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:

RCTC Conf. Room A 4080 Lemon Street 3rd Floor Riverside, CA 92502

SunLine Transit Agency Board Room 32505 Harry Oliver Trail Thousand Palms, CA 92776

Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency Room A 415 N. Main Street Blythe, CA 92225

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.

Public transit works best when it’s shaped by the people who use it every day – and that’s where you come in. Riverside County transit riders are invited to take part in two initiatives designed to gather ideas on how service can be improved.

In the Coachella Valley, SunLine Transit Agency has launched Rides Reimagined – an initiative to rethink its bus network across the growing Coachella Valley and better meet the region’s changing needs. With the feedback of the community, the plan aims to improve access to jobs, schools, healthcare, and everyday destinations while using resources more effectively and creating a more convenient transit experience. With ridership trends shifting in recent years, SunLine is asking residents to share their travel needs and priorities to help guide future service design, including how to balance frequent service in high-demand areas with broader geographic coverage. Take the online survey and share your feedback.

Riverside Transit Agency’s (RTA) Our Vision Forward project is a community-focused effort to shape the future of local bus service in western Riverside County. RTA is asking riders and residents to share their feedback on what would make transit better for their communities by submitting a comment at OurVisionForward@RiversideTransit.com. This input will inform improvements to routes, service quality, the overall transit experience, and help RTA develop a 10-year transit plan to guide service changes and prepare for future growth. RTA will be launching the next phase of the project soon with new ways to provide feedback and encourages residents to sign up for project updates to stay informed.

Whether you ride the bus daily or just occasionally, your first-hand experiences help transit agencies better understand what’s working, what’s not, and where changes can make the biggest difference.

RCTC wants to hear from you! On Monday, August 11, 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 11, 2025, at the following three locations:

RCTC Conf. Room A 4080 Lemon Street 3rd Floor Riverside, CA 92502

SunLine Transit Agency Board Room 32505 Harry Oliver Trail Thousand Palms, CA 92776

Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency Room A 415 N. Main Street Blythe, CA 92225

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 11, 2025.

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.

Help shape the future of transportation!

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.

RCTC wants to hear from you! On Monday, August 12, 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 12, 2024, at the following three locations:

RCTC March Field Conf. Room A 4080 Lemon Street 3rd Floor, CA 92502

SunLine Transit Agency Board Room 32505 Harry Oliver Trail Thousand Palms, CA 92776

Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency Room A 415 N. Main Street Blythe, CA 92225

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 12, 2024.

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.

Help shape the future of transportation!

Student programs, lower fares, and improved service are just some of the benefits made possible thanks to a funding boost of $7.5 million as part of California’s Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP). During its June 12 meeting, the Commission approved RCTC’s allocation of $6.4 million in LCTOP funding to eligible Riverside County transit operators. An additional $1 million in LCTOP funding is being provided directly to transit operators from the state, for a total funding amount of $7.5 million.

California’s LCTOP program, developed to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility with a priority on serving disadvantaged communities. The LCTOP program supports a variety of initiatives, including new or expanded bus or passenger rail services, expansion of intermodal (multiple modes of transportation) transit facilities, equipment acquisition, and more, with each project reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

These funds have been allocated toward a variety of approved transit programs, such as Metrolink’s popular Student Adventure Pass Program, which allows any student with a valid student ID to travel anywhere on the Metrolink system free of charge. The program also helps fund Riverside Transit Agency’s (RTA) 25 Cent Fare Program – offering customers rides anywhere RTA buses go for just a quarter. In the Coachella Valley, transit riders will also benefit as a portion of program funds will go toward SunLine Transit Agency’s free fare days.

This round of LCTOP funding not only helps provide discounted fares for students, seniors, veterans, and riders with disabilities, the program also allocates additional improvements to bus and rail services throughout the county. As part of planned service enhancements, Metrolink will be increasing train frequency and optimizing train schedules later this year.

Each year, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund provides funding for LCTOP based on population and revenues. RCTC then works closely with local transit agencies to program these funds, ensuring they are used adequately for operational and capital needs, thereby helping transit riders and meeting the program’s goals.

Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day has become an international movement – encouraging people from all over the world to adopt more sustainable, environmentally-conscious routines. This Earth Day, and every day, RCTC strives to be a good environmental steward while delivering transportation infrastructure improvements and supporting public transportation.

On Monday, April 22, 2024, Riverside County residents are urged to take part in the broader effort to go green. Below are just a few examples of small, but mighty actions you can participate in this Earth Day.

Who doesn’t love FREE rides? Riverside County transit service providers will be offering free rides on Monday, April 22 to encourage sustainable travel options. Metrolink will be offering free rides across the entire network and will not require tickets. Just hop on the train and enjoy a leisurely ride to countless destinations across southern California or leave your car behind on your commute to work!

