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RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) is alerting motorists to steer clear of the southbound 71 in Chino and Chino Hills the weekend of August 16-19. A weekend full closure of the southbound 71 at Butterfield Ranch Rd./Euclid Ave. to the 91 is scheduled on Friday, August 16 at 10 p.m. through Monday, August 19 at 5 a.m. The southbound 71 to eastbound and westbound 91 connectors will also remain closed during the weekend.

Motorists traveling southbound on 71 will be routed to the Butterfield Ranch Rd./Euclid Ave off-ramp in Chino Hills. Motorists then can either return to northbound 71 or be detoured northbound along Euclid Ave./SR-83 to the 60, where they can travel to either southbound I-15 or southbound 57.

To avoid lengthy traffic delays, motorists are highly advised to avoid the southbound 71 and use southbound 57 or southbound I-15 to reach the 91 and other destinations located to the south. RCTC will post closure updates at rctc.org/7191closures.

The full closure will allow crews to safely perform work as part of RCTC’s 71/91 Interchange Project. During the weekend, dedicated crews will be working around the clock to remove pavement, grade soil, pour concrete, and stripe a portion of the newly aligned southbound 71 lanes. This work will allow for the shift of traffic onto the new lanes, creating additional space for the new connector.

Construction activity is subject to change due to weather or other factors. If planned work cannot be completed the weekend of August 16-19, it will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans, is reconstructing the 71/91 interchange in Corona. The project will replace the single-lane loop connector between the eastbound 91 and northbound 71 with a new, two-lane, direct connector ramp. The project is anticipated to be completed in 2025.

To register for construction updates, text 7191interchange to (855) 793-2625 or sign up through the project webpage, rctc.org/71-91Interchange.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) will require nighttime full closures of the eastbound and westbound 91 to northbound 71 connectors on Monday, July 8. Motorists will not be able to access the northbound 71 from the 91 from either direction during these closures. The westbound 91 to northbound 71 connector will be closed from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. and the eastbound 91 to northbound 71 connector will be closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The nighttime connector closures are needed for crews to safely install overhead lighting equipment along the roadway as part of the 71/91 Interchange Project.

To reduce travel time, motorists are encouraged to plan ahead by taking regional detours. Motorists traveling to destinations along the 71 in Chino, Chino Hills, and Pomona from the 91 may use the 15, 57, and 60. These routes will help motorists avoid the 71/91 interchange and reach destinations with minimal disruption. See the regional detour map below for more details.

The southbound 71 to westbound and eastbound 91 connectors will remain open. Construction activity is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

Residents should expect traffic congestion on streets near the 91 and 71 and allow for extra time to reach area businesses. Fire, police, and ambulance services will have access for emergency response.

RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans, is reconstructing the 71/91 interchange in Corona. The project will replace the single-lane loop connector between the eastbound 91 and northbound 71 with a new, two-lane, direct connector ramp. The project is anticipated to be completed in 2025.

To register for construction updates, visit rctc.org/71-91Interchange.

The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC or Commission) on Wednesday, April 10, approved a historic transportation strategy, known as the Traffic Relief Plan (TRP or plan), to help relieve congestion and improve mobility throughout Riverside County.

This comprehensive plan identifies more than $30 billion in transportation improvements in a range of areas, such as local road upgrades, pothole repairs, highway improvements, the expansion of public transportation, new opportunities to walk, bicycle and hike, and safeguards that can help protect roads and bridges from natural disasters, especially in the Coachella Valley.

“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 reflects input from thousands of voices across Riverside County, with residents sending a clear message: They want a reliable, safer, more efficient transportation system that anticipates growth, promotes prosperity, and preserves the freedom to get from here to there without long waits.

The TRP identifies an ambitious set of transportation priorities– and comes at a time when Riverside County is estimated to add 500,000 residents over the next 25 years. By 2050, Riverside County’s population could reach 3 million, up from 2.5 million today.  Without significant transportation improvements, County residents and businesses could face debilitating traffic congestion conditions, a lack of economic opportunities, and an increased strain on our roads and public transportation systems.

