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

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.

Residents and motorists who are planning to enter northbound 15 using the Temecula Parkway on-ramp are advised to plan for an extended closure of the ramp. RCTC will require an extended full closure of the northbound I-15 Temecula Parkway on-ramp beginning on Sunday, May 11 at 9 p.m. through Monday, May 19 at 5 a.m. The closures are needed to allow crews to safely demolish and reconstruct portions of the on-ramp to provide an additional lane for the I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project. The work will require the use of heavy construction equipment during the extended closure.

During the closure, motorists are advised to travel west on Temecula Parkway, northbound on Old Town Front Street, east on Santiago Road, north on Ynez Road, and west on Rancho California Road to enter northbound I-15.

Closure dates are subject to change due to weather, site conditions, construction progress, and other factors.

Once in operation, the I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project will use a dynamic coordinated metering system to allow more or fewer vehicles to enter the highway at a given time, allowing for a smoother traffic flow on the northbound 15. The system is designed to improve traffic and reduce collisions on the eight-mile stretch of the northbound I-15 from the County Line in Temecula to the I-15/I-215 Interchange in Murrieta.

For more information about the Smart Freeway Pilot Project and the Temecula Parkway on-ramp closure, visit rctc.org/temeculaclosures

Motorists traveling on southbound 71 through Chino Hills are advised to be prepared for weeknight (Monday – Friday) full closures of southbound 71 from Butterfield Ranch Rd/Euclid Ave to the 91. The closures of southbound 71 will begin Monday, March 3 through Friday, April 11 as part of RCTC’s 71/91 Interchange Project. The southbound 71 to eastbound and westbound 91 connectors will also be closed during this time.

The closures will take place from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Thursday nights, and 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Friday nights. These nighttime closures will allow construction crews to safely remove support structures from the recently constructed new sections of the connector. Additional nighttime lane reduction configurations along eastbound and westbound 91 may also occur during these nightly closures.

To avoid traffic delays, motorists are urged to avoid the southbound 71 and use southbound 57 or southbound I-15 to reach the 91 and other destinations located to the south.

Motorists traveling on southbound 71 will be rerouted to the Euclid Ave off-ramp in Chino Hills. Traffic will be detoured northbound along Euclid Ave to either eastbound or westbound 60, where motorists can travel to either southbound I-15 or southbound 57. Fire, police, and ambulance services will have access for emergency response.

Construction activity is subject to change due to site conditions, weather, or other factors. If the work cannot be completed, it will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

The new non-tolled interchange is designed to improve safety, expand access to other modes of travel, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance traffic flow, and support continued movement of native wildlife through the area. Construction began in 2023 and is expected to be completed later this year. To register for construction updates, text 7191interchange to (855) 793-2625 or sign up through the project webpage. For the latest closure information, visit: rctc.org/7191Closures

New Year, new construction project. RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans, the city of Temecula, and the Western Riverside Council of Governments, broke ground on the innovative I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project on January 6. When completed, the I-15 Smart Freeway system will be the first of its kind in California with the goal to improve traffic flow on northbound I-15 from the San Diego/Riverside County Line in Temecula to the I-15/I-215 Interchange in Murrieta.

During construction, crews will make updates and improvements to the northbound I-15. These upgrades include the construction of ramp entrance lanes, installing sensor technology, and enhancing ramp meters that will communicate with each other. This intercommunication between ramps will optimize entrance onto the freeway. To safely make these improvements, crews will require nighttime lane and ramp closures during construction.

Work to complete the project is anticipated to take 9 months and when complete, RCTC and Caltrans will activate the technology portion of the project for a two-year pilot period. This pilot period will allow time to evaluate the success of the project. Ramp metering technology will continuously monitor and adjust to real-time traffic conditions across three ramps. Tire-level sensors will track car volumes and as vehicles enter the freeway, the on-ramp meters at Temecula Parkway, Rancho California Road, and Winchester Road will work as an integrated system to optimize incoming traffic flow on I-15. A system of algorithms and specialized teams will monitor on-ramp queues for back-ups, and if needed, the system will increase cycle speed to release more cars onto the freeway to avoid backup onto local streets.

The public can track the results on a dashboard posted at Smartfreeway.org during the pilot period. This project is an innovative solution to reducing traffic across our region that differs from costly, difficult-to-implement highway expansion projects.

Smart Freeway systems have successfully reduced travel time, accidents, and greenhouse gas emissions across various parts of Australia. The Smart Freeway system has also been tested in Denver, Colorado, with the pilot period completed in July 2022. That project was successful, and the State of Colorado seeks to make it permanent.

For more information about the Smart Freeway Pilot Project and to sign up for construction updates, please visit www.rctc.org/projects/smart-fwy-pilot/

Motorists traveling through Corona are advised to steer clear of full weeknight closures of westbound 91. Beginning December 2, 2024, the westbound 91 will be closed between the 71 and Green River Road on Monday through Wednesday nights as part of RCTC’s 71/91 Interchange Project. The closures are scheduled through Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

Due to the holidays, no closures will be scheduled from December 20 through January 1, 2025. Closures are anticipated to restart on Monday, January 6, 2025.

The full closure will allow crews to remove more than 40 beams of support structures that span above the westbound 91 lanes. This work requires precision and time to be completed safely. Over the summer, crews completed a similar operation with the removal of support structures over eastbound 91.

