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.

A new access point is in the works for the Metrolink 91/Perris Valley Line (91/PVL)! The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) recently awarded $40.5 million in Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant funds to RCTC for the development and construction of a new Metrolink station in the unincorporated community of Mead Valley. The station is a partnership between RCTC and Metrolink and will be located between the existing Moreno Valley/March Field and Perris-Downtown stations along the 91/PVL and will serve the rapidly growing communities along I-215. 

Measure A, the twice voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County, will also contribute $3.7 million along with $6.3 million in RCTC-controlled State Transit Assistance funds.

The project will bring more transportation options to the region especially the neighboring communities of Perris, San Jacinto, and Hemet that are expected to see significant growth in housing, industrial, and commercial centers. The new station is also part of RCTC’s Traffic Relief Plan – a comprehensive transportation strategy that identifies investments in transportation projects, services, and infrastructure. The plan is designed to reduce traffic congestion, implement roadway safety measures, and offer greater mobility options for Riverside County residents.

“As more people move to the cities and communities along I-215 corridor, the Commission is planning for and delivering much needed transportation projects that will connect our region with the rest of southern California and help reduce traffic congestion,” said RCTC Chair and City of Beaumont Councilmember Lloyd White. “We welcome the state partnership in our effort and are grateful to CalSTA for awarding this vital funding. The new Mead Valley Metrolink Station and Mobility Hub will benefit not only Mead Valley residents but also the entire Riverside County region.”

The new station will feature bicycle lockers, bus bays, kiss and ride drop off zones, and rideshare parking to facilitate transit integration and promote multimodal travel via active transportation, transit, carpooling, and vanpooling.  

The Mead Valley Metrolink Station/Mobility Hub represents RCTC’s ongoing commitment to deliver transportation projects that offer Riverside County residents convenient mobility options. The final design for this $50.5 million project is anticipated to begin in 2025 and is estimated to be completed by 2029.

At its June 12 meeting, the Commission awarded $9.9 million in Measure A funding for 20 projects to 15 non-profit and public agencies that provide specialized transit services across Riverside County for Fiscal Years 2024 through 2027.

For Riverside County’s most vulnerable residents – seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals – accessing transportation options to medical appointments, social services, and everyday activities can be challenging. RCTC’s Specialized Transit Program makes a significant difference in filling in the gaps not met by other forms of transportation. Specialized Transit Programs support operating and capital projects such as senior transportation shuttles, non-emergency medical transportation services, bus pass/voucher programs, mileage reimbursement programs, travel training, vehicle and maintenance equipment, and communications and dispatch equipment.

At its meeting, Commissioners heard first-hand how valuable this funding is for organizations providing the services and those who use it. “We are thrilled and very grateful to have been recommended for RCTC funding through the Measure A program,” said Jessica Muñoz, President and CEO of Voices for Children – one of the 15 grant recipients. The non-profit recruits, trains, and supports Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers who speak up for the needs and well-being of children in foster care.

Muñoz added, “the funding is important to us for many reasons. One of the ways that our volunteer advocates support youth in care is by providing transportation for them when they need to attend court hearings, meetings in the community, school events, and sometimes even enrichment activities that they have no other way to participate in.”

RCTC has heard from additional organizations about the value of funding for these services.

The 15 Measure A Specialized Transit Program grant recipients include:

• Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley
• Boys & Girls Club of Southwest County
• Care-A-Van Transit Inc
• City of Norco Parks – Recreation and Community Services Department
• Forest Folk, Inc.
• Friends of Moreno Valley Senior Center, Inc,
• Operation Safehouse
• Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health (RUHS-BH)
• Riverside University Health System – Medical Center (RUHS-MC)
• EXCEED
• Angel View
• Independent Living Partnership
• Voices for Children
• Blindness Support Service
• Michelle’s Place

With these latest grants, RCTC continues to uphold its commitment of providing funding to non-profit providers of transit services for vulnerable Riverside County residents.

Over the last few years, grants for transportation projects have become increasingly competitive as agencies work to address the mobility needs of growing communities. Not only is the grant application process lengthy and complex, but an award is also not guaranteed. Recently, the Riverside County Transportation Commission worked closely with the Riverside Transit Agency, the city of Coachella, and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) to assemble a series of grant applications for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Early Action Planning (REAP 2.0) grants program.

The following five Riverside County projects are approved for funding through the REAP 2.0 program:

• Riverside Transit Agency GoMicro Microtransit Pilot Program Extension ($2,378,635)
• CVAG Vehicle Miles Traveled Study ($2,005,000)
• Riverside County Transportation Commission Core Capacity Innovative Transit Study ($3,000,000)
• City of Coachella Rail Station Feasibility Study and Integrated Land Use and Transit Network ($2,005,000)
• CVAG (CV) Link Community Connectors Analysis ($1,700,000)

The REAP 2.0 program was open to County Transportation Commissions, such as the RCTC, to apply for a limited amount of funding for projects aimed at reducing congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and vehicles miles traveled. Through these projects, RCTC is not only working to address issues related to congestion and air pollution, but also addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities and encouraging sustainable development that produces economic and environmental benefits.

