Coachella Valley Rail Advances to Next Stop as Commission Awards $80 Million for Environmental Study

On January 29, Coachella Valley Rail (CV Rail) reached an exciting new milestone with the Commission's approval of $80 million to HDR Engineering to begin the next phase of environmental studies, helping move the project one step closer to reality. This proposed passenger rail service will expand mobility choices in southern California, connecting communities, fueling economic growth, and giving travelers a fast, convenient choice to move across the region.

"CV Rail is a vital transportation investment that will connect Riverside County - particularly the San Gorgonio Pass and Coachella Valley - with the rest of Southern California through daily passenger rail service. This project delivers benefits that will positively impact our region for generations. At its core, CV Rail is all about offering residents, visitors, and commuters better choices and smart alternatives to traveling solely by automobile," said Raymond Gregory, Chair of RCTC and Mayor of Cathedral City. "While there is still work ahead, today's decision brings us one important step closer to construction."

This next phase will include the preparation and delivery of an environmental document that meets all state and federal regulatory requirements, design, and station planning in collaboration with Caltrans and other partners. The Commission unanimously certified the Final Tier 1/Program-Level Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report in 2022. In 2023, the Federal Rail Administration added CV Rail to the Corridor ID program - putting the project in a position to better compete for federal funding to advance to final design and construction.

Once completed, CV Rail will establish daily intercity passenger rail service along a proposed 144-mile corridor connecting Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley, with planned stops at Los Angeles Union Station, Riverside, and destinations in the Coachella Valley. The project, along with future investments in our region's rail network, represents the Commission's ongoing commitment to delivering transportation projects that offer Riverside County residents convenient mobility options.

Learn more about how CV Rail will transform travel in the region: rctc.org/cvr