Local & Community
Riverside County Transportation Commission Awards $80M for CV Rail Study
RIVERSIDE (CNS) - The Riverside County Transportation Commission has
awarded $80 million to HDR Engineering to conduct an environmental study for
the planned Coachella Valley Rail Project, officials announced Thursday.
The Tier 2 study would include advancing the project towards
construction by preparing and delivering an environmental documents that needs
to meet all state and federal regulatory requirements.
In partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration and the
California Department of Transportation, the proposed daily passenger rail
service will travel from Los Angeles to the Coachella Valley.
It would connect riders for roughly 144 miles through nine proposed
station stops, expand economic opportunities by traveling to restaurants and
music festivals, and offer another means of transportation.
``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,'' Cathedral City Mayor Raymond Gregory, chair of the RCTC, said in
a statement.
``While there is still work ahead, today's decision brings us one
important step closer to construction,'' Gregory added.
The Tier 2 environmental review will proceed in two phases: complete
CEQA review, preliminary engineering and station studies and then conducting
NEPA review and 30% design.
Officials said station locations, funding and the timing for the start
of construction and service will be identified during the Tier 2 project.
The rail service project will likely exceed $1.5 billion and service
could begin by 2040 depending on funding, final design and construction.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
By: City News Service
January 30, 2026
Latest Instagram Posts
‘The Hayden’ is back @babysmarche !! John Hayden himself took a trip to the Indian Wells staple for lunch and to chat with @chefjustinsnyder on how it became the most popular item on the menu! #TheHayden
🛑A bike ride ended in tragedy Monday night in Palm Springs. A bicyclist died after being struck by a car around 8:30 PM on E. Palm Canyon Dr. The driver stayed at the scene and police say there’s no indication of foul play or impairment. ❓Saw the crash or have video from the area? Call Palm Springs police at (760) 327–1441.
Social Time: Jerry sings the end! 🎶🎵
CALIFORNIA IS AGING FAST... BUT WHERE WILL THE WORKFORCE LIVE? #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #agingpopulation #nbcpalmsprings
119 jobs on the line and DRD’s General Manager won’t answer questions … Drop a comment 👇: Would you vote YES or NO on giving a district more money if they refuse to answer transparency questions? #therogginreport #drd #coachellavalley #localnews #nbcpalmsprings
Help us choose the next NBC Palm Springs Fan of the Week! Vote for Video 1, 2, 3 or 4. The fan with the most votes will win a pair of tickets to next week’s Coachella Valley Firebirds game! Voting ends Thursday. Who’s your pick?
Spirit Halloween has revealed its top Halloween costume trends for 2026, and pop culture is driving the picks. Off Campus, Toy Story, K-pop Demon Hunters, superheroes, Greek gods and warriors — and plenty of Dolly Partons — are expected to be popular. What are you dressing up as this Halloween? #Halloween2026 #SpiritHalloween #HalloweenCostumes #nbcpalmsprings
After a car drove through a walkway, damaging Bill’s Pizza, the restaurant appears to have begun repairs and is still open the following day. The neighboring store, Gallivant was also damaged and is closed until Monday. The store has a gofundme page opened for them by a neighboring bookstore to support the cost of the damages. NBC Palm Springs is following the effects of this accident and what this means to the Palm Springs community. #billspizza #palmsprings #continuingcoverage #localnews #coachellavalley
Researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are using bioengineered baker's yeast to break down plastic into ingredients for cookies.
Camden, Arkansas, is the unlikely hub of US missile manufacturing after years of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have drained the country's arsenal. But the Trump administration's push to scale up defense production is colliding with the limits of the small, rural town.