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RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) awarded $40.5 million in Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant funds to the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) for the development and construction of a new Metrolink station/mobility hub in Riverside County’s unincorporated region of Mead Valley. The Mead Valley Metrolink Station/Mobility Hub project is a partnership between RCTC and the Southern California Regional Railroad Authority (Metrolink). The new station will be located between the existing Moreno Valley/March Field and Perris Downtown stations along the Metrolink 91/Perris Valley Line (91/PVL).

Measure A, the twice voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County, will also contribute $3.7 million along with $6.3 million in RCTC-controlled State Transit Assistance funds. The final design for this $50.5 million project is anticipated to begin in 2025.

“As more people move to the cities and communities along I-215 corridor, the Commission is planning for and delivering much needed transportation projects that will connect our region with the rest of southern California and help reduce traffic congestion,” said RCTC Chair and City of Beaumont Councilmember Lloyd White. “We welcome the state partnership in our effort and are grateful to CalSTA for awarding this vital funding. The new Mead Valley Metrolink Station and Mobility Hub will benefit not only Mead Valley residents but also the entire Riverside County region.”

The new station will provide an additional Metrolink access point on the 91/PVL and feature:

• Side platforms along the future double track alignment
• Canopies to provide shade for waiting passenger rail passengers
• Centrally located bus loop and bus bays for unloading and loading
• Parking spaces easily accessible for rail and bus passengers and carpool and vanpool users

The 91/PVL serves the growing communities along I-215. As housing, industrial, and commercial centers continue to develop, Mead Valley communities have experienced significant growth in recent years, with an increasing need for more transportation options. As a centrally located hub, the new station will provide additional access for Metrolink service, allow for bus connections, and offer easy access for commuters to carpool or vanpool to job centers across the region.

The Mead Valley Metrolink Station/Mobility Hub represents RCTC’s ongoing commitment to deliver transportation projects that offer Riverside County residents convenient mobility options. The project is estimated to be completed by 2029.

Draft Environmental Document Available for Public Review 

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) have released the Draft Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) for the proposed Interstate 15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension today for the public to review and submit comments. The 45-day public comment period runs from October 9 to November 26, 2024. RCTC will host three public hearings to provide the public information and to gather feedback from residents on the project.

The proposed project would extend the I-15 Express Lanes an additional 15.8 miles from El Cerrito Road in Corona through Temescal Valley to State Route 74 (Central Avenue) in Lake Elsinore. The new Express Lanes would not replace any existing lanes. The project consists of adding two tolled lanes in each direction within the I-15 median by widening the pavement and bridges. The project would also add southbound I-15 auxiliary lanes between both the Nichols Road on-ramp and the SR-74 (Central Avenue) off-ramp, and between the SR-74 (Central Avenue) on-ramp and Main Street off-ramp.

Once the entire length is constructed, the project would provide a reliable tolled travel time option to move motorists through this congested corridor and maintain compatibility with the regional Express Lanes network. The project would also increase opportunities for mass transit, such as RTA Express Buses and carpooling.

RCTC will respond to comments following the closure of the public comment period and prepare a Final Environmental Document for Commission consideration. Construction on the I-15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension may begin in 2027 depending on funding availability.

Public participation is crucial. Residents are encouraged to review the draft environmental document beginning October 9 through November 26 at rctc.org/15ProjectSouth or at libraries in Corona and Lake Elsinore. Comments may be submitted through the following methods:

• Email: 15ProjectSouth@rctc.org
• By U.S. Mail at:
  Jeff Dietzler, Capital Projects Manager (Tolling)
  Riverside County Transportation Commission
  4080 Lemon Street, Third Floor
  P.O. Box 12008
  Riverside, CA 92501
• Three Open House Public Meetings scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the dates below; the content will be the same at the three meetings. Spanish interpretation will be provided.

In 2019, RCTC began preliminary engineering and environmental studies work on this segment of the 15 Express Lanes Project. The release of the Draft EIR/EA is a major milestone, moving the region closer to relieving traffic on this part of the highway. Due to rapid population growth along the corridor and increased freight movement, traffic congestion continues to make the commute to and from southwest Riverside County difficult. The project aims to provide alternative travel choices and traffic relief to this region.

For more information on the 15 Express Project Southern Extension, visit: rctc.org/15ProjectSouth

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.