Riverside County Approves $80 Million for Coachella Valley Rail Project

Environmental study moves the rail line connecting Los Angeles and Coachella Valley to the next phase.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 1:47pm

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The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) has awarded an $80 million contract to HDR Engineering to conduct a Tier 2 environmental study for the Coachella Valley Rail Project (CV Rail). This crucial step will advance the project toward construction, including the preparation and delivery of an environmental document that meets all state and federal regulatory requirements.

Why it matters

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 is expected to deliver benefits that will positively impact the region for generations by offering residents, visitors, and commuters better choices and smart alternatives to traveling solely by automobile.

The details

The next phase of the project will include design, station planning, and collaboration with Caltrans and other partners. The Commission unanimously certified the Final Tier 1/Program-Level Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report in 2022, and in 2023, the Federal Rail Administration added CV Rail to the Corridor ID program, putting the project in a position to better compete for federal funding to advance to final design and construction.

  • The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) awarded the $80 million contract to HDR Engineering in January 2026.
  • The Commission unanimously certified the Final Tier 1/Program-Level Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report in 2022.
  • In 2023, the Federal Rail Administration added CV Rail to the Corridor ID program.

The players

Raymond Gregory

Chair of RCTC and Mayor of Cathedral City.

Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC)

The regional transportation planning agency for Riverside County, California.

HDR Engineering

The engineering firm awarded the $80 million contract to conduct the Tier 2 environmental study for the Coachella Valley Rail Project.

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What they’re saying

“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. At its core, CV Rail is all about offering residents, visitors, and commuters better choices and smart alternatives to traveling solely by automobile.”

— Raymond Gregory, Chair of RCTC and Mayor of Cathedral City

What’s next

The next phase of the project will include the preparation and delivery of an environmental document that meets all state and federal regulatory requirements, design, and station planning in collaboration with Caltrans and other partners.

The takeaway

The Riverside County Transportation Commission's approval of an $80 million contract for the Coachella Valley Rail Project's environmental study is a significant step forward in connecting the region to the rest of Southern California through daily passenger rail service, offering residents, visitors, and commuters more transportation choices and alternatives to driving.