Whether you drive, ride, or roll – Riverside County offers flexible travel options to fit your lifestyle. From buses and trains to carpools and vanpools, it’s never been easier to explore more convenient and efficient ways to commute. This October, take part in two national campaigns that encourage the use of public transit, ridesharing, and alternative modes of travel.

On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, celebrate the 8^th annual California Clean Air Day by riding the train or bus! Public transit operators across Riverside County will be offering free rides on this day, including Metrolink, Riverside Transit Agency (including CommuterLink and GoMicro), and many others! If you’ve never ridden the bus or train before, now is the perfect time to get started.

Rideshare Week (October 6 – 10) encourages travelers to explore new ways to commute other than driving alone – such as carpooling, vanpooling, walking, biking, or public transit – and IE Commuter provides incentives for doing so. IE Commuter, the popular commuter program led by RCTC and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, provides ride-matching services, trip planning tools, and exciting prizes just for participating. Discover a smarter, more affordable way to commute by visiting IECommuter.org.

Funding for bus and passenger rail services, motorist assistance, and ridesharing programs used by Riverside County residents is thanks in part to Measure A; the twice voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. By expanding travel options throughout the region, RCTC continues to improve mobility for the people of Riverside County. Learn more about Measure A by visiting: rctc.org/measure-a

IE Commuter, the popular commuter program led by RCTC and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), was recently honored with the prestigious Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Industry Impact Award during the 39th Annual Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) International Conference. This national award recognizes outstanding programs that measurably improve mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance air quality.

The program was recognized for its leadership in shifting solo drivers towards shared commute modes through a coordinated blend of employer partnerships, incentive programs, education, and ridematching technology.

“Using carpools, vanpools, and public transportation significantly eases regional transportation congestion,” said RCTC Chair and Riverside County Board of Supervisor Karen Spiegel. “I am proud of the national recognition our IE Commuter program has in collaboration with our valued partners at SBCTA. Together, we are demonstrating our commitment to improving mobility for Inland Empire residents.”

The Inland Empire is home to more than 4.6 million residents who face some of the longest commutes in the country. The program facilitates carpooling, vanpooling, and the use of public transit as alternatives to driving alone. These initiatives enable residents to reduce commuting costs and travel time, while enhancing the overall quality of their daily commutes.

IE Commuter, RCTC, and SBCTA continue to pave the way for improved travel, cleaner air, and healthier communities. To learn more about the program and to start your smarter commute, please visit: iecommuter.org

As bird chirps get a little bit louder and the sun lingers just a little bit longer, you know spring has arrived. Each spring is accompanied by Earth Day. The annual tradition, which began in 1970, is celebrated every April 22 to demonstrate support for positive environmental action.

More than one billion people all over the world participate in Earth Day activities. Joining in the celebration are the numerous public transit service providers across Riverside County. On Earth Day, these Riverside County service operators offer free rides to encourage residents to use the bus and train. By ditching the car keys and taking public transportation, you can help reduce traffic congestion while enjoying convenient methods of travel.

Whether you’re traveling for work, school, or leisure, take advantage of these free rides on Tuesday, April 22:

This Earth Day let’s do our part to drive positive action in our communities, no matter how big or small.

Thanks to the recent expansion of RCTC’s VanClub program into the Coachella Valley and eastern Riverside County, more commuters are now saving time and commuting costs by starting and joining vanpools. The popular program recently welcomed four new vanpools – serving employees of the Ironwood State Prison in Blythe. VanClub is one of many ways RCTC and commuters are working to relieve traffic and help the environment. Currently, there are 49 vanpools being subsidized by VanClub.

Last year, SunLine Transit transferred its existing SolVan program to RCTC’s VanClub program. The consolidation helped streamline services and enhance the efficiency of vanpool operations across Riverside County – providing commuters with a larger pool of potential ridesharing buddies.

“Since joining RCTC’s VanClub, our vanpooling employees have experienced a significant reduction in stress and anxiety that comes with extreme commutes, many exceeding an hour each way. For those working long or even double shifts, vanpools are an absolute lifesaver – providing much-needed time to relax or rest on the way home. Plus, they’re saving a lot of money on fuel and maintenance for their personal vehicles,” said Sonia Andrade, employer transportation coordinator at Ironwood State Prison.

VanClub covers 50% of eligible Riverside County vanpools vehicle lease rates – up to $600 per month, which includes vehicle maintenance, roadside assistance, and insurance. This financial assistance helps vanpool members reduce cost and wear and tear on their personal vehicles while also reducing the number of cars on the road. VanClub members are also eligible to earn incentives through the IE Commuter program.

Since the program’s inception in 2018, VanClub members have helped reduce more than 523,888 drive-alone vehicle trips, 19.6 million vehicle miles traveled, and 7,404 tons of vehicle emissions.

VanClub is partially funded by Measure A, the twice-voter approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements and services in Riverside County. Additional funding is provided by local Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction) and federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement grant funds.

