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Palm Desert Rail Station Feasibility Study

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Project Overview

The Coachella Valley-San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor is a project proposed by the Riverside County Transportation Commission in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration and the California Department of Transportation. Its purpose is to build reliable rail service along a 144-mile corridor between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley, with the eastern endpoint in either Indio or Coachella. In June 2022, after completing a Tier 1 EIS/EIR Study, a Record of Decision (ROD) was issued, moving the project forward.

RCTC has proposed a rail station in the Mid-Coachella Valley area. This project will identify and assess station options within Palm Desert and recommend a preferred location and station concept to RCTC.

Final Palm Desert Rail Feasibility Study

The Palm Desert Rail Feasibility Study was approved by the City Council on 4/25/2024. The Report was submitted to RCTC for their consideration. We will continue to update this project page as more information becomes available.

We want to hear from you about this project! Why do you think Palm Desert should have a rail station? How would you use the rail service?

Your input and feedback are essential to this project. Use the tools below to contribute your feedback. These tools will allow you to:

  • Post your ideas. This helps the project team be informed on what our community needs are. We want to hear your thoughts on a rail service, how you would use this service, and what station amenities you would like.
  • Send questions directly to the project team. Staff will respond within two business days.

Why Palm Desert?

Palm Desert is a destination for regional, national, and state travelers, lifestyle, and continued growth. Palm Desert’s outstanding quality of life offers residents and visitors of all ages a wide array of recreational, educational, shopping, housing, and entertainment opportunities, as well as arts and cultural activities and world-class events in a uniquely beautiful desert environment.

A Palm Desert rail station would serve local travelers going to the San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles regions, as well as those coming into the Coachella Valley. It would also serve local residents, students attending the expanding CSU SB Palm Desert Campus, tourists visiting local hotels, businesses, and Acrisure Arena, and residents of the greater Coachella Valley.

For more information on this project, please view this rail feasibility newsletter.

Station Selection Principles

The study will review potential station locations and select the most suitable location based on the following principles:

  • Community Serving: Equitable access for all communities: disadvantaged, local, regional populations, and visitors
  • Accessible: Selecting a location for the station with good site access, proximity to major streets, Palm Desert assets, and destinations
  • Intuitive Arrival: Ensure the facility has high visibility and a functional configuration
  • Connected: Create a multi-modal focused location: SunRide, SunLine, PD Link, micro-mobility, scooters, carts, walking and cycling
  • Supports Economic Development: Leverages partnerships for transit-oriented development that can complement the station
  • Future Flexibility: Consider land availability, facility size, and configuration, and the ability to expand amenities in the future

Station Connectivity

Connectivity is one of the most essential factors in choosing the best station location within Palm Desert. The station will act as a hub for regional transit needs, so it must keep first/last mile considerations at the forefront. Regardless of which location is chosen, local transit service can be reconfigured to connect to the station. Additionally, bike and pedestrian infrastructure and connectivity will be vital to foster non-driving trips. This may include a future bridge over Interstate 10 to connect with the Acrisure Arena.

How Will this Affect Me?

A Palm Desert station would not only make travel in and out of the region more reliable and easier but could serve as a destination of its own. A multi-modal transit center featuring connections to local transit, rideshare, bike facilities, and micro transit could be created, making travel within the city more accessible to locals and visitors alike. The station could also connect to things to do nearby, such as retail, restaurants, hospitality, services, and living space.

Community Meetings

The City held a public workshop about the project on Thursday, July 13th, 2023. The materials from that workshop can be viewed on the right side of this page. The City will hold one more public workshop this fall.

On Wednesday, November 15, the City of Palm Desert and our project consultant held a second community meeting to gather input on rail service in our city. A recording of the meeting and the presentation slide deck can be found below. If you weren't able to attend the meeting, we encourage you to use the tools on the bottom of this page to share your feedback. City staff continue to monitor this page and appreciate your thoughts.

