“How Full is My Train?” users can view average train ridership before boarding. If their travel plans are flexible, they may choose to take a train that usually has fewer people on it. In many cases, riders will be able to simply move to other cars if one car appears crowded.

“We know that safety is top of mind with our customers,” said Metrolink Board Chair Brian Humphrey. “Safety is foundational at Metrolink – and a shared responsibility.  Riders are required to wear face coverings while on our platforms and on board our trains. This tool empowers the rider to practice social distancing.”

Metrolink’s recent Customer Survey found that social distancing and cleanliness are among the top concerns of riders. The survey also showed that popular amenities like electrical outlets and Wi-Fi are now taking backseat to riders’ desire for hand sanitizers on every rail car.

Safety First at Metrolink

Since March, Metrolink has significantly enhanced cleaning and other safety protocols to keep riders safe. These include:

• Enhancing cleaning protocols, including wiping down regularly touched surfaces such as doors, restrooms, headrests, armrests, handrails, tables and trash areas with disinfecting products, as well as daily use of electrostatic sprayers that mist hospital-grade disinfectant on all areas of train cars – especially helpful for hidden and hard-to-reach locations.
• Introducing a new Clean Care Crew dedicated to cleaning and disinfecting trains throughout the day.
• Installing hand sanitizer stations on each train car, and ensuring they are filled more often.
• Requiring face masks and coverings for anyone aboard Metrolink trains and on Metrolink platforms and providing conductors with a limited supply of face masks for riders who have forgotten their face covering.
• Continuing to reiterate guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and other health authorities on ways to keep themselves and others safe through personal hygiene and social distancing.

Learn more.

These efforts will accelerate public and private investment, create private sector jobs, and add housing near train stations, all of which will aid in the economic recovery of Riverside County, recently hard-hit by job losses from COVID-19.

“As the owner and operator of nine Metrolink stations in Riverside County, RCTC will work closely with our public-private partners to make it easier to access our passenger rail network and to create vibrant stations with retail amenities,” said RCTC Chair and Wildomar City Council Member Ben J. Benoit. “This will create jobs and improve the overall mass transit experience for Metrolink riders and station neighbors,” he said.

The strategic planning process will include identifying and removing barriers to development near train stations, determining properties that would support private investment for housing and job creation, developing policies for mixed-use development and mixed-income housing near the stations, defining funding opportunities, and evaluating land-use near each station to forecast transit ridership and other factors.

RCTC will convene private sector and local agency partners during the next fiscal year to begin the study process.

RCTC thanks its congressional representatives and the U.S. Department of Transportation for its award of this grant.

Crews will be upgrading parts and installing new technology to allow the elevators to run more smoothly with less down-time or ongoing repairs. Both train platform elevators will be unavailable for use throughout the construction period.

Because the elevators will be out of service during construction, please allow extra time to use the stairs or pedestrian path to reach your train before it departs.

For station users with accessibility needs, we are adding security personnel to provide safe crossing at the pedestrian path. Please note that every effort will be made to ensure compliance with social distancing mandates.

The work is being scheduled now, when station use has declined due to COVID-19. Crews and construction activity will have less impact on customers during this time.

Work will take place from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. No weekend or holiday work is scheduled at this time.

For questions, email info@rctc.org or call 951-787-7141.

The I-15 Express Lanes team is spearheading the “Operation Warm” winter coat drive at Parkridge Elementary School. Skanska-Ames Joint Venture design-build team members are collecting new coats in all sizes for students ages 5 to 12. The team also is accepting coat donations from community members who wish to lend a hand. Donations are due by noon on December 18. For more information, contact Sunny Medrano at sunny.medrano@skanskaames.com.

The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission set a goal of distributing 2,500 backpacks during its “Backpack Bonanza” this month, and RCTC was happy to be part of that effort. CVRM offers emergency and temporary housing, food, vocational services and recovery treatment to thousands of men, women and children each year.

But wait, there’s more…

• In May and June, staff donated gently used professional clothing to the UC Riverside R’Professional Career Closet to help students “dress to impress” during interviews, career fairs, and networking events. Sixty percent of UCR students are first-generation college students, many from low-income families with financial obstacles to buying new professional outfits. Staff members gave 70 items – skirts, shoes, slacks, suit jackets, dress shirts, ties, and blouses – some still with tags attached. Staff sorted and delivered the items to UCR before the end of the school year.
• Throughout the year, employees also are giving “Minis for the Military,” travel-sized toiletry items to benefit Operation: Care and Comfort. Since May, staff has given 253 items, including lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, lip balm, dental floss, sewing kits, and more to ship to troops serving overseas.
• Coming this fall is a Thanksgiving Food Drive through Feeding America Riverside/San Bernardino, followed by a holiday toy drive and Christmas card recycling program.

“We are so fortunate to have individuals in our community, such as yourself, run a clothing drive on our behalf!  We are lucky to be a part of a community that is supportive and embraces these efforts too!  Our students are definitely benefiting and we feel so grateful to have the closet to assist them with professionalism,” said Chanel Parrish of UC Riverside’s Career Closet.