RCTC marked another major milestone this year by breaking ground on a significant project that will address high-priority transportation safety needs in Riverside County. On June 24, 2026, RCTC celebrated the start of construction on the Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway Project alongside project partners, elected officials, stakeholders, and community members at the project site.

The 8.6-mile project, located between one mile east of Rider Street and Warren Road in San Jacinto, will improve safety and access by constructing a raised median, adding one lane in each direction, building a new bridge over the San Jacinto River and a wildlife crossing, and upgrading traffic signals.

“The Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway Project will provide a safer and more efficient east-west connection for residents, businesses, and emergency responders throughout the region,” said Raymond Gregory, Mayor of Cathedral City and Chair of RCTC. “This project is ultimately about protecting lives, strengthening connections, and investing in the people and communities who depend on this corridor every day.”

Ramona Expressway is the second construction segment of the Mid County Parkway, a planned 16-mile corridor between Perris and San Jacinto. In 2022, RCTC completed the first segment with the delivery of the I-215 Placentia Avenue Interchange. The project added new on-ramps and off-ramps to Placentia Avenue, realigned East Frontage Road, widened the Placentia Avenue overcrossing, and added lanes to Placentia Avenue between Harvill Avenue and Indian Avenue.

The MCP Ramona Expressway Project advanced to construction thanks to Measure A – the twice voter-approved half-cent sales tax measure for transportation improvements in Riverside County – and a combination of federal, state, and local funding sources.

For more information about this vital safety project and to sign up for updates, please visit: rctc.org/mcpramona

During its December 10 meeting, the Commission approved more than $156 million in construction contracts for two regionally significant projects: Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway and SR-60/Potrero Boulevard Interchange – Phase II. These projects aim to enhance roadway safety, improve travel reliability, and support economic growth in two of Riverside County’s fastest growing regions.

“Safe and reliable transportation is the foundation of our daily lives – connecting us to school, work, and the people who matter to us the most,” said Supervisor Karen Spiegel, RCTC Chair and Vice Chair of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. “The Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway will address critical safety improvements in one of the most traveled corridors in our region. Phase II of the Potrero Interchange will enhance regional mobility throughout the San Gorgonio Pass. Together, these two projects will a create a safer and more connected Riverside County for us all.”

The Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway Project will upgrade 8.6 miles of roadway between Rider Street and Warren Road in San Jacinto. Between 2017 and 2022, this heavily traveled corridor experienced numerous collisions resulting in 14 fatalities and 17 severe injuries. The project will address critical safety needs by widening the roadway to two lanes in each direction, adding a raised median, building a wildlife crossing, and constructing a new bridge over the San Jacinto River.

In the San Gorgonio Pass, the City of Beaumont has partnered with RCTC and Caltrans to deliver Phase II of the SR-60/Potrero Boulevard Interchange. The project will build a new interchange at State Route 60, realign Western Knolls Avenue, and widen Potrero Boulevard to six lanes. These enhancements will make it easier to access SR‑60 and support ongoing residential and economic growth in Beaumont and across Riverside County.

Construction for both projects will begin in early 2026. Once completed, these two projects will deliver on RCTC’s commitment to providing vital transportation infrastructure that meets the needs of our region’s rapidly growing communities.

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.

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.

Heading to or from Perris? Drivers have another option to enter and exit Interstate 215 with the opening of the new Placentia Avenue Interchange.

RCTC opened the on-ramps and off-ramps December 13, providing an alternative to the Ramona Expressway ramps to the north and the Nuevo Road ramps to the south. Construction of the $42 million infrastructure investment began in August 2020.

“We are excited to deliver this important piece of infrastructure for our residents of Perris and neighboring communities,” said RCTC Chair and Riverside County 4^th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “This new interchange expands access to work and school and helps with traffic flow in this rapidly growing area,” he said.

The project provided close to 400 jobs during construction. Crews built the on- and off-ramps, widened the Placentia Avenue bridge over I-215 with new lanes between Harvill Avenue and Indian Road, and added sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and a barrier-separated equestrian path along Placentia Avenue. Crews also constructed detention basins to reduce local street flooding.

