It’s Not Just About the Train [Opinion]

It’s Not Just About the Train: First Mile, Last Mile Will Decide Coachella Valley Rail’s Success [Opinion]

In July 2022, the Riverside County Transportation Commission unanimously certified the Tier 1 program-level environmental document, which studied daily intercity passenger rail service between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley. But, it’s not just about the train.

The Question That Matters Most

The conversation around bringing train service to the Coachella Valley usually focuses on when it will happen, cost, and station locations. But the most important question is one the riders will be asking: how do I get around once I step off the train?

If that question is not answered, ridership will disappoint. First mile and last mile connections, the links from home to station and from station to the final destination, determine whether a train ride is useful or not. Without shuttles, rideshare zones, rental cars, or safe active transportation routes, many travelers will simply drive.

Lessons From Los Angeles

The evidence is clear. Metrolink’s Dodger Stadium Express carried more than 370,000 passengers in 2019 because it solved the “last mile” question. It offered free, frequent shuttles from Union Station. The Angels Express likewise boosted attendance by running trains timed to games. People used these services because the trip was seamless end to end.

By contrast, ridership on Metrolink has declined roughly 30 to 40 percent over the past decade, even as new rail lines were added and major efforts were made to shift travelers from cars to trains. A major reason is that too many stations lack easy connections. Riders feel stranded, and even with the notorious Southern California traffic, their cars are still easier.

The Coachella Valley’s Challenge

While the Riverside County Transportation Commission works on getting trains to the Coachella Valley, leaders here must plan and be ready to put in place how people will move around the Coachella Valley once they arrive. A rail line that ignores first mile and last mile will deliver far less success than hoped. One that embraces the challenge of solving it will give the rail a real chance for success.

Russell Betts served 12 years on the Southern California Association of Governments Transportation Committee, as well as the Riverside County Transportation Commission, Sunline Transit Agency, and in regional planning in the Coachella Valley. He served 17 years as a council member for the City of Desert Hot Springs.