As part of the REAP 2.0 program, submissions had to demonstrate that the studies and projects would eventually encourage housing development closer to where people live and work, reducing the need to travel long distances. These grants will accelerate the state’s progress towards housing goals and climate commitments through a strengthened partnership between the state, its regions, and local entities.

In the past 10 years, the mid county region of Moreno Valley, Perris, San Jacinto, and Hemet has grown significantly. More people are traveling between this area of Riverside County and the rest of the County for housing and work than ever before, and they must also compete in traffic with the nation’s agricultural and freight carriers, 40 percent of which travels through the Inland Empire to serve the rest of the state and country. This rapid growth shows in the congestion that these communities must endure daily on the I-215 corridor and unsafe surface streets on Ramona Expressway to access employment and education opportunities.

RCTC is working diligently to advance mobility solutions in these corridors, and a recent award announcement from the State provides a needed boost for two critical projects. Thanks to the California Transportation Commission, the region’s Mid County Connectivity Enhancement Program is set to receive $44.5 million in Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP) competitive grant funding.

Funded by the Road Repair and Recovery Act of 2017, also known as SB 1, the SCCP award to the Mid County Connectivity Enhancement Program includes two projects – the Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway Project and the Metrolink Double Track Project. Together, these projects will provide greater access to multimodal transportation options, relieve traffic congestion, improve roadway safety, and promote clean air.

The Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway Project runs along the Ramona Expressway and will add one lane in both directions for 8.6 miles between Warren Road near San Jacinto and one mile east of Rider Street near Lake Perris. The project will also include medians, a bridge over the San Jacinto River, upgraded traffic signals, and a wildlife crossing – all to dramatically improve safety on a road known for fatal traffic collisions. Notably the project will also help relieve traffic in this growing community by bolstering connections to Metrolink service on the western side.

The Metrolink Double Track Project will add a second track to the Metrolink 91/Perris Valley Line between the Moreno Valley/March Field Station and the Perris-Downtown Station allowing for increased service frequency in the future by Metrolink’s commuter trains.

Together, both projects allow better access to multimodal transportation services such as bus and rail, project safety improvements, relieve traffic congestion, and help improve air quality in the region.

This grant award complements a previous state award from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) and will also support other improvements already underway along the Perris Valley Line corridor such as RCTC’s $33 million Moreno Valley/March Field Improvements Project and Metrolink’s Perris Valley Line Capacity Improvement Project, which includes additional double tracking and an expansion and improvement of the Perris-South Station.

The SCCP is a highly sought-after statewide grant program that makes available approximately $250 million annually to projects. RCTC’s Mid County Connectivity Enhancement Program strikes a competitive balance that provides traffic relief while also increasing multimodal transit connectivity, enhancing safety and security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting wildlife habitat connectivity, and increasing access to jobs for the community.

The 91/Perris Valley Line (91/PVL) will see service improvements thanks to a $15.5 million award for the Metrolink Double-Track Project announced in April by Governor Gavin Newsom. The award announcement follows a joint application by RCTC and Metrolink to expand passenger rail service on the 91/PVL and reduce congestion along the heavily traveled I-215.

The project will improve 6.5 miles of existing freight railroad track to meet standards for Metrolink passenger rail service. The historic freight tracks are rated for much slower speeds than passenger trains require. The upgrades will include reconstructing existing track and the addition of a second set of tracks between the Moreno Valley/March Field Station and just north of the Perris-Downtown Station along the 91/PVL. These improvements will allow for expanded Metrolink service in the area and safely accommodate local freight trains serving freight rail shippers along the corridor.

The improved tracks will offer improved reliability, increase service frequency, and keep on-time performance. Furthermore, the project expands transportation options by offering an alternate to driving, reducing air pollution, and serving underserved communities. Through these improvements, Metrolink will be closer to offering service every 30 minutes, consistent with the Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) Program and California State Rail Plan.

The project will connect to the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvements Project, which began construction in October 2022. Construction for the Metrolink Double-Track Project could begin in mid-2024.

The grant, administered by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), is derived from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) and is part of a $690 million investment by the state to fund 28 new public transportation projects in disadvantaged communities. Funding helps expand transit and passenger rail service in Riverside County and throughout California while eliminating an estimated 2,068,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

For a complete list of the grant recipients, click here.

RCTC submitted six applications last month to request $24 million from federal funding sources for a collection of passenger rail and highway projects. The projects are designed to help improve mobility options for residents in Riverside County and the region.

Three funding requests are for Coachella Valley Rail, the proposed 144-mile passenger rail corridor between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley, with stops in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. This once-in-a-generation project is critically important for the Inland Southern California region, which faces heavy traffic congestion daily.