The interchange is the first construction segment of the Mid County Parkway, a planned 16-mile corridor between Perris and San Jacinto. RCTC began final design last month of the next Mid County Parkway segment, which will extend 8.6 miles along Ramona Expressway from Warren Road to about one mile east of Rider Street in the County of Riverside.

The Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway project will address high priority safety needs for this segment of roadway with a history of vehicle collisions. The project also will reduce travel times and promote transportation equity for the Perris and San Jacinto valleys with better connections to I-215, Route 79, Metrolink service, and Riverside Transit Agency service.

RCTC currently is seeking grant funding to build this next section of the MCP. If funds can be secured, construction could start in early 2025.

More than half of the planned length of the Mid County Parkway transportation corridor moved a step closer to construction following the Commission’s approval of the final design contract and other agreements last month.

The project team will develop construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates to improve 8.6 miles of Ramona Expressway from Warren Road to about one mile east of Rider Street in the County of Riverside. The Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway segment is within the full 16-mile Mid County Parkway project planned between Route 79 in the San Jacinto Valley and Interstate 215 in Perris.

Also known as the MCP, the new east-west corridor will open economic opportunities, reduce travel times, and expand access to employment and education for residents and businesses of Riverside County. The improvements will promote transportation equity for this long-underserved area and connect to Route 79, Interstate 215, and transit facilities that support Metrolink’s 91/Perris Valley Line and Riverside Transit Agency routes. With this connection, the Perris and San Jacinto Valley communities will have access to multiple modes of travel.

The MCP Ramona Expressway segment consists of one lane in each direction with a passing lane between 5^th Street and Bridge Street. Proposed improvements will add two new lanes to provide two lanes in each direction, build a raised median with delineators to separate the eastbound and westbound lanes, construct a new bridge over the San Jacinto River, modify three intersections with traffic signals, add a signalized intersection, and build a wildlife crossing.

This area of Ramona Expressway has a history of vehicle collisions. Between 2017 and 2022, the County of Riverside reported 31 collisions, of which 14 were fatalities and 17 resulted in severe injuries.

RCTC has partnered on the MCP Ramona Expressway segment with the County of Riverside, which contributed $1 million toward future construction. Final design is anticipated to be completed within two years. If funding is secured, construction could begin in 2025 and take an additional two years.

Construction of the Interstate 215 Placentia Avenue Interchange in Perris, the first MCP segment, began in August 2020 and is scheduled to open this fall.

RCTC is seeking grant funds from Solutions for Congested Corridors and Local Partnership Grant programs funded by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. If awarded, RCTC will use the funds for two critical projects in Riverside County: Metrolink Double Track Project: Moreno Valley-Perris and the Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway.

The projects are vital components of RCTC’s vision to implement safe multimodal solutions in the rapidly growing communities of southwestern Riverside County and the San Jacinto Valley. Riverside County is the fastest-growing county in California and the fifth fastest-growing in the country. These communities are ground zero for that growth.

The Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway and Metrolink Double Track Project: Moreno Valley-Perris projects will allow better access to multimodal transportation services such as bus and rail, provide safety improvements, and help improve air quality in our region. Project improvements include:

• Increased Commuter Rail Service – enabling increased Metrolink service frequency by double tracking stretches of the 91/Perris Valley Line along the 215 corridor in Perris and Moreno Valley.
• Improved Safety – reducing the high rate of collisions along dangerous stretches of Ramona Expressway by implementing safety improvements.
• Bolstered Access to Transit Service – strengthening arterial connections so San Jacinto and Hemet Valley residents may better access the Metrolink 91/Perris Valley Line and other transit services.

Your voice matters! Please join Riverside County residents and businesses to show your support for one or both projects by adding your name in RCTC’s applications for state funding grant applications. Register today at https://www.rctc.org/support-metrolink-double-track-mcp-ramona.

The Point: Progress Continues for First Mid County Parkway Construction Contract; Design to Advance for Second Contract

Equipment is rolling, pavement is curing, and new on-ramps and off-ramps are taking shape at the Interstate 215 Placentia Avenue Interchange in Perris, with construction more than half completed.

