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 71/91 Interchange serves as a gateway between Riverside, Orange, and San Bernardino counties and is a vital link for commuters and freight vehicles that travel along the 91 and the 71.

Once completed, the new interchange will improve safety by reducing weaving among lanes, expand access to other modes of travel – such as Metrolink passenger rail, reduce greenhouse gas emissions with fewer idling vehicles, and enhance traffic flow by replacing the existing single-lane loop connector with the two-lane direct connector along one of the region’s heaviest traveled corridors. The project will support continued movement through this area by native wildlife such as mountain lions, bobcats, and coyotes.

Project funding is comprised of a combination of federal, state, and local funds, with $58.1 million of the $137 million construction costs provided by California’s Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, more commonly known as Senate Bill 1. A portion of the costs is funded by Measure A, the voter approved, half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County. The project is expected to create approximately 1,700 construction-related jobs, including contracts awarded to Riverside-based Skanska USA Civil West and Corona-based Falcon Engineering.

Motorists should watch for nighttime and weekend closures of lanes, ramps, and connectors. To register for construction updates, visit rctc.org/71-91interchange or text 7191INTERCHANGE to 77222.

Final design and construction of three projects to improve service on the 91/Perris Valley Line are on track, thanks to the California State Transportation Agency’s award on July 7 of a $25 million grant to Metrolink and RCTC.

The Transit and Intercity Rail Corridor Program grant will be matched with $32 million in federal funds previously secured by RCTC. The $57 million will help fund the 91/PVL upgrades that will ultimately allow for service to operate every half-hour in both directions.

Other improvements include 2.5 additional miles of double track and a second platform at the Moreno Valley/March Field Station, along with expansion and upgrades to the Perris-South Station and Layover Facility. This will improve service operations and add capacity for overnight train storage.

“This project is an excellent example of the partnership between Metrolink and RCTC and their commitment to improve the 91/Perris Valley Line for underserved Riverside County residents,” said RCTC Commissioner Karen Spiegel, who also serves as a member of the Metrolink Board of Directors and is Riverside County’s 2nd District Supervisor. “As the fastest growing county in the state, these Metrolink improvements come at a critical time to address the significant transportation needs for our region,” she said.

Projects that offer alternatives to driving the area’s crowded highways will help RCTC and Metrolink meet climate change goals and offer expanded travel and employment options to disadvantaged communities. The 91/Perris Valley Line upgrades also will allow southern California visitors during the 2028 Olympics to easily connect to Lake Perris, which will host canoe sprint and rowing events as part of the summer games.

The first phase of the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvements Project will start later this year with construction of a second platform and upgrades to 2.5 miles of track. This work is expected to be completed in 2024. The Perris-South Station improvements are scheduled to be completed in 2027.

Benefits and features include:

• Safety: Building new auxiliary lanes on I-15 to help drivers enter and exit the highway and reduce traffic back-ups
• Capacity: Adding two new lanes on Railroad Canyon Road through the interchange and new lanes to the on-ramps and off-ramps with I-15
• Traffic Flow: Replacing the northbound diamond off-ramp with a hook-style on-ramp and off-ramp that both connect to Grape Street
• Clean Air: Reducing the number of idling vehicles waiting to enter/exit I-15, which will improve air quality
• Access: Constructing sidewalks and bike lanes along Railroad Canyon Road

Construction of the project is expected to start in late spring and the new interchange is expected to open by late 2022. The project took nearly 20 years to get to the starting line, due to environmental approvals, design variations, and challenges to secure funding. The state gasoline tax is providing $15 million toward the cost of construction, and Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fees, also known as developer fees, are funding more than $17 million.

“It’s about time,” said Commissioner Robert “Bob” Magee, who also serves as a Lake Elsinore City Council Member. “We are relieved and excited that work is finally on the horizon. This project will increase safety, capacity, traffic flow, clean air, and access for Lake Elsinore drivers and visitors. Please be patient while we build this new interchange.”

During construction, drivers should expect periodic closures to lanes and ramps, slow down, allow extra travel time, watch for construction crews and equipment, be aware of changing conditions, follow detours, and stay connected through the project’s communication channels:

• Social media: @railroadcanyon
• Website: rctc.org/railroadcanyon
• Email: railroadcanyon@rctc.org
• Helpline: 877-500-RR15

The Point: Long overdue project is on horizon

Hallelujah! Construction is finally ready to start next spring on the Interstate 15 Railroad Canyon Interchange in Lake Elsinore, following the California Transportation Commission’s approval of $17.9 million in state funding on December 5.

The allocation makes up the balance needed to fully fund the estimated $45 million construction project. RCTC will lead the construction effort and is issuing invitations for bids this month.

“This project is long overdue,” said RCTC Commissioner and Lake Elsinore City Council Member Bob Magee.  “We have been working for nearly 20 years to make this project a reality, which is far too long. However, now that construction is right around the corner, we look forward to a safer, more efficient connection to I-15 and ask the public to be patient while construction is under way,” he said.

Other funding is provided by a combination of sources including the City of Lake Elsinore and local Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fees.

The project will result in several major changes to the current interchange that are intended to improve safety and reduce congestion, including:

• Two new lanes on Railroad Canyon Road through the interchange,
• Reconstruction of the northbound diamond ramps to hook ramps to connect to Grape Street,
• Construction of auxiliary and deceleration lanes on I-15, and
• Construction of improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities through the interchange.

Construction is expected to start in the spring and take about 2.5 years for the new interchange to open to drivers.