Re: Bob 2 question- I think that;s why its; expensive...
Author: around and around
Date: 09-11-2019 - 08:39
The problems are all amenable to enough money being thrown at them. The problem is that OERM (like most museums run by volunteers) probably doesn't have transit-agency-level money just lying around. Or if it does, it has higher priorities for it than finishing the track into the Perris station.
Once out of the station, the OERM track could be moved farther away from Metrolink. There appears to be plenty of right of way in the Google shots so no need to snuggle, unless Metrolink and/or the city have other plans for the extra land (an overflow parking lot for commuters?). Alternatively, as with some light rail operations sharing heavy rail right of way without a comfortable separation, a suitable concrete wall and fence could be built between the museum track and Metrolink outside of the station area. Ugly, but it works. As for the switch, again, that takes money and a professional project manager to make sure all the punch lists are developed and followed (by a qualified contractor), and should probably be arranged so the museum would never be able to run directly onto Metrolink tracks (is that so difficult to imagine?). I'd see it used only for pickups and deliveries like an industrial spur; doing that in PTC territory, or on main lines in general, is not rocket science.
Again, all it takes is a good project definition and enough money. And, of course, a high enough priority within the museum organization (if they don't really need it, why bother?). I don't live in the area (or anywhere even near), so I have no ability to know how likely it is that all those things could align. Basically, I have no dog in the hunt other than general interest in a potentially good project for building museum traffic.