The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) will be providing free rides on all fixed routes and GoMicro buses. SunLine Transit, Corona Cruiser, and Beaumont Transit will also be offering free rides during Earth Day.

Reduce your carbon footprint, avoid traffic, and earn incentives with IE Commuter! By joining a carpool or vanpool, commuters can streamline trips, reduce time spent in traffic, and win fun prizes. In 2023 alone, the popular program supported over 1,100 regional employers with ridesharing programs and helped reduce 10.7 million pounds of vehicle emissions.

For those who enjoy the great outdoors, there are numerous open spaces to enjoy the amazing natural landscapes in our own backyard. As the managing agency of the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority, RCTC is helping implement the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) to establish a 500,000-acre habitat reserve in the western part of the county. Among the reserves, there are numerous recreational opportunities that feature hiking and bike paths, equestrian trails, and educational centers. To learn more, visit the RCA website.

For the little adventurer in the family, the RCA recently launched the 146 Project aimed at connecting students with nature and educating them about MSHCP-protected species in western Riverside County. Students in grades K-8 can complete fun activities to earn an exclusive fun patch. To learn more, please visit 146project.org.

Let’s do our part and make every day Earth Day.

Riders of bus, train, and other transit services rejoice! Riverside Transit Agency (RTA), in collaboration with the City of Riverside, recently opened the new Vine Street Mobility Hub – a world-class transit center adjacent to the Riverside-Downtown Metrolink Station. The new center serves a connectivity hub for passengers from local and commuter routes. 

The 4.5-acre transit hub opened January 14 and addresses some of the first and last mile challenges faced by transit riders by linking bus, passenger rail, active transportation – such as biking and walking – and encouraging public transportation use. The long-awaited transit hub also provides connections to other modes of transportation including car sharing, ride sharing, ride hailing, and bike sharing. Dial-A-Ride and fixed-route bus services will provide multiple transfer opportunities for passengers. 

The new center also provides easier access to many local educational institutions, employment centers, and entertainment destinations in downtown Riverside. To provide a seamless commute, the hub features displays of route maps, fare information, schedules, ADA signage, and locally relevant information. Real-time bus arrival information helps ensure that passengers never miss a ride.  

The hub features 16 bus bays and a center bus island configuration for enhanced safety – enabling riders to transfer between buses without needing to cross the bus drive aisles. The new center also includes various sustainability features including solar panels, drought-tolerant landscaping, and electric vehicle charging stations. Interpretive panels and art installations honor and highlight the agricultural past of the region. 

RTA covers one of the largest transit service areas in the country, with over 2,500 square miles that include the cities of Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Corona, Eastvale, Hemet, Jurupa Valley, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norco, Perris, Riverside, San Jacinto, Temecula, Wildomar, and unincorporated areas of western Riverside County.  

The state-of-the-art transit center will enable a more robust multi-modal transportation network that will support future mobility, sustainability, and quality of life needs of the region.  

The following transit service providers will be offering free or discounted fares: 

• Metrolink: No fare is required on February 4. Ride the train anywhere in the six-county system, including the recently launched Arrow service in San Bernardino and Redlands. Ticket vending machines will notify passengers that rides are free of charge. 
• RTA: No fare is required on February 4. The agency is offering free rides on all local, CommuterLink and GoMicro buses.
• Banning Connect: No fare is required on February 4 on routes 1 and 5/6.
• San Bernardino County: San Bernardino County transit operators, including Omnitrans, Mountain Transit, Basin Transit, Needles Area Transit, and Victor Valley Transit Authority, will be offering free rides. 

Need a destination to commemorate Rosa Parks? We recommend visiting The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture to check out the Indigenous Futurism and Judithe Hernandez exhibits or the Civil Rights Walkway on the Main Street Mall in Downtown Riverside.  

To learn more, please visit the RCTC Bus Services and Passenger Rail webpages for more information about transit services offered in Riverside County. 

Riding a bike can be a great source of exercise and fun. Bicycling with the warm sun and breeze is a great way to spend a quiet afternoon or have an adventure with friends and family.  But using a bike to get to work, school, and other appointments can be a great way to enjoy the open air while participating in multimodal, active transportation. Over the years, transit providers have made it easier to take a bicycle on board allowing riders to cover longer distances.

Riverside County transit providers, including local bus operators and Metrolink, have incorporated bike use into their transit structure by offering bike racks on buses and bike cars on Metrolink – making it possible to travel with your bike locally and regionally.

Want to take your bike on a new trek in Los Angeles or to Orange County. It’s easy to do while the weather is perfect across the Inland Empire to discover new regional destinations. Check out some of the bike-friendly travel options from Riverside County and regional transit providers.

The Riverside County Transportation Commission is proud to support active transportation programs that help reduce dependency on driving and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Riding a bike to work also qualifies as a rideshare mode in which you can receive incentives through the IE Commuter program.