Communications efforts during the last two months of summer had project partners take to the presentation circuit to share the vision of why the Inland Empire is a destination of choice and economic force. From the Corona Chamber of Commerce's Good Morning Corona presentation on Trains, Planes and Automobiles in August that featured Ontario International Airport and Cucamonga Station to San Bernardino County's "Empowering Tomorrow" State of the County event, the message was clear - the Inland Empire is poised for continued growth and innovation.

Capping the communications push was San Bernardino County's Communications Summit that brought together communications professionals from all corners of the county to connect, collaborate, and build upon their existing network. This forum provided an opportunity for the City of Rancho Cucamonga and Brightline West management teams to give an update and drive home how transportation connectivity and innovation will help transform the region.

If you'd like to see and hear about the latest developments and new business opportunities tied to transportation development, please email CucamongaStation@CityofRC.us. 

Nearly 1,400 people gathered for the 2024 State of the County in September to see how San Bernardino County is empowering tomorrow through the transportation, healthcare, technology and innovation, and manufacturing industries.

The County is an economic force and driver with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than $123 billion annually, which is greater than the GDP of 15 states. Figures from five key industries include: entertainment ($1.2 billion), healthcare ($12 billion), manufacturing ($9.6 billion), logistics ($1.2 billion), and technology and innovation ($3.9 billion). Cucamonga Station partners City of Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario International Airport (ONT), Greater Ontario California (GOCAL), Omnitrans and San Bernardino County all play key roles in bolstering the county's GDP.

Transportation highlights included Brightline West high-speed rail coming to Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley and Hesperia; San Bernardino County Transportation Authority's introduction of the Zero Emission Multiple Unit (ZEMU), a self-powered passenger train that aims to launch in 2025. ONT transitioning to a landing rights airport, which will attract more international flights; and continued growth of domestic flights at San Bernardino International Airport.

To see the full video of the State of the County 2024, click here.

ONT has completed a $90 million runway rehabilitation project that further enhances the safety of millions of air travelers who have made ONT their airport of choice.

The massive project, which began in February 2023, included the removal of old concrete and 80,000 square yards worth of repaving at the airport’s southernmost runway, along with the rehabilitation of adjacent taxiways, elimination of two adjacent taxiways, and construction of new Taxiway S8, the installation of LED lighting and other infrastructure improvements.

Nearly $67 million of the $90 million total cost was paid for through grants from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP), with the balance provided by ONT itself through revenues generated by airport operations. Additionally, ONT was recently awarded $4 million in AIP funding to help the design of ONT’s northern most runway for the Runway 8L-26R Rehabilitation, east of Taxiway U project.

These improvements come as ONT has posted 42 consecutive months of year-over-year passenger growth. The airport is on track to surpass 7 million passengers this calendar year, up 75% since its return to local ownership in 2016. ONT also is among the Top 10 cargo airports in the United States.

As ONT continues to grow, it remains dedicated to enhancing the traveler experience. To that end, ONT recently partnered with the California Science Center, to create a space within Terminal 4 in which passengers can spend time relaxing before a flight while immersing themselves in an environment curated just for them. The current video experience showcases the Kelp Forest, a highlight of the Ecosystems exhibit wing at the California Science Center located at Exposition Park in Los Angeles. Professional divers captured footage inside the Science Center’s 188,000-gallon aquarium specifically for ONT passengers and guests.

Closing out summer news, ONT was recently ranked among the top airports in North America for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power’s 2024 North American Airport Satisfaction Survey. The introduction of the ONT+ digital visitor pass further enriches the airport’s offerings by allowing non-travelers access to post-security amenities, making ONT a destination for everyone.

With San Bernardino County being the largest county in geographic size in the contiguous U.S. at more than 20,000 square miles, bringing together communications staff from throughout the entire county is no small feat. But that is exactly what the County's Communications Group, led by Chief Communications Officer Martha Guzman-Hurtado, was able to do - bring together nearly 100 communications professionals to learn the latest on the exciting future of transportation connectivity in the region, with a main focus of connecting communicators in the region for added emergency response resilience and cross collaborations.

Presentations were given by City of Rancho Cucamonga City Manager John Gillison on how Cucamonga Station is transforming the way we think about local and regional connectivity and development around transit stations. A presentation was also given by Brightline West's Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Ben Porritt, who provided an overview on the company, current operations in Florida and how it is poised to be the first private company in the U.S. to build and operate the high-speed passenger rail line reaching speeds of up to 200 miles per hour.

Many thanks to San Bernardino County for bringing together a forum to share exciting information on Cucamonga Station and high-speed rail.

The Cucamonga Station video got a refresh and debuted at San Bernardino County's Communications Summit. To check out Cucamonga Station and how ONT, Omnitrans, GOCAL, and Metrolink all will converge to make it a one-of-a-kind transit station in the U.S., visit the project home page at: www.CucamongaStation.com.

Construction on the West Valley Connector Project continues to move forward through the City of Ontario. In mid-September, construction activities required some bus stop changes along Routes 61 and 87.

To learn about these changes and other activities that are ramping up in the City of Pomona for side-running stations as part of the 19-mile Bus Rapid Transit Line that will stop at Cucamonga Station, go to the project webpage at: www.gosbcta.com/project/west-valleyconnector-brt/.

About our Cucamonga Station Regional Outreach Partners - The City of Rancho Cucamonga, Greater Ontario California (GOCAL), Omnitrans, Ontario International Airport, and San Bernardino County have established a collaborative regional outreach and engagement effort. To learn more, visit www.CucamongaStation.com