Who said field trips are just for kids? On a recent fall day, residents from the Beaumont Senior Center embarked on a fun-filled day trip to the historic downtown Claremont Village aboard a Metrolink train. RCTC partnered with the City of Beaumont and Metrolink to show how safe, easy, and enjoyable public transit options can be for Riverside County residents.

Before the trip, RCTC staff gave the senior group an interactive presentation covering the ins and outs of passenger train travel on the Metrolink system, platform safety, and how to make the most of resources such as IE Commuter. During the 50-minute train ride to Claremont, the group participated in train trivia games, testing what they learned from the presentation to earn prizes.

Once the train arrived at Claremont Station, staff showed the group around Claremont Village, where they enjoyed several hours of free time exploring all the things the historic downtown area had to offer. Following an afternoon of good food, shopping, museums, and parks, the group reconnected at Claremont Station to board the train back to San Bernardino. From start to finish, the excursion offered local seniors a hands-on way to experience Metrolink firsthand while putting rail safety practice into action. Participants praised the ease, comfort, and fun of traveling together by rail.

Metrolink excursions are a great way to educate residents about the benefits of public transportation. RCTC, Metrolink, and cities across Riverside County work closely together to ensure these trips are positive, safe, and educational. To learn more about taking your class, club, troop, or large group on an excursion, please contact us.

RCTC has received a credit rating upgrade for bonds tied to the 91 Express Lanes, a reflection of the Commission’s disciplined financial management of the SR-91 toll revenue program, strong operational performance, and reliable express lane operations. Fitch upgraded RCTC’s $613 million senior lien SR-91 toll revenue bonds from A to A+ and its $75.7 million subordinate lien SR-91 toll revenue bonds from A- to A. Fitch also assigned a Stable Outlook to both ratings.

The upgrades strengthen RCTC’s position in the credit markets and recognize the continued financial resilience of the 91 Express Lanes, including effective toll operations, revenue performance, and ongoing investment in technology to support reliable service. The rating upgrades may also help reduce future borrowing costs, strengthening the Commission’s ability to deliver transportation improvements while providing long-term value to Riverside County taxpayers.

RCTC financed and built the eight-mile Riverside County extension of the 91 Express Lanes. Jointly operated by RCTC and the Orange County Transportation Authority as part of the larger 91 Express Lanes network, the extension has provided motorists with a reliable travel option since the lanes first opened in 2017.

Revenue from the 91 Express Lanes funds operations and maintenance and repays bonds issued to build the infrastructure. Toll revenue also supports future transportation improvements within the 91 corridor, including non-toll projects. Recent corridor improvements include the 91 Corridor Operations Project and 15/91 Express Lanes Connector, which have enhanced travel in both the Express Lanes and general-purpose lanes.

The future 91 Eastbound Corridor Operations Project is expected to include toll revenue funding, subject to applicable approvals and funding requirements.

From major earthmoving operations to underground utility installations, the SR-60/Potrero Boulevard Interchange Phase II Project in the City of Beaumont has made considerable progress since first breaking ground earlier this year.

In the past two months, excavation, paving, and various construction activities have taken place across the project area. Construction crews advanced earthwork, grading, drainage improvements, and the installation and testing of underground infrastructure, while new embankments and retaining walls took shape to support future interchange ramps. As work advances, residents can expect ongoing construction activity along the eastbound SR-60 portion of the project.

Once complete, the new interchange will enhance regional mobility and improve access to SR-60 for residents, commuters, and businesses traveling throughout the San Gorgonio Pass. By improving traffic flow and reducing congestion, the interchange is also expected to help improve air quality while supporting the economic growth and transportation needs throughout the growing region.

The second phase of the project is funded by state and local funding, including City of Beaumont Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) funds, Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF), and SB1 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) funding.

Phase II is being led by RCTC and the City of Beaumont, in partnership with Caltrans, and the new interchange is anticipated to open to drivers in 2028.

Stay up-to date with project progress, view monthly construction videos, and receive timely construction alerts by signing up for project updates at: rctc.org/PotreroInterchange

Metrolink service at four 91/Perris Valley Line stations will be suspended on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026, as part of RCTC’s Perris-South Metrolink Station and Layover Facility Project.