The TRP is the product of extensive public outreach dating to 2018. The Commission has repeatedly requested and received public input on transportation priorities throughout Riverside County to help ensure that plans for improvements are cohesive, cost-effective, up-to-date, consensus-based, and prioritized based on public needs.

The 34-member commission, composed of elected representatives from every city in the county and all five members of the county Board of Supervisors, will decide this summer what steps can be taken to fund projects in the TRP.

Riverside County residents are encouraged to read the Plan at TrafficReliefPlan.org.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC or Commission) is hosting an online webinar on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to provide information on the draft 2024 Traffic Relief Plan (TRP). Residents across Riverside County are encouraged to log in to hear more about the draft TRP and learn how to leave their feedback.

The TRP is a comprehensive countywide strategic blueprint to help reduce traffic congestion by constructing highway improvements, repairing potholes on local roads and streets, increasing the frequency of public transportation, and fortifying our county’s transportation infrastructure against natural disasters.

The draft TRP incorporates ideas and suggestions from several years of public outreach and input from Riverside County residents in all regions. Receiving input will help ensure that the TRP, last updated following public input in 2020, reflects residents’ current views, considers voices from all communities in Riverside County, and incorporates diverse priorities for transportation upgrades throughout the county.

The Commission will review feedback and finalize the Traffic Relief Plan this spring and will consider project funding options in early summer.

RCTC is urging Riverside County residents to attend the March 20 webinar to learn more about the TRP. RCTC will collect feedback on the Draft Traffic Relief Plan through March 31. Spanish translation will be offered during the webinar.

To read and provide feedback on the draft 2024 Traffic Relief Plan, visit TrafficReliefPlan.org.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC or Commission), in partnership with Caltrans and the city of Temecula, is gearing up to begin construction on the innovative I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project in Temecula and Murrieta. The public is invited to learn more about this project as construction is anticipated to start this summer and with the two-year pilot testing period beginning in 2025.

“RCTC is constantly looking for ways to improve travel times and reduce congestion on our highways,” said RCTC Commission chair, Lloyd White. “Building new roads takes funding and years of preparation to construct. By using this new technology, we can help reduce traffic congestion and speed up travel time for Riverside County residents now without having to spend years in construction.”

The Smart Freeway Pilot Project will use intelligent transportation systems and sensors to continuously monitor real-time traffic conditions to adjust the number of vehicles that enter the highway. The system is designed to improve traffic flow and reduce collisions on the eight-mile, non-tolled section of the northbound I-15 from the San Diego/Riverside County in Temecula to the I-15/I-215 Interchange in Murrieta.

This section of the northbound 15 between the County Line and the 215/15 interchanges experiences severe traffic congestion due to the high volume of vehicles entering the highway at Temecula Parkway, Rancho California Road, and Winchester Road on-ramps, especially during peak afternoon and evening hours. The project will use a dynamic coordinated metering system that will allow more or fewer vehicles to enter the freeway at a given time, allowing for a smoother traffic flow on the northbound I-15.

To learn more about this project, the community is invited to join RCTC for in-person or virtual community open house meetings to learn more about the project and to ask the project team questions. For those who cannot attend either the in-person community open house or virtual public meeting, a virtual “Smart Room” is available at smartfreeway.org.

To learn more about the Smart Freeway Pilot Project, visit the project page at rctc.org/smartfreeway.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) encourages all Riverside County residents to read, assess, and provide comments and input on the draft 2024 Traffic Relief Plan (TRP or Plan).

The TRP is a comprehensive countywide strategic blueprint to reduce traffic congestion by constructing highway improvements, repairing potholes on local roads and streets, increasing the frequency of public transportation, and fortifying our county’s transportation infrastructure against natural disasters.

Public input will ensure that the plan meets the needs of residents, considers voices from all communities in Riverside County, and incorporates diverse priorities for transportation upgrades throughout the county. It will also help ensure that the TRP, last updated following public input in 2020, reflects residents’ current views.

