REDLANDS>> Progress continues on the Redlands Passenger Rail Project.

The San Bernardino Associated Governments board of directors on Wednesday voted to seek proposals for construction management services for the project, which is currently in the design phase.

The project proposes to extend rail service nine miles from downtown San Bernardino to the University of Redlands. Construction is expected to start in late 2017, with operations in mid-2020.

SanBAG will be working on relocating utility lines along the rail line prior to construction, Michelle Adams, of SanBAG’s office of Legislative & Public Affairs, said by phone Tuesday.

“So, people may think it’s construction on the project happening right away. It’s actually early utility relocation. We work with Southern California Edison and SoCal Gas to make sure we’re moving all the necessary utilities prior to construction,” she said.

SanBAG has hired Thomas Communications Group to assist with public outreach in Redlands and San Bernardino, which includes alerting residents of the utility relocation work.

“Once we get the timeline for the utility relocation they will be going out into the community and providing notices for when that construction is going to happen, what people can anticipate seeing and making sure that people receive alerts for any sort of impact that may occur,” she said.

SanBAG is also in the process of developing a brand for the rail service, which will not be officially titled the Redlands Passenger Rail Project, since that is the name of the project itself.

“We will be working with the city of San Bernardino, city of Redlands and the community groups within both cities to help develop a regionally significant name, logo and tagline for the actual service that will run along the alignment,” Adams said.

SanBAG will be updating the Redlands and San Bernardino City Councils on the project this month, she said.

Redlands Mayor Pro Tem Jon Harrison has been updating the public on the project during City Council meetings.

“They’re continuing to push keeping to the schedule for that project so they can be operational by sometime in 2020,” Harrison said Tuesday.

There are four stations planned: Waterman Avenue; New York Street near Esri (at Esri’s expense); downtown Redlands; and the University of Redlands.

The Redlands rail will connect to the new San Bernardino Transit Center, which is Omnitrans’ East Valley hub. SanBAG has recommended that Omnitrans take over operation of the Redlands rail.

SanBAG employees have been meeting with community groups to discuss the project, including Redlands Unified School District and University of Redlands officials, Adams said.

The design includes the stations and grade crossings, Adams said.

All of the 26 crossings along the line are within quiet zones, approved by the Redlands and San Bernardino City Councils, and will require increased safety features.

Thomas Communications will be helping SanBAG establish a rail safety campaign to inform the public of the incoming rail service.

“We’re in the process of putting together the plan for how we’re going to basically get out to everybody and once that plan is developed, then we’ll move forward with the actual campaign,” Adams said. “We will start that probably concurrent with construction, so mid to late 2017.”

The project’s estimated costs are about $250 million, but costs to purchase Diesel Multiple Units and construction costs are still estimates, Adams said.

Vehicle procurement is expected to start this year, she said.

The project is heavily supported by the Measure I half-cent sales tax, originally approved by voters in 1989 and renewed in 2004.

For more information on the project visit www.redlandsrailproject.org