Presentation:

Meeting Recording:


Project Overview

The Coachella Valley-San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor is a project proposed by the Riverside County Transportation Commission in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration and the California Department of Transportation. Its purpose is to build reliable rail service along a 144-mile corridor between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley, with the eastern endpoint in either Indio or Coachella. In June 2022, after completing a Tier 1 EIS/EIR Study, a Record of Decision (ROD) was issued, moving the project forward.

RCTC has proposed a rail station in the Mid-Coachella Valley area. This project will identify and assess station options within Palm Desert and recommend a preferred location and station concept to RCTC.

Final Palm Desert Rail Feasibility Study

The Palm Desert Rail Feasibility Study was approved by the City Council on 4/25/2024. The Report was submitted to RCTC for their consideration. We will continue to update this project page as more information becomes available.

We want to hear from you about this project! Why do you think Palm Desert should have a rail station? How would you use the rail service?

Your input and feedback are essential to this project. Use the tools below to contribute your feedback. These tools will allow you to:

  • Post your ideas. This helps the project team be informed on what our community needs are. We want to hear your thoughts on a rail service, how you would use this service, and what station amenities you would like.
  • Send questions directly to the project team. Staff will respond within two business days.

Why Palm Desert?

Palm Desert is a destination for regional, national, and state travelers, lifestyle, and continued growth. Palm Desert’s outstanding quality of life offers residents and visitors of all ages a wide array of recreational, educational, shopping, housing, and entertainment opportunities, as well as arts and cultural activities and world-class events in a uniquely beautiful desert environment.

A Palm Desert rail station would serve local travelers going to the San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles regions, as well as those coming into the Coachella Valley. It would also serve local residents, students attending the expanding CSU SB Palm Desert Campus, tourists visiting local hotels, businesses, and Acrisure Arena, and residents of the greater Coachella Valley.

For more information on this project, please view this rail feasibility newsletter.

Station Selection Principles

The study will review potential station locations and select the most suitable location based on the following principles:

  • Community Serving: Equitable access for all communities: disadvantaged, local, regional populations, and visitors
  • Accessible: Selecting a location for the station with good site access, proximity to major streets, Palm Desert assets, and destinations
  • Intuitive Arrival: Ensure the facility has high visibility and a functional configuration
  • Connected: Create a multi-modal focused location: SunRide, SunLine, PD Link, micro-mobility, scooters, carts, walking and cycling
  • Supports Economic Development: Leverages partnerships for transit-oriented development that can complement the station
  • Future Flexibility: Consider land availability, facility size, and configuration, and the ability to expand amenities in the future

Station Connectivity

Connectivity is one of the most essential factors in choosing the best station location within Palm Desert. The station will act as a hub for regional transit needs, so it must keep first/last mile considerations at the forefront. Regardless of which location is chosen, local transit service can be reconfigured to connect to the station. Additionally, bike and pedestrian infrastructure and connectivity will be vital to foster non-driving trips. This may include a future bridge over Interstate 10 to connect with the Acrisure Arena.

How Will this Affect Me?

A Palm Desert station would not only make travel in and out of the region more reliable and easier but could serve as a destination of its own. A multi-modal transit center featuring connections to local transit, rideshare, bike facilities, and micro transit could be created, making travel within the city more accessible to locals and visitors alike. The station could also connect to things to do nearby, such as retail, restaurants, hospitality, services, and living space.

Community Meetings

The City held a public workshop about the project on Thursday, July 13th, 2023. The materials from that workshop can be viewed on the right side of this page. The City will hold one more public workshop this fall.

On Wednesday, November 15, the City of Palm Desert and our project consultant held a second community meeting to gather input on rail service in our city. A recording of the meeting and the presentation slide deck can be found below. If you weren't able to attend the meeting, we encourage you to use the tools on the bottom of this page to share your feedback. City staff continue to monitor this page and appreciate your thoughts.

Presentation:

Meeting Recording: