost of about $250 million.
"Let's not bury this report," Lake Elsinore Mayor Bob Magee said at a recent commission meeting.
"Let's look for a way to implement it."
Transportation planners have been examining the routes for about two years.
One of the key criteria has been whether the routes, most of which would have to be built from scratch, could entice enough passengers by 2030 to justify the cost.
Much of the interest for the service results from the stifling traffic residents of the southwest county face whenever they head north or south to employment centers in Orange County and San Diego, respectively.
There also is anecdotal evidence that residents of Temecula, Murrieta and the surrounding communities are willing to use mass transit.
Some of the strongest growth in ridership on buses operated by the Riverside Transit Agency, for example, has occurred on routes that link the southwestern county with train stations in Corona and Oceanside.
The commission is focusing on plans to extend Metrolink service to Perris by 2010.
That route could eventually be extended through Hemet to San Jacinto.
Service to Lake Elsinore and Temecula could receive a boost if developers agree to donate land for a new route and/or money for rail cars and engines, said Eric Haley, executive director of the commission.
But the details of such a plan remain undeveloped.
"We are open to private-sector participation on all these routes," Haley said. Reach Phil Pitchford at 951-368-9475 or ppitchford@PE.com or visit his blog at www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/commuting/
My Thoughts: After that report was released about how Riverside County is going to be the 2nd most populus county in California, I believe that the county should have forsight to construct the line now to anticipate the population explosion over the next few decades. If not, it will cost more down the line because land will become more of a premium. Construction should be done in segments. First to Lake Elsinore and have busses connect from Temecula to the LE train station. The old ATSF right of way can be used to Lake Elsinore. I-15 fwy overpasses already exist so it just a matter of upgrading and constructing rails.
By PHIL PITCHFORD
The Press-Enterprise
Metrolink service to southwestern Riverside County, prized by some as a potential solution to bad traffic on interstates 15 and 215, would cost too much and offer too little benefit to start now, transportation officials have decided.
Creating a commuter rail route between Corona and Temecula, for example, would likely cost $569 million, according to studies prepared for the Riverside County Transportation Commission.
Extending service from Temecula to San Diego could cost even more -- $1.6 billion -- the study found.
Given those costs, it is unlikely that such a system can be built in the next decade.
But local elected officials are pushing to keep the idea on the front burner, including an option to connect Corona and Lake Elsinore with rail at a cost of about $250 million.
"Let's not bury this report," Lake Elsinore Mayor Bob Magee said at a recent commission meeting.
"Let's look for a way to implement it."
Transportation planners have been examining the routes for about two years.
One of the key criteria has been whether the routes, most of which would have to be built from scratch, could entice enough passengers by 2030 to justify the cost.
Much of the interest for the service results from the stifling traffic residents of the southwest county face whenever they head north or south to employment centers in Orange County and San Diego, respectively.
There also is anecdotal evidence that residents of Temecula, Murrieta and the surrounding communities are willing to use mass transit.
Some of the strongest growth in ridership on buses operated by the Riverside Transit Agency, for example, has occurred on routes that link the southwestern county with train stations in Corona and Oceanside.
The commission is focusing on plans to extend Metrolink service to Perris by 2010.
That route could eventually be extended through Hemet to San Jacinto.
Service to Lake Elsinore and Temecula could receive a boost if developers agree to donate land for a new route and/or money for rail cars and engines, said Eric Haley, executive director of the commission.
But the details of such a plan remain undeveloped.
"We are open to private-sector participation on all these routes," Haley said. Reach Phil Pitchford at 951-368-9475 or ppitchford@PE.com or visit his blog at www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/commuting/
