Re: Truncation of the BNSF San Jacinto Branch
Author: Gary Hunter
Date: 11-04-2011 - 13:02
As I understand it, all of the San Jac belongs to SCCRA. From what I have been able to read, the only segment being developed currently, stops a little south of Perris. I can only hope that there are sufficient future plans to keep the unused ROW into San Jacinto unobstructed for future TRANSIT development. Even though economy and demand may not justify current use, the ROW into San Jacinto will most certainly be needed for the future. OERM would make a good caretaker in the interim and allow possible historical museum use. There is scarcely a town of any size in S. California that would not benefit from an alternative to the automobile. The problem is the Republithugs (oppose)and Dummycrooks (steal from)keep messing up good ideas. Any large scale project of any kind in the public sector needs objective apolitical supervision to keep the taxpayers from getting ripped off in the name of valid projects and ideas. It's a tough time (as any) to be an idealist. Also, it seems the Redlands extension of Metrolink is moving forward. In the PE news article article, local politicos from San Berdoo have stated they are looking at trying to possibly restore some semblance of a loop after the initial line to Redlands. They expressed an interest in trying to serve the onetime Norton AFB now known as San Bernardino International Airport and E. Highland. It would be interesting to see them use part of the Mill St. PE trackage, and part of the E. Highlands line to return the route to Metro San Berdoo. Just a thought.