The two-day weekend closure will allow crews to safely perform critical construction activities at the Perris-South Metrolink Station, including construction of a new retaining wall, grading for the platform extension, demolition of a portion of the existing platform, track work, and required inspections before the track is returned to service.

During the weekend closure, there will be no Metrolink train service at the Perris-South, Perris-Downtown, Moreno Valley/March Field, and Riverside-Hunter Park/UCR stations. Service will resume on Monday, October 19.

Metrolink service from Riverside-Downtown and stations west will continue to operate on the regular weekend schedule. No alternate bus or shuttle service will be provided at the affected stations. Passengers traveling to or from these stations should plan ahead and arrange alternate transportation.

RCTC, in partnership with Metrolink, Caltrans, and the City of Perris, is expanding the Perris-South Metrolink Station and adjacent train layover facility. The project will add a second passenger loading platform, new canopies and other passenger amenities, more than 1,000 feet of new station track, and a fourth track at the layover maintenance facility to help improve Metrolink service operations.

Construction on the project began in June 2026 and is expected to be completed in 2028. Funding for the project is provided by a mix of local and state transportation sources, including Measure A.

For the latest project information, please visit: rctc.org/perrissouthstation

As part of the I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project, an updated online Smart Room has been relaunched and now includes a new performance dashboard to help residents understand how the system works and track its performance.

The Smart Freeway system uses technology and existing roadway infrastructure to help manage congestion on the northbound 15 between the Riverside/San Diego County line in Temecula and the I-15/I-215 interchange in Murrieta. Roadside sensors monitor traffic conditions, while coordinated ramp meters at Temecula Parkway, Rancho California Road, and Winchester Road adjust the flow of vehicles entering the freeway.

The updated Smart Room is an immersive online resource for learning how the Smart Freeway works. Visitors can move through the virtual space at their own pace to see where the pilot operates, learn how the different parts of the system work together, and understand what drivers may experience when the system is active. The Smart Room also includes frequently asked questions, project updates, videos, and the performance dashboard.

Through the new performance dashboard, residents will be able to track Smart Freeway system performance throughout the 2-year pilot period. Currently, the performance dashboard includes information on vehicle throughput and travel time. The Smart Freeway system comes with a lot of technical information, and additional key performance indicators will be added to the dashboard as RCTC gathers more data on performance. A glossary with terms and how the data should be read is also included in the performance dashboard.

Check out the Smart Room by visiting Smartfreeway.org

In September, the Riverside County Transportation Commission approved renaming the SR-79 Realignment Project to the San Jacinto Valley Expressway Project. The project was renamed following two rounds of public input and thousands of responses from residents along the SR-79 corridor and adjacent communities. Originally envisioned as a state route, the proposed expressway is now being designed and planned as a County of Riverside facility – requiring the new project name.

To help select a new project name, the Commission launched community-driven efforts to solicit public input, raise awareness, and celebrate community identity. Over the past year, thousands of residents in Hemet, San Jacinto, Winchester, and across the surrounding unincorporated areas in Riverside County provided a meaningful voice in shaping the project’s legacy by providing name suggestions and then voting on the top seven names.

Following the multiple public input phases, a special renaming panel comprised of elected officials and community leaders along the project area unanimously voted to recommend the “San Jacinto Valley Expressway” name to the Commission based on community feedback.

The proposed new 12-mile county expressway from south of Domenigoni Parkway north to Gilman Springs Road will include two lanes in each direction. The project also includes space for a future 35-foot-wide transportation corridor, a multipurpose trail, and wildlife crossings.

The project is a partnership between RCTC, the County of Riverside, and the cities of San Jacinto and Hemet. For more information about the project, please visit: rctc.org/sjv-expressway

From changing a flat tire to helping someone who was just in minor fender bender, RCTC’s Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) Program has assisted more than 26,000 motorists get back on the road in the first half of 2026.

The FSP roving trucks are constantly patrolling Riverside County’s 91 freeway along with large segments of the I-15, I-215, and SR-60, for stranded motorists in need of assistance. So, if you see a white FSP tow truck with a yellow and blue decal on the door approaching while you’re stranded on the freeway, help may be just moments away.