For more information about joining or starting a VanClub, visit: vanclub.net

Have you ever wanted to try Metrolink – you can try it now for free! Thanks to a grant from Caltrans’ Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP), for a limited time, free Metrolink tickets are available to Riverside and San Bernardino County residents through the newly launched “Experience Metrolink” program. Experience Metrolink is designed to introduce more people to Metrolink service. Experience Metrolink is part of RCTC and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority’s IE Commuter, which helps promote rideshare options among Inland Empire residents commuting to work.

“Whether you are commuting to work or exploring southern California, Metrolink provides a relaxing way to travel,” said Karen Spiegel, Chair of the Riverside County Transportation Commission and a member of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. “With Experience Metrolink, more residents can discover the convenience of passenger rail and experience firsthand how the service can fit into their daily routines.”

Commuters using Metrolink for work may also qualify for additional incentives through IE Commuter.

How to Request Your Free Tickets

1. Create or log into your IE Commuter account. (NOTE: if you already have an existing Metrolink App account, be sure to use or update your IE Commuter email to match the email used for your Metrolink account)
2. Request your free tickets. They will appear in your Metrolink App Ticket Wallet within three business days.
3. Download the Metrolink App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and create a Metrolink account using the same email as your IE Commuter account.

Don’t miss this opportunity to ride the train for free! Learn more and sign up at IECommuter.org/RideFree or call 1.866.RIDESHARE (866.743.3742).

No car? No problem. There’s more than one way to get around Riverside County. The region’s bus, passenger rail, and ridesharing programs are available for residents to get to their destinations without the use of a car. The Clean Air Day and Rideshare Week campaigns hope to encourage increased engagement with public transit services and ridesharing programs by inviting residents to reduce their carbon footprint through alternative travel modes.

Measure A, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County, provides funding to expand travel options throughout the region. Some of these funds used for bus and passenger rail services, motorist assistance, and ridesharing programs that residents use every day to get to and from work or around their community.

Here’s how residents can get involved:

The Coalition for Clean Air’s 7th annual California Clean Air Day raises awareness about air pollution and promotes actions – such as taking public transit, bringing lunch to work, or even shopping locally – to improve air quality and protect public health. Riverside County transit service providers will make it easy to take action by offering free rides on Clean Air Day. Metrolink will be providing free rides on all trains and Riverside Transit Agency will be offering free rides on all local, CommuterLink, and GoMicro buses. To get started, take the Clean Air Day pledge and enjoy a free bus or train ride on October 2.

Rideshare Week (Oct. 7 – 11) encourages commuters – whose main mode of transportation to work features driving a car – to explore new modes of travel with an emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as biking, walking, vanpools, riding the bus or taking the train. IE Commuter, a collaboration between RCTC and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, is a popular ridesharing program that assists commuters by providing incentives for ridesharing, personal ride matching services (including carpools and vanpools), Park & Ride lot information, and transit trip planning services. In 2023, IE Commuter supported more than 1,100 regional employers and reduced 10.7 million pounds in vehicle emissions through ridesharing programs and RCTC’s VanClub service.

This October, ditch the car keys and hop on the bus or train, join a carpool, or ride your bike to work and enjoy an improved, stress-free commute.

Members of RCTC’s popular vanpool program, VanClub, now have more reasons to celebrate. In addition to the reduced stress, travel time, and commuting cost benefits associated with joining a vanpool with their favorite coworkers, members are now eligible for vanpool subsidies when commuting to worksites in the eastern part of the county, such as the Coachella Valley and Palo Verde Valley. The program’s expansion into eastern Riverside County is a result of the recent transition of SunLine Transit Agency’s vanpools. The agency sunset its SolVan program and transferred existing vanpools to RCTC’s VanClub program. The consolidation will streamline services and enhance the efficiency of vanpool operations across the county, allowing commuters interested in vanpooling to have a large pool of potential ridesharing buddies.

VanClub provides a subsidy of up to $600 per month for all eligible vanpools destined for worksites in Riverside County. The subsidy amount varies and is applied to the cost of the vanpool lease, which includes vehicle maintenance, roadside assistance, and insurance—subject to eligibility and restrictions. This significant financial assistance helps commuters save money and reduce the wear and tear on their personal vehicles.

Since its inception in 2018, RCTC’s VanClub program has been instrumental in providing cost-saving transportation options for commuters with long commutes and challenging schedules. By offering subsidies to eligible vanpools, VanClub has successfully reduced nearly 17 million vehicle miles traveled (VMTs) and 6,400 tons of pollutants, making a significant impact on the environment in our communities. Your choice to join VanClub is not just about saving money; it’s about making a difference by reducing your carbon footprint, getting cars off the road, and enhancing your quality of life through less stressful and more sustainable commuting options.

RCTC’s VanClub is committed to providing safe and reliable vanpools for all, including agricultural workers. Through its partnership with the California Vanpool Authority, a public transit agency, VanClub ensures that a wider range of commuters, regardless of their industry, have equitable access to cost-effective and environmentally friendly transportation options.

“Vanpooling has made my 100-mile daily commute manageable. Sharing the commute with others provides camaraderie. It also reduces my carbon emissions and saves money. Driving alone no longer makes sense,” said VanClub member James E.

