Ontario/Colton Line

[gibiscus]

In Ontario there is a fork and the Riverside Line takes the southern fork. However, the northern fork passes right by the terminals of Ontario Airport. This line should be used for Metrolink service, stopping at Ontario Amtrak, Ontario Airport, Bloomington, Colton and San Bernardino. West of Ontario it would be on the Riverside Line until Pomona, where it could either continue on the Riverside Line (my preferred choice) take the branch that eventually leads back to the San Bernardino Line. There could be new stations for Cal Poly and La Puente.

[kenalpern]

Excellent points, gibiscus. With time, this will get a lot more attention. Unfortunately, those advocating for more MetroRail aren't always in tune with those advocating more Metrolink.

In other words, people will talk about the Foothill Gold Line without also talking about more Metrolink to key destinations around the Southland like Ontario Airport.

How many years will it take to build a light rail line to Ontario Airport? How much money?

On the other hand, how much less time and money would it require to simply establish regular and more frequent Metrolink service to Ontario Airport?

The Transit Coalition has always been in favor of establishing a transit center for both LAX and Ontario Airports (and perhaps Burbank, to boot) to accommodate future MetroRail and Metrolink (they're not mutually exclusive!).

When the political leadership and $$$$ become available, hopefully we'll see good sense prevail and we can make these proposed transit centers become reality.

[Dan Wentzel]

I think you make excellent points Ken. In London, commuter rail within the city isn't seen as something separate from the subway or light-rail lines. My transit pass would allow me to ride ANY transit in that zone.

I see an expansion of Metrolink as a vital part of Southern California Transit as a whole. I support extending the Gold Line out to Montclair, but better connection to Ontario from Metrolink can come much sooner that waiting for the Gold Line to go all the way to the Ontario Airport.

[bobdavis]

The "north fork" of the UP line at Ontario is the ex-Southern Pacific line between LA and Yuma. I suspect that Metrolink has had enough trouble with the Riverside Line (once known as the Los Angeles & Salt Lake) to where they're reluctant to add service on the Yuma line. Both lines have heavy freight traffic which makes keeping the trains moving a challenge. Also, Metrolink is mostly a commuter service; airport connections are a somewhat different animal: Planes take off and arrive all day long, and may arrive after the typical Metrolink schedule has run its last train of the day. Philadelphia has electric-suburban service to the main airport, but it runs more frequently. Portland and St. Louis have light rail; Cleveland, Washington DC, San Francisco and Chicago have "heavy rail", all of which run frequent service and long hours.

[vnc]

Well. I always have wanted to see Metrolink to add a second Los Angeles/San Bernardino Line Via Colton. But Would need to have this Train use the Entire Route from LA. to Colton. As mention in the last thread with the new stops. You could also add the stops of San Gabriel at the Mission. And at County USC Hospital and or in the City Terrace/El Sereno Area. And I would think. You could have this Line also be extended to the Harbor. Via LAX.

[gibiscus]

vnc, I think that's a good idea to have it go via San Gabriel so that it will serve a different area than the route via the freeway. It would share the same El Monte station as the San Bernardino Line for transfers.

[vnc]

I also think Gibiscus. There should be a second platform. On the North Side of the Railroad Track at El Monte. So you do not delay the Trains. Right now. El Monte is one of a few meeting places on the San Bernardino Line for Trains. To sit and wait for the other to pass. And on the north side. There is plenty of room for another Platform.

Also. I was wondering. is it possible. to add a third Riverside Train. using this Line from Colton to Los Angeles? All you would need to do is cut in a turn in Colton. to allow the Riverside Trains to make the turn south from the JCT.

[bobdavis]

Not sure how far along the planning process is, but there's been some discussion of building a grade separation between BNSF and UP at Colton Jct. The two railroads, San Bernardino County and possibly Caltrans are said to be involved. Because of the I-10 freeway, it would probably have an overpass for the UP with BNSF staying at ground level, even though the UP line was there first (if you go back to the 1880's and the battle of Colton Crossing). If this does come to pass in the next few years, it would affect any connecting tracks. I haven't been to the junction lately and am not sure if there is an existing east to south connecting track.

[vnc]

Hey Bob. You can go from Riverside to Palm Springs and Vice Versa. There is a total of Three connections there. You just can't make that turn from Ontario to Riverside Via Bloomingtom.