San Jacinto Valley Expressway Project
Status: Long-Term
Location: Western Riverside County
Type of Project: Highways
Location: San Jacinto and Hemet area
Construction: Dependent upon funding
Investment: $1.1 billion (estimated)
OVERVIEW
The Riverside County Transportation Commission, in partnership with, the County of Riverside and the cities of San Jacinto and Hemet, proposes to build a new 12-mile county expressway from south of Domenigoni Parkway north to Gilman Springs Road with two lanes in each direction. The new expressway is designed to improve safety and connectivity for the growing communities of Winchester, Hemet, San Jacinto, and surrounding areas in Riverside County.
The project, originally named the SR-79 Realignment Project, was first conceptualized as a state route and was later converted to a county facility and renamed the San Jacinto Valley Expressway Project. The project is segmented into three buildable segments that will be constructed in phases and features a dedicated transportation corridor and multipurpose trail. The three segments include:
- Segment 1 – Sanderson to Florida
- Segment 2 – Florida to Simpson
- Segment 3 – Simpson to Newport
Final design and engineering for Segment 3 are anticipated to be completed in 2028. Design enhancements will also be considered to bolster the project’s appeal for state and federal grants – these enhancements may include multimodal features like bus rapid transit.
During its September 2026 meeting, the Commission renamed the project from the SR-79 Realignment Project to the San Jacinto Valley Expressway Project.
The Environmental Document for the project was approved in December 2016. In August 2025, the Commission awarded a contract for the State Route 79 Realignment Project Innovative Financing Feasibility Study (IFFS) to explore alternative funding and delivery options for the project.
- 2004: Public scoping meeting held – formal start of environmental process
- 2005: Evaluate and redefine alternatives
- 2008: Conduct required field surveys and prepare technical reports
- 2009-2012: Prepare Draft Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS)
- 2013: Circulate Draft EIR/EIS for public review and comment, conduct public hearings and review comments
- 2014: Preparation of Partially Recirculated Draft EIR/Supplemental Draft EIS, identify Preferred Alternative for Project
- 2015: Partially recirculated Draft EIR/Supplemental Draft EIS available for public review and comment
- 2016: Publish Final EIR/EIS, prepare and publish ROD
- 2023: Corridor Analysis Study segmented project into three buildable segments to be constructed in phases
- 2024: Commission approves award of design for Segment 3
- 2025: Commission awards contract for Innovative Financing Feasibility Study (IFFS) to explore alternative funding and delivery options for the project
Environmental Documents
Record of Decision (Aug 2016), click here.
Draft Environmental Documents
- Partially Recirculated Draft EIR/Supplementary Draft EIS
- Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement – February 2013
Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement
Project Notices
RCTC is seeking input on the name of the new expressway between Winchester and San Jacinto as part of the SR-79 Realignment Project. Because the new roadway will be a county expressway rather than part of the state highway system, RCTC is asking residents to help choose a name that reflects the local character, culture, and identity of the region.
Make your preferred choice by Sunday, August 9, 2026, by clicking here.