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For Immediate Release: November 9, 2006 |
Cheryl Donahue |
Workshop to present draft findings of
passenger rail service extension study
San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) will host a community workshop on November 16 in Loma Linda to presents the draft results of a study conducted this summer to gauge public opinion about land development options around proposed passenger rail stations between San Bernardino and Redlands.
The workshop will be held in the Community Room at Loma Linda City Hall, 25541 Barton Road, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Participants will be able to view maps of proposed station locations and gain an understanding of the transit-supportive land uses of each station, land use policies that will be recommended, and suggestions to provide a successful connection between rail stations and nearby neighborhoods and shopping centers, such as bike paths, pedestrian paths, parking structures, new roads, landscaping and open space.
Much of the study focused on “transit villages” that could include housing, retail centers, offices, entertainment venues and parks near each station. Public and municipal support of these transit villages, also known as “transit oriented development,” is one of the criteria for receiving federal funds for the rail extension project. During the summer workshops and meetings with community leaders, support was high for this type of development.
SANBAG will present the final report to its Board of Directors early next year. The report will be included in future applications for funding from the Federal Transit Administration. There are a number of steps that SANBAG must complete before obtaining funding, such as updating capital and operating costs, studying the time savings of riders, adopting a locally preferred alternative, developing a full financial plan and other details.
For more information about the Open House, call Mike Bair, SANBAG’s Director of Transit/Rail, at (909) 884-8276.