The Federal Rail Road Administration requires that any new state passenger rail service must be included in a state rail plan and this plan must be updated approximately every two years. This would of course include the proposed Los Angeles to Palm Springs and Indio train. Fortunately, this train has already been in the state plan since the late 1990s. Now that California is currently updating the state rail plan, things are a little different.
Representatives from the State Division of Rail visited the Coachella Valley, and got a first hand look at the Palm Springs Train Station, Indio Transportation Center and a possible Mid Valley Station.
State Representatives were given this tour by members of the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, after which the group met with many local decision makers. This informal meeting took place at the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership Board Room, Tuesday, July 24 2012.
This apparently is the first time that the state has sent anyone to the Coachella valley while conducting a study for the state rail plan update.
It was obvious in my opinion that the state group was impressed by the enthusiasm of the many Valley decision makers. The local group made it very clear that daily passenger train service to this area is definitely a major priority.
We at Southwest Rail thank our many partners for assisting us in providing this meeting.
Robert Manning
President, Southwest Rail Passenger Association