Greater Ontario California (GOCAL) and the Ontario Convention Center welcome the planned West Valley Connector, a zero-emission Bus Rapid Transit system that will help connect visitors and employees to the fastest-growing destination in Southern California.
Groundbreaking for the next-generation transit system was held recently just north of the Convention Center, the center point for much-anticipated connector between eastern Los Angeles County and Greater Ontario. Twenty-one stations, including the Convention Center site, will provide convenient access to and from major destinations along the 19-mile route. These include Ontario International Airport (ONT), Ontario Mills, Victoria Gardens and the Cucamonga Station.
The 19-mile line is being developed by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) and will be operated by Omnitrans.
“The West Valley Connector will help connect visitors to some of our key destinations and entertainment centers, which is great. But one of the major benefits, especially for our hotels and restaurants, is the convenient commuter option it will provide to employees and prospective employees, significantly expanding our workforce. This is also an all-electric system, which will help reduce vehicle emissions and help our environment,” said Michael Krouse, CEO of GOCAL and the Convention Center.
The hospital industry is, in fact, a major economic and employment driver for the Inland Empire, accounting for 180,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars a year in economic impact. In Greater Ontario alone, hotels and conventions generate nearly $100 million a year in economic impact and have helped propel the region to one of the most dynamic destinations in California.
The future looks even better, with major expansion planned at and around the Convention Center, Toyota Arena and the Cucamonga Station, the latter of which will serve as the terminus for the planned Brightline West train between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga. All of this will attract more visitors and create more jobs.
The region also will continue to benefit from ONT, which will welcome more than 6 million passengers this year, its highest annual total since 2008 and a nearly 50% increase since the airport’s return to local ownership in 2016. The gateway has been named the fastest-growing airport in the U.S. five years running.
“Having world-class transportation assets is a difference maker for any destination, and we’re fortunate to have the leaders and visionaries we do to ensure that Greater Ontario and the Inland Empire will always have convenient access to our region’s major activity and employment centers,” Krouse said.
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