The Point: RCTC joins statewide efforts to inspire action for better air quality on October 5
RCTC has taken the pledge – the Clean Air Pledge – to join a robust statewide campaign to support air quality improvements. Clean Air Day is October 5, and when it comes to providing environmentally sound solutions, RCTC is leading the way.
“For years, RCTC has prioritized projects and programs that benefit the environment. California’s Clean Air Day offers multiple opportunities for residents, businesses, employees, and community members to collectively participate in activities that will have a big impact on the air we breathe in Riverside and San Bernardino counties,” said RCTC Chair and Riverside County 4th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, who also is serving as the 2022 Inland Empire Clean Air Day Co-Chair.
RCTC continues to support multiple modes of transportation that improve air quality. The agency makes ongoing investments in Metrolink commuter rail including nine stations in western Riverside County and provides funding for public transit countywide. Another high priority is the development of Coachella Valley Rail, a planned new daily passenger rail service between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley. RCTC also allocates grant funding to local active transportation projects, such as bike lanes and sidewalks, to promote cycling and walking options.
Capital projects like new interchanges and highway lanes reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gases. RCTC also has helped fund the construction of underpasses and overpasses to safely separate cars and trains and eliminate idling vehicles at railroad crossings.
Measure A, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County, supports ridesharing programs. Through IE Commuter, a partnership with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, rideshare commuters reduced more than 10 million vehicle miles and 6,000 tons of emissions last year, all while saving money on a more relaxing commute.
RCTC also is helping preserve open space though the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP), the largest such plan in the nation. Adopted in 2004, the MSHCP is a comprehensive plan to preserve 500,000 acres and protect 146 species, of which 33 are endangered or threatened in Western Riverside County.
Preserving open space, reducing idling vehicles, and increasing multimodal transportation options are ways that RCTC is addressing the region’s air quality and meeting the Clean Air Pledge. As individuals, we can make changes to our daily routines by driving less, exploring ridesharing, and taking the Clear Air Pledge. Thank you for doing your part to clean the air in Riverside County!