Metrolink and SANBAG greet early morning passengers ahead of San Bernardino parking structure grand opening

Metrolink and SANBAG employees arrived at the Metrolink San Bernardino Station at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, March 30, in time for the morning rush hour (4:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.) to meet and greet riders with bags filled with transit information; snacks; a souvenir; and a free coffee voucher provided by the local Santa Fe Depot coffee vendor.

Metrolink and SANBAG held the early morning meet and greet to celebrate the grand opening of our new three-and-a-half story, 352-space parking structure located at the west end of the station and to also thank riders for their continued patronage. The number of passengers who board trains at the San Bernardino Station, one of our busiest, averages 800 per day. Before the addition of the new structure, there was only one 427-space lot that filled quickly because Metrolink riders shared it with SANBAG and San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum employees, and patrons and employees of other businesses in the area. As a result, some riders turned to street parking.

Michael Palmer, a Metrolink rider who lives in San Bernardino, said the new parking structure makes finding a spot a lot easier. “I came down and I drove right in there, and I got a nice place to park in the shade rather than having to park a block away out on the street which is now two-hour parking. So, I think it’s an added improvement, not only because of the extra spaces but you get to park in the shade too,” he said.

SANBAG held a 9 a.m. press conference featuring four speakers who discussed how the addition of the structure, which is free of charge to riders, will improve the customer service experience for Metrolink passengers: our own Bryan Payne, P.E., Assistant Director, Capital Program Management; San Bernardino Mayor Patrick Morris, who is also the Vice-Chair of our Board; and San Bernardino First Ward City Councilwoman Virginia Marquez. Following the press conference, SANBAG held a ribbon cutting ceremony to make the parking structure official.

The additional spaces will not only benefit current riders but also new riders, which we anticipate an increase in due to rising gas prices.

The structure cost $6.5 million, a little less than half of the original estimate. It features LED lighting, which will yield an approximately 50 percent energy cost saving, according to Mayor Morris.