Chino Hills Council Member Ray Marquez is the president of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Board of Directors. He can be reached at rmarquez@chinohills.org.

Cities in the Inland Empire, like much of southern California, are battling severe traffic congestion and deteriorating air quality, with pressure placed on a freeway network that covers a large geographic region with limited public transit options. But local governments, along with state and federal partners, are laying the tracks for innovative solutions for the region and beyond. 

As the transportation authority for the largest county in the U.S., the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is always looking for better ways to serve the county’s 24 different cities and over 2.1 million residents. As its president, I’m extremely proud of the recent work we’ve done to not only get people from point A to point B, but to do so with fewer greenhouse emissions.

The most exciting news is the introduction of a zero-emission passenger train powered by blue hydrogen and battery technology. (The train will use green hydrogen once it’s more readily available.) It represents a transformative new direction in public transportation and is the first such train in North America.

The Zero-Emission Multiple Unit — or ZEMU — runs on existing infrastructure and will be in operation next year. Water vapor is the only emission generated by the propulsion system, making it a cleaner and quieter alternative to diesel engines. It’s nimble enough to run smaller two-car sets during lean ridership times or couple with other two-car sets during high-demand hours.

ZEMU is the product of much collaboration among SBCTA, the California State Transportation Agency, the Federal Railroad Administration, and Metrolink.

But the innovation doesn’t stop there. SBCTA is collaborating with Brightline West on the first high-speed, electric rail system in California — the first true high-speed passenger rail system in the nation. This private-led, union-constructed and -operated infrastructure project is one of the largest in the nation.

This 218-mile rail service will include a flagship station in Las Vegas, with additional stations in Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga here in California.

Trains will take people from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga in two hours and 10 minutes — twice as fast as a typical four-hour car drive. The Rancho Cucamonga Station will connect to Southern California’s regional Metrolink service, allowing for seamless connectivity to downtown Los Angeles and beyond.

It’s our hope that the station will soon become a one-of-a-kind transit hub that connects the Inland Empire to the world. Other services include improved, zero-emission rapid bus connections to the Pomona Metrolink Station, a future tunnel connection to Ontario International Airport, and a robust fixed-route bus service connecting the entire valley. The Bus Rapid Transit system is under construction, with service expected to begin by the end of 2026.

As a president and a resident, I know that good, reliable transportation is one of the primary contributors to a person’s quality of life. SBCTA has spent decades evolving a transportation network that keeps people and goods moving to and through our county. The public’s investment through Measure I, the half-cent sales tax measure that serves as the backbone of transportation funding for the region, continues to be one of the county’s best investments.

As a council member for Chino Hills, I also know how important it is for city leaders to take an active role in regional transportation issues. Chino Hills sits at the convergence of four different counties and freeways — each governed by a different county and regional transportation authority. Having a strong voice in regional transportation decisions ensures the unique needs and priorities of our communities are heard, allowing us to advocate for projects that truly benefit everyone. 

When we join forces, we can allocate resources fairly and appropriately. Transportation challenges that seem insurmountable become manageable, as we work to create a more cohesive and efficient transit network for residents today and tomorrow. This kind of regional cooperation is vital. The challenges we face — whether it’s congestion, air quality, or infrastructure maintenance — do not stop at city or county borders.

As the region continues to grow, along with the demand for goods and movement from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the pressure on our transportation infrastructure will only intensify. These changes won’t be enough to solve all our challenges. But by working together we can find new, innovative ways to solve problems both old and new. Today that is evident by the advancements of ZEMU and Brightline’s high-speed rail system.