VanClub exemplifies RCTC’s commitment to providing innovative and cost-effective transportation solutions for commuters in Riverside County. The program is partially funded by Riverside County’s Measure A, a half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements and services. Additional funding is provided by local Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction (MSRC) and U.S. Department of Transportation Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) grant funds. To sign up for VanClub, visit vanclub.net.

The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and your bike is calling! May is National Bike Month, the annual celebration of cycling that encourages people to dust off that bike, hop on, and hit the road. From the scenic mountain trails to the numerous paved paths, Riverside County offers a variety of opportunities to set out on bike.

Perhaps the most famous of all bike trails in Riverside County is the Santa Ana River Trail. The trail extends from San Bernardino through Riverside County to Orange County, following the Santa Ana River and provides scenic views of the waterway, parks, and other natural areas along the route. When completed, the Santa Ana River Trail will span 110 miles, making it one of the longest continuous trails in southern California.

For those a little more adventurous and seeking rugged terrain, there are numerous recreational areas that deliver such as Sycamore Canyon Park in Riverside. The park features several miles of multi-use trails for hiking, bird watching, and of course, mountain biking. The area provides spectacular views of Riverside and the surrounding areas. 

Riding your bike is more than just recreational – many people use their bike to commute to and from work. Metrolink allows passengers to bring bikes onboard their trains and is offering free rides Monday, May 13 through Friday, 17 as part of a week-long celebration of Bike Week. Just bring your bike and hop on, no ticket needed! Need to ride the bus? Riverside Transit Agency, SunLine Transit Agency, and bus operators across the county provide greater flexibility by making it easy to bring your bike onboard with integrated bike racks on most buses.  

But that’s not all! Commuters who frequently bike to work can earn $5 a day in gift cards and more through IE Commuter. Get fit, save money, reduce time spent in traffic, and improve air quality – all on the way to work. Just sign up through their website to start earning. 

So, what are you waiting for? Hit the road and explore Riverside County through your bike! 

“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.

Following up a banner year in 2022, a year in which RCTC delivered a staggering five capital projects, the agency carried that momentum into 2023 – advancing projects and investing in transportation improvements for communities across Riverside County. This progress was highlighted in RCTC’s 2023 Annual Report. 

Investments in Riverside County’s highways and roads continued in 2023. The agency started and ended the year strong – breaking ground on the transformative 71/91 Interchange Project in January, followed by the highly-anticipated opening of the 15/91 Express Lanes Connector in October. Together, these projects will improve connectivity, reduce traffic flow, and expand transportation options for the region. 

Enhancing public transportation continued to be a point of emphasis for RCTC in 2023. The transformational Coachella Valley Rail Project (CV Rail) was added to the federal Identification and Development Program and awarded $500,000 by the Federal Railroad Administration. This designation and grant award recognizes the value CV Rail will bring to Riverside County and throughout southern California. Crews on the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvements Project continued working on adding a second platform and extending the existing platform to accommodate the standard six car Metrolink trains, moving the project closer to completion later this year. Additionally, the California State Transportation Agency awarded $15.5 million to the Metrolink Double Track Project on the 91/Perris Valley Line to improve reliability and future capacity for service, capping off a strong year of state and federal investment in the county’s rail network.

RCTC celebrated a special birthday – the Freeway Service Patrol’s (FSP) 30 years of service. FSP drivers assisted over 56,000 motorists during the past year and more than one million motorists total since the program’s inception in 1993. FSP drivers aid stranded motorists by jump-starting batteries, fixing flat tires, conducting other minor roadside repairs, or towing vehicles to CHP-approved locations.  

Sharing is caring – motorists were encouraged to share rides and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the popular IE Commuter program. The program supported more than 1,100 employers with ridesharing programs and reduced 10.7 million pounds of vehicle emissions in 2023. 

RCTC’s environmental stewardship extends beyond just transportation. As the managing agency of the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority (RCA), RCTC continues to help the RCA drive conservation efforts in western Riverside County. The RCA is tasked with establishing a 500,000-acre habitat reserve under the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) – one of the largest conservation plans in the nation. 2023 was a year marked by significant funding and agency-led advocacy effort successes. The RCA secured nearly $27 million in various state and federal grants and acquired more 1,120 acres of sensitive habitat for protection. As of this writing, over 415,000 acres of habitat have been assembled as part of the MSHCP. 

The twice voter-approved Measure A continued to be a critical funding source for transit services, local roads, and highway projects. In 2023, RCTC approved over $310 million in Measure A funding for countywide projects: $135 million in funding for 18 significant regional transportation projects as part of the Regional Arterial Program, an additional $143.9 million for 285 local road projects, and allocated over $32 million in Measure A funds for local bus systems, passenger rail, and specialized transit services. 

As we move forward into 2024, RCTC is looking ahead at the future of transportation in our communities. To address the growing needs of Riverside County, RCTC has drafted a 2024 Traffic Relief Plan outlining future transportation infrastructure enhancements, increased transit services, and repairing our local streets and roads. Residents are urged to provide their input at trafficreliefplan.org to make sure future transportation needs continue to be met. 

Learn more about RCTC’s 2023 work and accomplishments in the official Annual Report.