SBCTA Redlands
Passenger Rail Project

SBCTA State Route 210 Lane
Addition in Redlands

Passenger Rail Project Information

On November 4, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) staff informed SBCTA and the City of Redlands of the approval of the Arrow service quiet zones. Approval will be official upon completion of a mandated 21-day noticing period allowing other railroad stakeholders to comment on the removal of the routine sounding of horns at crossings along the corridor. The Notice to establish the quiet zone is mailed after receiving approval from the FRA and federal law* requires a 21-day minimum noticing period.

Completion of the 21-day noticing period is anticipated for Thanksgiving weekend. While we appreciate that still means approximately two more weeks of warning horns at crossings, we are encouraged that we can see the end of that operation is in sight.

*Code of Federal Language § 222.43 (d) Notice of Quiet Zone Establishment. (1) Timing. (i) The Notice of Quiet Zone Establishment shall provide the date upon which the quiet zone will be established, but in no event shall the date be earlier than 21 days after the date of mailing.

SBCTA Redlands Rail Train Horn Update 10-18-22

Rail Project (“The Arrow”) FAQs

The RPRP runs along the existing railroad right-of-way from E Street in San Bernardino east to the City of Redlands, roughly a nine-mile extension of passenger rail service ending at the University of Redlands.

• Passenger rail service of up to 25 average daily round trips, connecting to other regional transit modes with access to Los Angeles, employment and shopping centers throughout the Inland Empire, and destinations in the San Bernardino Mountains and high desert;
• Majority use of existing SBCTA right-of-way;
• New track and replacement/retrofit of existing bridges;
• Passenger boarding at four new stations; with station stops at five locations (from San Bernardino Transit Center);
• Use of existing train layover and maintenance facility;
• Safety improvements at 22 at-grade crossings, including Quiet Zones;
• Closure of up to five public at-grade crossings for added safety; and
• Use of Diesel Multiple Units with Tier 4 emissions technology that are smaller, quieter, and more efficient than standard passenger locomotive hauled units.
• For the safety of the community and to get Redlands residents familiar with the RPR, horns (two long, one short, one long) and bells will sound at street crossings throughout Redlands during train testing ONLY in compliance with Federal Railroad Administration regulations. Once operations of the RPR begin, the routine sounding of the horn will be eliminated entirely (except in emergency situations) as the RPR corridor falls under a Quiet Zone.

• On November 4, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) staff informed SBCTA and the City of Redlands of the approval of the Arrow service quiet zones. Approval will be official upon completion of a mandated 21-day noticing period allowing other railroad stakeholders to comment on the removal of the routine sounding of horns at crossings along the corridor. The Notice to establish the quiet zone is mailed after receiving approval from the FRA and federal law* requires a 21-day minimum noticing period.

  Completion of the 21-day noticing period is anticipated for Thanksgiving weekend. While we appreciate that still means approximately two more weeks of warning horns at crossings, we are encouraged that we can see the end of that operation is in sight.

  *Code of Federal Language § 222.43 (d) Notice of Quiet Zone Establishment. (1) Timing. (i) The Notice of Quiet Zone Establishment shall provide the date upon which the quiet zone will be established, but in no event shall the date be earlier than 21 days after the date of mailing.

Train Type and Frequency

The environmental process cleared the use of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) as the primary vehicle for the service between Redlands and San Bernardino. DMUs are cleaner, quieter, more efficient, and cheaper to operate than Metrolink-type trains. In addition, two Metrolink round trip Express Trains were cleared that would provide two morning and two evening Express trains to/from Los Angeles, making only one stop in Redlands at the proposed Downtown Station. It is anticipated that the Redlands community will experience up to 25 round trips or 50 trips per day.

Each at-grade crossing will require one minute from gate down to gate up again. Therefore, motorists will experience a maximum of four minutes of delay potential during peak commute hours and two minutes of delay during off-peak commute hours. Statistically speaking, drivers have a 93% chance during peak commute hours and a 96% chance during off-peak hours to flow uninterrupted through at-grade crossings.

Information About City Land Use Requirements

Land use decisions remain the responsibility of the City and are made according to the policies set forth by the General Plan. All developments are subject to the planning process and are presented publicly for comment. The General Plan, which serves as a decision making guide for the City of Redlands is updated approximately every 20 years to reflect the community’s present day values and goals. State law requires that a general plan contain at least the seven mandated elements: Land Use, Transportation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety. With input from the steering committee, stakeholder interviews, workshops, and community survey, Redlands residents are helped to develop the General Plan.

Local Share and Cost Per Rider

The project cost is $250 million. The City of Redlands’ share of the cost has been allocated from countywide sales taxes under Measure I and the County’s Local Transportation Fund.

During Year One of operation, studies anticipate a total of 230,000 boardings. By Year Ten of operation, studies anticipate a total of 340,000 boardings annually. After the first ten years of operation, studies are estimating a total of 2,850,000 boardings.

Redlands makes up 4.27% of total Measure I revenue in the valley portion of our county. The approximate amount of Measure I funding that is being used for the RPRP is $112.78 million, meaning that approximately $4.82 million is has been allocated as part of Measure I.

When looking at the cost per boarding as it relates to the amount of funding attributed to Redlands specifically, in Year One, cost per boarding is approximately $20.94. The estimated 2.85 million boardings over ten years brings the capital cost down to approximately $1.69 per boarding.

Measure I

The 2004 extension of Measure I, which identified the Redlands Passenger Rail Project in the expenditure plan, was approved by more than 80% of the voters across the County of San Bernardino, including City of Redlands.