“Upgrades and improvements to our highways, local roads, and public transportation are crucial to keeping pace with growth in what remains one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation,” said RCTC Chair and City of Beaumont councilmember Lloyd White.

According to the Southern California Association of Governments, Riverside County is expected to grow to almost 3 million residents by 2050, up from 2.5 million today.

“There’s no question that we need to make calculated investments in our county transportation infrastructure, not only to maintain and improve mobility, but also to keep growth from overwhelming our ability to live, work, learn, explore, go places, and enjoy life,” White said.

The TRP is a comprehensive transportation strategy developed after extensive public outreach to outline transportation improvements in western Riverside County, Coachella Valley, and the Palo Verde Valley regions of Riverside County. The TRP identifies investment areas for transportation improvements in Riverside County for Riverside County residents.

Projects outlined in the plan will add over $30 billion in economic output while building on recent transportation improvements by smoothing streets, modernizing transportation infrastructure, and providing expanded safe and reliable transit, roads, and highways.

The commission is expected to vote on the 2024 TRP this spring and will consider project funding options in early summer. “We need public input to make the best decisions we can on prioritizing transportation projects and ensuring the strongest possible Traffic Relief Plan,” White said.

RCTC encourages residents to review and comment on the plan, at www.trafficreliefplan.org, by March 31. Every voice is welcome.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Members of the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC or Commission) unanimously elected Beaumont City Councilmember Lloyd White as its new Chair for 2024. White will preside over Commission meetings as RCTC delivers projects and considers long-range transportation plans for Riverside County.  

“I am honored to Chair the Riverside County Transportation Commission this year. From western Riverside County to the San Gorgonio Pass and Coachella Valley to the Palo Verde Valley, all communities across Riverside County deserve a safe and reliable transportation network,” said Chair White. “As we look to the year ahead, our cities, the County, and partner agencies will work together to deliver much needed transportation projects that meet the needs of our growing population and economy now and in the future.” 

In addition to electing a new chair, the Commission elected Riverside County District 2 Supervisor Karen Spiegel as First Vice Chair, and City of Cathedral City Councilmember Raymond Gregory as Second Vice Chair.   

White will lead the 34-member Commission in its ongoing efforts to plan, deliver, and improve transportation for Riverside County residents. RCTC administers Measure A, the voter-approved, half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County. In addition, RCTC is responsible for a variety of transportation projects and services, from improving highways, building interchanges, and constructing railroad bridges to tolling operations and helping fund the five-county Metrolink passenger rail system. RCTC also supports regional and local bus services, promotes ridesharing programs, and offers Freeway Service Patrol roadside assistance. 

As part of its long-range transportation planning, RCTC is currently seeking public input on its 2024 Draft Traffic Relief Plan, a countywide transportation strategy to reduce traffic congestion, fix local streets and roads, increase frequency and access to public transportation, and protect transportation infrastructure from natural disasters. Riverside County residents are encouraged to see the plan and offer comments at www.trafficreliefplan.org.  

White replaces the 2023 RCTC Chair, City of Lake Elsinore Councilmember Bob Magee. Commission officers are elected for one-year terms.  

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) advises motorists traveling on westbound 91 in Corona to stay alert for full westbound 91 closures between State Route 71 and Green River Road. The full nighttime westbound 91 closures will occur Monday through Wednesday nights beginning Monday, December 11, and continuing through January 17, 2024, as part of the 71/91 Interchange Project.

Due to the holidays, no closures will be scheduled from December 20 through January 1, 2024. Closures will resume on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

Motorists traveling on the westbound 91 and southbound 71 should plan extra time to reach local destinations and businesses in the area. Closures include:

• Full closure of westbound 91 lanes from the 71 to Green River Road, Monday through Wednesday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
• Full westbound 91 Express Lanes closures from the 15/91 Interchange to the Orange County/Riverside County Line, Monday through Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
• Full southbound 71 to westbound 91 connector closure, Monday through Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Full southbound 15 to westbound 91 Express Lanes connector closure, Monday through Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
• Full northbound 15 to westbound 91 Express Lanes connector closure, Monday through Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
• Westbound 91 Green River Road off-ramp closure, Monday through Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

To reduce traffic time, motorists traveling westbound are encouraged to avoid the area by using northbound 71 to westbound 60 to southbound 57 to navigate around the closure.