RCTC is requesting Congressionally Directed Spending funding totaling $5 million each from U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla and a Community Project Funding request for $5 million from U.S. Representative Ken Calvert, for a total of $15 million. This will help fund in-depth engineering and environmental studies that must be completed to advance the project.

Once operational, the rail service will add a new car-free, stress-free option for travel, expand the regional economy with new connections to entertainment venues and commercial/retail centers, combat climate change with fewer emissions from single-passenger vehicles, and promote equity by offering new access to employment and education.

To learn more about Coachella Valley Rail, visit rctc.org/cvr.

RCTC also has applied for Community Project Funding for three additional projects through the following Congressional members:

• From Representative Mark Takano, a $3 million request toward construction of the Metrolink Double Track: Moreno Valley to Perris Project. The project will add a second set of tracks between the Moreno Valley/March Field Station and the Perris-South Station. Once completed, the extended tracks will facilitate Metrolink operations, offer an alternative to driving, and help relieve traffic congestion on Interstate 215. The project also will boost access to jobs and education in this traditionally underserved area, reduce air pollution, and help Metrolink achieve its goal of providing bidirectional service every 30 minutes in time for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.
• From Representative Raul Ruiz, a $3 million request toward construction of the Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway Project. RCTC is partnering with the County of Riverside for this 8.6-mile segment of roadway between Perris and San Jacinto that experiences a high rate of vehicular accidents. If funding is secured, construction could start in 2025 and take about two years to complete.
• From Representative Young Kim, a $3 million request for construction funds for the Route 91 Eastbound Corridor Operations Project. This project would add a lane to eastbound 91 from the southbound 241 Toll Road connector to Route 71 in Corona to help improve traffic flow in this heavily traveled area, especially during peak afternoon and evening commute hours. Engineering and environmental studies are expected to begin in mid-2023, with construction dates based on available funding.

In support for RCTC’s projects, Representatives Calvert, Takano, and Kim submitted RCTC’s funding request to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration. The three project funding requests included:

• $5 million request to the Coachella Valley Rail Project supported by From Representative Ken Calvert.
• $3 million request toward construction of the Metrolink Double Track: Moreno Valley to Perris Project supported by Representative Mark Takano.
• $3 million request for the Route 91 Eastbound Corridor Operations Project supported by Representative Young Kim.

While these requests still require Congressional approval, the funding amounts to $11 million to advance passenger rail and highway infrastructure projects that improve mobility and transportation options for Riverside County.

RCTC closed out 2022 on a strong note, with the inclusion of two of its community project funding requests within the federal Fiscal Year 2023 funding package signed into law by President Joe Biden on December 29. These funding requests advance RCTC’s efforts to improve transportation choice and reduce congestion.

A $3 million request by RCTC to Representative Mark Takano was approved to help fund the construction of the City of Riverside’s Third Street Grade Separation Project.

This critical piece of funding supports the construction phase of a new four-lane underpass to replace the at-grade railroad crossing at Third Street near downtown Riverside. These tracks, operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, are among the busiest in the nation with more than 100 trains passing through daily. This rail traffic causes approximately 225 minutes per day of traffic delay on Third Street, including for emergency responders.

Establishing a new vehicle/pedestrian/bicycle underpass will enhance safety, reduce local traffic delays, improve air quality with fewer idling vehicles, and enhance connections with the Downtown and Eastside communities. Final design is anticipated to be completed by summer 2024, with construction contract awards expected in spring 2025.

Also included within the funding package was RCTC’s $3 million request of Representative Ken Calvert to help fund the proposed I-15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension.

This project aims to extend the I-15 Express Lanes by 14.5 miles, from Cajalco Road in Corona, through Temescal Valley, to Route 74 in Lake Elsinore. I-15 is the spine of the region’s transportation network, with millions of vehicles using the interstate annually. The southern section of I-15 serves as a critical connection point not only for passengers traveling between San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles counties, but also for the movement of goods we all depend upon and enjoy.

The I-15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension also directly benefits local communities by expanding mobility choice and mass transit while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The funding will support engineering and environmental studies that are under way and expected to be completed in several years. Efforts will continue to secure funding for construction.

RCTC appreciates the leadership of Representatives Calvert and Takano to secure funding for transportation projects that enhance mobility choice and quality of life for the region’s residents.

The eastbound Route 60 Gilman Springs Road on-ramp was closed this week and is expected to reopen February 3.

If possible, avoid the area by using Interstate 10 and allow extra travel time due to significant anticipated delays.  See detour map below. The CHP will enforce traffic safety. Traffic fines are doubled in construction areas.

Weekly construction updates are available. Register to receive email notices at rctc.org/60trucklanes and follow @60trucklanes on social media for frequent updates. For more information, call the project helpline at 866-413-6060.

RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans, began project construction in June 2019. The project is intended to enhance safety and traffic flow by separating passenger vehicles from trucks, providing wider shoulders for emergency access, constructing wildlife crossings for animals to cross beneath Route 60, and flattening curves for better sight distance within this curving terrain. The $113 million investment has created 1,400 jobs.