The Press-Enterprise
April 4, 2008

Liquid natural-gas facility to fuel Temecula's two-year trolley program

By ROCKY SALMON
The Press-Enterprise

TEMECULA - The construction of a liquid natural-gas facility will bring a bit of old-fashioned flair to mass transit in Temecula -- natural gas-powered trolleys.

On Thursday morning, city, county and state officials joined Downs Energy to break ground on a $1.1 million liquid natural-gas fueling station at Downs Commercial Fueling station on Diaz Road.

The project provides the fueling station needed for the Riverside Transit Agency to launch a two-year trolley program. The route would take riders from the Harveston area around Temecula in an old-fashioned trolley.

Ed Crisostomo / The Press-Enterprise

The trolleys are similar to cable cars in San Francisco and can seat about 25 people. The route will take residents from the Harveston area to The Promenade mall and area schools.

"The trolleys are nostalgic, old-fashioned vehicles," RTA spokesman Brad Weaver said. "It's a different type of transportation. They are fun, unique and add a nice element to the community."

The station is expected to open in August, and Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar issued a challenge to Temecula residents.

"We have to use the trolley," he said. "If we don't use it, it will be a waste of money and facilities."

The fuel station is funded through state, federal and city funds. Temecula set aside $150,000 for the project and has been working with Downs Energy to get the station built.

The Corona-based petroleum management and marketing company put together the rest of the funds from grants. The station is part of the Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor. The plan is to build enough natural-gas stations along interstates 15, 5, and 805 so businesses can use natural-gas vehicles.

The fueling station allows the city to start a long-awaited public transit route from the Harveston community.

When the developers of Harveston pitched their high-density community surrounding a manmade lake, Council members urged the developer to create a transit-centered neighborhood.

The developer has set aside $300,000 for transit services.

"Right now it's very popular to go green," Naggar said. "As it should be. But my colleagues were green back in 2001. Not many people understood what they were tying to do at the time."

Discussions have been under way between the Riverside Transit Agency, Temecula and Lennar on what that transit service should be. Attention turned to a trolley service that RTA provides in Riverside.

The trolleys are similar to cable cars in San Francisco and can seat about 25 people. The cost in Riverside is a quarter per ride.

The route will take residents from the Harveston area to The Promenade mall and area schools. The route is still being planned, as well as the cost. The hope is to eventually have trolleys that go to Pechanga and the Wine Country.

Reach Rocky Salmon at 951-375-3739 or rsalmon@PE.com. Staff writer Jeff Horseman contributed to this story.