Drivers who need to reach Green River Road may use the westbound 91 exit at Serfas Club Dr./Auto Center Dr. Fire, police, and ambulance will have access for emergency response. Construction activity is subject to change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.

Similar to the eastbound 91 full closures that occurred this fall, the westbound 91 closures will allow crews to safely continue construction of support structures and formwork for the new connector. The support structures for the new connector will be approximately 30 feet in height with more than 200 beams being positioned during these weeknight closures.

To register for construction updates, text 7191INTERCHANGE to 77222 or sign up through the project webpage, rctc.org/7191closures.

For maps, images, and b-roll video, click here.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) is excited to announce the opening of the 15/91 Express Lanes Connector today. At approximately 4:45 a.m., crews finished striping the new connector and removed the k-rails. Motorists from Norco, Jurupa Valley, Eastvale, Corona, and other communities can now directly connect to the State Route 91 and I-15 Express Lanes with the opening of the new connector.

“The 15/91 Express Lanes Connector was a vital missing piece of the 91 Express Lanes Project in Riverside County. With the opening of the connector, a regional link now exists so that our residents can have a reliable trip within and outside our County, “ said RCTC Second-Vice Chair and Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel. “Building transportation infrastructure takes time. RCTC completed this project in record time so that our residents can get home faster to be with friends and family,” she said.

The new connector includes a 2,406-foot bridge with two frames connecting eastbound 91 to the northbound 15 and the southbound 15 to westbound 91 Express Lanes. Toll customers heading home to cities along the I-15 in Norco, Jurupa Valley, and Eastvale will no longer need to exit the 91 Express Lanes and try to get on the northbound 15. The connection will now be seamless, allowing a faster and more reliable commute. Commuters heading towards Orange County from the I-15 will also get a seamless transition on the toll system with the direct connector to the westbound 91.

The 15/91 Express Lanes Connector is RCTC’s third toll system opening in the past six years, with the first 91 Express Lanes opening in Corona in 2017 and the 15 Express Lanes opening in 2021. Senate Bill 132 (2017) provided $180 million of the $270 million project cost. Toll revenue generated by the 91 Express Lanes covered the remaining $90 million. During construction, the project created more than 2,300 quality construction jobs for our local economy.

“Over the last two years, I have seen the new connector being built by our hard-working crews. Residents along the 15 and the 91 will benefit from having a reliable trip for generations,” said Commissioner Berwin Hanna and Norco City Councilmember. “The 15/91 Express Lanes Connector will help drivers in the northwest get to their businesses and homes promptly while keeping our communities connected,” he said.

In addition to the new connector, the project also extended the outside lane on the eastbound 91 through the I-15 interchange to the Promenade overcrossing. With this improvement, the eastbound 91 Express Lanes were extended approximately one-half mile, helping vehicles merge in the area.

In the weeks ahead, RCTC will monitor traffic conditions throughout the toll systems to ensure efficient and smooth operations. All toll systems in Riverside County will switch to dynamic pricing to ensure traffic flows smoothly, resulting in a reliable trip regardless of day and time. Dynamic pricing rates are based on real-time traffic conditions and the congestion level within the toll lanes. Tolls may change as frequently as every three minutes and will be reflected on the Express Lanes signs.

To use the new Express Lanes and the new 15/91 Express Lanes Connector, drivers must have a properly mounted FasTrak® transponder linked to an account in their vehicle. A FasTrak® transponder issued by any California toll agency will be accepted. Drivers will pay the rate displayed for each travel segment when they enter the lanes. To open an account or learn more about dynamic pricing, visit riversideexpress.com or call 855-951-1500.