As development of the Redlands Passenger Rail Project moves toward 60% Design, the project team was faced with changing conditions that required the San Bernardino Associated Governments' Board of Directors to advise on a possible change in station location in the city of San Bernardino.

 

Agency staff had originally identified Waterman Avenue as a preferred station location and included the design of this station in the original scope of work. The Waterman Station location was chosen primarily due to the close proximity of the Inland Regional Center (IRC). The IRC is a nonprofit, private community-based agency that serves individuals with developmental disabilities in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Based on the fact that a large number of the IRC clients are transit dependent, staff evaluated that those potential riders could use RPRP to access the IRC. In addition, at the time of the decision, there was ample land identified for future Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in the area that offered opportunity for ridership growth in the future.

 

However, after some changes in the land use around the proposed Waterman location, the horrific events of December 2nd that modified the IRC's operations, and the development of a new ridership study, it was determined that a station at Tippecanoe Avenue would serve more passengers and provide access to business and residential communities in a more productive way.