One Riverside County motorist, Gloria R., recently shared her experience with an FSP operator, saying “he was great overall! Assisted us with putting the spare, and even allowed me and my son to wait inside his patrol truck (with the AC) – it was a hot afternoon!”

Dinah G. said the “program really helped me in time of need. Helped ease my anxiety from being on the shoulder with vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed,” and Stefani D. praised an FSP driver’s professionalism, saying “he was confident and helped us to feel assured we were fine. He safely got us off the over ramp and assisted with the tire.”

Since the program’s inception in 1993, FSP drivers have helped more than one million stranded motorists on Riverside County highways.

FSP isn’t just about getting vehicles moving again; it’s about helping people stay safe during an unexpected roadside emergency. For more information about the FSP Program, please visit: rctc.org/fsp

Following an earlier round of community feedback, RCTC is seeking input on the name of the new expressway between unincorporated community of Winchester, city of Hemet, and the city of San Jacinto as part of the SR-79 Realignment Project.

The new 12-mile county expressway is designed to improve safety and connectivity for the growing communities of Winchester, Hemet, San Jacinto, and surrounding areas. Once complete, the new expressway will include two lanes of travel in each direction separated by a 14-foot median, multipurpose trail, outside shoulders, and space for a future transportation corridor. Key improvements also include wildlife crossings, a bridge over Salt Creek Channel, and other design elements to enhance traffic flow and safety in the region.

Because the new roadway will be a county expressway rather than part of the state highway system, RCTC is asking residents to help choose a name that reflects the local character, culture, and identity of the region.

Make your preferred choice by Sunday, August 9, 2026, by visiting: rctc.org/expressway-renaming. The new project name will be revealed in fall 2026.

RCTC wants to hear from you! On Monday, August 10, RCTC will hold a public hearing to gather input on transit needs within Riverside County. Comments received will be used by RCTC and the county’s transit operators to identify transit needs in preparation for transportation plans and programs. The comments will be transmitted to transit and paratransit operators as they relate to operating issues and needs.

The public hearing will be held in-person at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, at the following three locations:

For those unable to attend the in-person hearings, comments can be submitted via online contact form, email, postal mail, or by calling 951-787-7141. Comments are due by August 10, 2026.

You can mail comments to:
Riverside County Transportation Commission
Attn: Transit Needs Public Hearing
P.O. Box 12008
Riverside, CA 92502-2208

Email comments to publictransit@rctc.org with Transit Needs Public Hearing Comments in the subject line.

English to Spanish translation and an American Sign Language interpreter will be made available at the RCTC location. Translation and interpretation services for the satellite locations will be made available through teleconferencing.

Good news for 91 drivers heading back from Orange County – the SR-91 Eastbound Corridor Operations Project (ECOP) was awarded with new funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) earlier this month. Once completed, the 91 ECOP project will provide motorists a three-mile, non-tolled auxiliary lane on eastbound SR-91 between the SR-241 connector and SR-71 near Green River Road. Improvements will also include widening two bridges, constructing retaining walls, implementing rockfall mitigation measures, replacing overhead signs, and building a new two-lane exit ramp at Green River Road.

“With more than 300,000 vehicles traveling SR-91 between Riverside and Orange counties each day, continued investment in the corridor is needed to keep our communities moving,” said RCTC Chair Raymond Gregory. “RCTC appreciates the U.S. Department of Transportation for recognizing the importance of this project through the BUILD grant program, and we thank Representatives Ken Calvert and Young Kim for their leadership in supporting the project’s grant application. These funds help improve traffic operations on the 91.”

The SR-91 corridor is one of the most traveled corridors in the United States, serving thousands of commuters, businesses, and goods movement throughout the region. The $25 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant provides a significant federal investment toward advancing the project from design to construction.

RCTC is advancing the project in partnership with the California Department of Transportation and the Orange County Transportation Authority to help improve traffic flow, support economic development, and enhance travel reliability throughout the region. Construction is expected to begin in 2028. The $178 million for construction of the 91 ECOP will be funded through a combination of federal, state, and local funds, as well as toll revenues.

USDOT’s BUILD grant program is a nationally competitive discretionary grant program that funds significant transportation infrastructure projects across the country. The grant is used for transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact.

For more information, visit rctc.org/91ecop.