Motorists traveling on the westbound 91 and southbound 71 should plan extra time to reach local destinations and businesses in the area. Detailed closure information below:

To avoid lengthy traffic delays, motorists are highly advised to avoid the westbound 91 by using the northbound 71 to westbound 60 to southbound 57 to get around the closure. Construction activity is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans, is reconstructing the 71/91 interchange in Corona. The project will replace the single-lane loop connector between the eastbound 91 and northbound 71 with a new, two-lane, direct connector ramp. The project is anticipated to be completed in 2025.  

To register for construction updates, text 7191interchange to (855) 793-2625 or sign up through the project webpage. View the latest construction activity at: rctc.org/7191updates 

Motorists traveling on southbound 71 through Chino Hills are advised to stay alert for weeknight full closures of southbound 71 at Butterfield Ranch Rd/Euclid Ave. The Monday through Friday nighttime closures of southbound 71 are scheduled from Monday, September 16 through late-October as part of RCTC’s 71/91 Interchange Project. The southbound 71 to eastbound and westbound 91 connectors will also be closed.

The closures will take place from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Thursday nights, and midnight to 6 a.m. on Friday nights. During these nighttime closures, construction crews will be building a new portion of support structures for the new eastbound 91 to northbound 71 connector. Additional nighttime lane reductions along eastbound and westbound 91 may also occur during these nightly closures.

To avoid traffic delays, motorists are urged to avoid the southbound 71 and use southbound 57 or southbound I-15 to reach the 91 and other destinations located to the south.

Motorists traveling on southbound 71 will be rerouted to the Euclid Ave off-ramp in Chino Hills. Traffic will be detoured northbound along Euclid Ave to either eastbound or westbound 60, where motorists can travel to either southbound I-15 or southbound 57. Fire, police, and ambulance services will have access for emergency response.

Construction activity is subject to change due to site conditions, weather, or other factors. If the work cannot be completed, it will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

To register for construction updates, text 7191interchange to (855) 793-2625 or sign up through the project webpage, rctc.org/71-91interchange. For the latest closure information, visit rctc.org/7191Closures.

Motorists making their way south through Chino and Chino Hills should avoid the southbound 71 or be prepared to face heavy traffic delays. RCTC’s 71/91 Interchange Project will require a full weekend closure beginning Friday, August 16 at 10 p.m. through Monday, August 19 at 5 a.m.

The full closure will safely allow crews to pave and stripe the final portion of the newly aligned southbound 71 lanes. During the weekend closure, crews will also perform a traffic switch to shift traffic onto these new lanes. This shift will extend southbound 71, create additional space for the new connector, and allow it to connect to northbound 71 lanes.

To avoid lengthy traffic delays, motorists are highly advised to avoid the southbound 71 and use southbound 57 or southbound I-15 to reach the 91 and other destinations located to the south.

Motorists traveling on the southbound 71 will be rerouted to the Butterfield Ranch Rd./Euclid Ave. off-ramp in Chino Hills. Traffic will be detoured northbound along Euclid Ave. to either eastbound or westbound 60, where motorists can travel to either southbound I-15 or southbound 57. Fire, police, and ambulance services will have access for emergency response.

Construction activity is subject to change due to site conditions, weather, or other factors. If the work cannot be completed, it will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

Make sure to stay informed by signing up for construction updates – text 7191interchange to (855) 793-2625 or sign up through the project webpage, rctc.org/71-91interchange.

Traveling through Corona at night this summer? There are road closures in the works that you should know about. Motorists driving on the eastbound 91 Monday through Wednesday nights should plan ahead for traffic delays. Starting Monday, July 15, weeknight closures of the eastbound 91 general purpose lanes and Express Lanes are scheduled as part of the 71/91 Interchange Project in Corona. The eastbound Green River Road on-ramp will also be closed at night.

Closures are as scheduled:

• LOCATION: Eastbound 91, from Green River Rd. to Serfas Club Dr./Auto Center Dr.
  • Includes eastbound 91 general purpose lanes, Express Lanes, and Green River Rd. on-ramp
• DAYS & TIMES: Nightly, Monday through Wednesday from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
• DURATION: July 15 – August 14, 2024

The southbound 71 connectors to eastbound and westbound 91 will remain open.

The closures will allow crews to safely remove support structures above the eastbound 91 that were constructed in 2023 and early 2024. These support structures were used to form the foundation of the new connector. The removal process will take place over several weeks, Monday through Wednesday nights, beginning July 15.

Motorists traveling on the eastbound 91 are advised to avoid the area and use northbound 57 to eastbound 60 to the southbound 71. Corona residents may use Green River Rd. to Palisades Drive to Serfas Club Dr./Auto Center Dr. to enter eastbound 91. Motorists should allow extra travel time to reach local businesses, which will remain open. Fire, police, and ambulance services will have access for emergency response.

Construction activity is subject to change due to site conditions, weather, or other factors. If the work cannot be completed, it will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

To register for construction updates, text 7191interchange to (855) 793-2625 or sign up through the project webpage, rctc.org/71-91interchange.

“The Traffic Relief Plan is a guide for improving our transportation system. If we can clear up bottlenecks for better flowing freeways and provide greater mobility options, our residents will spend less time in traffic congestion and more time living life,” said RCTC Chair Lloyd White and Beaumont City Council Member. “By coming together to approve this plan, the Commission is working to ensure Riverside County remains a place of opportunity and not a region known for traffic.”

The Plan features more than $30 billion in transportation improvements across seven transportation categories, including:

Residents are encouraged to read the Plan at TrafficReliefPlan.org.

Later this summer, Commissioners representing every city in the County and all five members from the County Board of Supervisors will decide what steps can be taken to fund projects in the TRP.