The interchange is the first piece of the Mid County Parkway to be constructed, a planned 16-mile corridor between San Jacinto and Perris. This new corridor is designed to improve travel times between these rapidly growing communities and help address transportation needs through 2040.

“Our crews are continuing to make great progress on this new interchange, and we are eagerly awaiting its opening next year to help with local traffic flow and easier access to I-215 for drivers in the Perris area,” said RCTC Chair Jan Harnik, who also serves as the Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Palm Desert. “Completing this interchange also brings us another step closer to starting construction of the next contract of the Mid County Parkway, an important transportation link between the Perris Valley and San Jacinto Valley,” she said.

RCTC began construction in August 2020 and expects to open the brand-new interchange next summer, providing another way for motorists in this growing area to enter and exit I-215. Located between Ramona Expressway to the north and Nuevo Road to the south, the project also is realigning East Frontage Road, widening the existing Placentia Avenue overcrossing, and adding lanes to Placentia Avenue between Harvill Avenue and Indian Avenue.

The project team has reached a number of milestones:

• Paving is about 90% completed. Only the final asphalt cap needs to be placed on the new roadways and ramps.
• Of the 94 drainage systems on the project, crews have finished 69 (80%).
• The four ramps (northbound I-15 on-ramp and off-ramp; southbound I-15 on-ramp and off-ramp) have been built and are being used intermittently as temporary detours until the project opens next year.
• Crews have completed close to 60% of the electrical work, primarily underground.
• Construction of the two bridges – over I-215 and over the BNSF tracks – is about 15% completed. A 10-month full closure of the Placentia Avenue bridge over I-215 began July 20 to allow crews to safely widen the bridge.

Funding for the $42 million interchange investment is provided by a combination of state funding and Measure A, the twice voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County.

As work continues at Placentia Avenue, RCTC is preparing to award a contract for project design for the second construction contract of the Mid County Parkway, also referred to as MCP.  This second MCP contract will construct a new three-mile road from Redlands Avenue north of Placentia Avenue to Ramona Expressway south of Lake Perris.

This alignment will offer a new east-west alternative to heavily traveled Ramona Expressway/Cajalco Road, with a traffic signal at each end, and no stops or driveways in between. The non-tolled roadway will be two lanes in each direction for most of the corridor, divided by a concrete median barrier, and then narrow to one lane in each direction at Redlands Avenue and at the eastern connection to Ramona Expressway. Crews will build a bridge over Evans Road and the Perris Valley Storm Drain as part of the project.

RCTC has not determined additional construction contracts for the MCP; these contracts will depend upon future available funds.

To learn more about the I-215 Placentia Avenue Interchange and the MCP, please visit rctc.org/mcp

The Point: Closure will keep workers safe and save overall construction time

Road closed ahead! As part of RCTC’s Interstate 215 Placentia Avenue Interchange Project in Perris, the Placentia Avenue bridge over I-215 will be fully closed for about 10 months starting Tuesday, July 20.

The full closure will allow crews to demolish the existing bridge and build a wider bridge over I-215, while safely separating crews from passing vehicles. The closure also will reduce the overall construction time from 2.5 years to two years. RCTC began project construction in August 2020 and remains on track to open the new interchange in summer 2022.

“This closure is a major milestone for the project,” said RCTC Chair Jan Harnik. It’s exciting to see the progress we have made since we started construction last summer and how this project will help the growing city of Perris.”

Several detour routes have been set for the bridge closure: Ramona Expressway to the north, Nuevo Road to the south, Harvill Avenue west of I-215, and Indian Avenue east of I-215.

Drivers should allow extra travel time and follow posted speed limits, especially when traveling on Indian Avenue near Val Verde Elementary School between Placentia Avenue and Orange Avenue. Construction activity and timing is subject to change.

In addition to the bridge closure, all lanes on I-215 will be closed overnight during the bridge demolition and to place – and later remove – support structures to build the wider bridge.

The interchange is designed to meet the needs of the area’s growing population by adding ramps to enter and exit I-215 at Placentia Avenue and improving traffic flow by realigning East Frontage Road, widening the bridge over I-215, and adding lanes to Placentia Avenue between Harvill Avenue and Indian Avenue. The project also will enhance safety with new storm water detention basins to relieve local street flooding and promote better air quality, due to fewer idling vehicles and less gas consumption. During construction, approximately 425 jobs have been created.

The project is the first construction segment of the Mid County Parkway, a future 16-mile east-west route between Perris and San Jacinto. Other construction segments of the Mid County Parkway are not funded, so the timing of further work is uncertain.

Funding for the Placentia Avenue interchange is provided by a combination of state funding and Measure A, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County.

Learn more: rctc.org/placentia

The Point: February is the month of love, and RCTC offers a shout-out to its design and construction teams

Candy hearts. Long-stemmed roses. Mushy-squishy Valentine’s Day cards. Rain. Snow. Sunshine. Vaccinations. Construction equipment… February has brought a mixed bag to Riverside County, but as the month draws to a close, RCTC is showing its love to our construction crews and design teams for their continued work on transportation projects across the region.

RCTC is sponsoring more than a dozen projects, which are providing close to 10,000 jobs in western Riverside County. These projects have helped mitigate some of the job losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and have kept construction workers, engineers, land surveyors, inspectors, and office staff busy delivering projects, large and small.

Several construction projects are nearing completion, so watch for announcements of opening dates:

• The 15 Express Lanes through Jurupa Valley, Eastvale, Norco, and Corona are scheduled to open this spring. Crews are testing tolling equipment, training customer service representatives, restriping lanes, and finishing “punch-list” items. Learn more.
• The Metrolink Riverside-Downtown Station Layover Facility is expected to be completed this spring. This project will allow more trains to be housed at the station at the end of each night shift, creating more efficient passenger rail service and increased on-site maintenance.
• The Pachappa Overpass in Riverside should be completed this fall. Crews have been building a retaining wall and removing part of the overhead railroad bridge.

Other projects are continuing full speed ahead, including those in Lake Elsinore, Perris, Corona, and Riverside County’s Badlands:

• Work on the I-15 Railroad Canyon Road Interchange in Lake Elsinore began in May and is forecast to open in late 2022. The project is building auxiliary lanes on I-15 to help drivers enter and exit the highway near Railroad Canyon, adding lanes on Railroad Canyon, and rebuilding ramps.
• In Perris, the first construction phase of the Mid County Parkway, the I-215 Placentia Avenue Interchange, began in August. Crews are adding on- and off-ramps to Placentia Avenue, realigning East Frontage Road, widening the Placentia Avenue overcrossing, and adding lanes to Placentia Avenue between Harvill Avenue and Indian Avenue. The interchange should open in summer 2022.
• The 91 Corridor Operations Project in Corona began in November and is fast-tracked to open by late this year. The project is adding a lane to westbound 91 between the Green River Road on-ramp and the 241 Toll Road to help ease morning traffic congestion.
• Further east, crews are continuing work on the Route 60 Truck Lanes between Beaumont and Moreno Valley. In addition to adding a truck lane in both directions, the project is improving drainage, building wildlife crossings, and greatly expanding the roadway inside and outside shoulders for a safer driving experience. Crews also have been repairing the roadway from winter rainstorms. The new lanes are set to open in 2022.

Construction is right around the corner for the 15/91 Express Lanes Connector in Corona. This project will provide a direct link between the eastbound 91 Express Lanes and northbound 15 Express Lanes, as well as between the southbound 15 Express Lanes and the westbound 91 Express Lanes. Work is set to start this spring, and the connector is scheduled to open by 2023.

Project teams also are working on pre-construction activities and environmental/engineering studies for the 71/91 Interchange, the 15 Corridor Operations Project, the 15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension, the San Gorgonio Pass-Coachella Valley Rail Project, the Santa Ana River Trail, and the next phase of the Mid County Parkway. Visit rctc.org/projects and register to receive updates using the “Contact Us” forms.