Born in 1923, Joseph Tavaglione spent much of his life improving Riverside County through his community service for better transportation infrastructure across the region. Joe was appointed by Governor Gray Davis, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor Jerry Brown, and Governor Gavin Newson to serve on the California Transportation Commission (CTC) where he was recognized as one of the longest serving members. As a CTC Commissioner, he took a part in approving billions of dollars in funding for transportation infrastructure in the Inland Empire.

On January 22, 2025, family, friends, and community leaders gathered in Riverside to honor the legacy and memory of Joe who passed away on August 1, 2024, at the age of 101. In recognition of his substantial contributions to our region’s transportation system, the California State Legislature officially designated the 60/91/215 interchange as the “Joseph Tavaglione Memorial Interchange.”

The 60/91/215 Interchange project, located at the heart of the Inland Empire, was completed in 2008 and is just one example of his tireless efforts to make sure that transportation projects in the Inland Empire were funded and completed. Joe’s leadership and vision united transportation leaders, elected officials, and community members not just in the Inland Empire but across California to work together to improve the state’s transportation system.

Joe’s leadership ensured our communities received state funding for widening I-215, SR-91, I-15, and SR-60, and constructing the Perris Valley Line, railroad grade separations, interchanges, and active transportation projects across all corners of Riverside County. Joe’s contributions to transportation planning and infrastructure, economic development, and various charitable causes have not only left a lasting impact on Riverside County and the broader southern California region but brought our communities closer together.

The Point: New Lanes to Improve Safety and Mobility; Lanes Set to Open Summer 2022

It’s a changing landscape along Route 60 in the Riverside County “Badlands.” The Riverside County Transportation Commission began construction of the Route 60 Truck Lanes between Gilman Springs Road and Jack Rabbit Trail in June 2019, and a great deal has changed along this formerly very narrow roadway. The project is now 60% completed, with the new lanes expected to open in summer 2022.

The project is adding a truck lane in both directions to this 4.5-mile section of highway. The new lanes will separate big rigs from passenger vehicles with the new far-right lane dedicated to trucks. In addition, the project is widening the roadway shoulders and adding 18 feet of unpaved exterior shoulders by removing portions of hillside to create a safer drive through this curving corridor.

“This focus of this project is safety,” said RCTC Chair and Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem Jan Harnik. “With the work that has been completed so far, we already have a wider and safer way to travel between the desert communities and Riverside. It’s been exciting to see how much progress our crews have made so far,” she said.

Crews have paved the new westbound alignment and are preparing to pave the eastbound roadbed. Other ongoing work has included building 123 drainage systems, nearly 2 million cubic yards of dirt, and constructing two large wildlife crossings to provide safe passage for animals beneath Route 60.

The project has had its share of challenges. One westbound lane was fully closed from August 2019 to March 2020 to excavate the steep hillsides. During excavation, sections of slopes were unstable, which required a full closure of westbound Route 60 and a lane closure on eastbound 60 for crews to safely remove giant boulders in October 2019.

More recently, crews have been repairing sections of roadway damaged by winter rains on both the westbound and eastbound lanes. Another challenge has been unsafe drivers who exceed the 55 mile per hour speed limit, despite enhanced traffic enforcement by the San Gorgonio Pass CHP.

Despite the challenges, the project is on schedule to open in summer 2022 to offer a new safer route for travel.

Funding for the $113 construction effort is provided by a combination of federal, state, and local sources, including Measure A, the half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County.

To stay connected to construction news and to see great drone footage, follow @60Truck Lanes on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit rctc.org/60trucklanes. Please direct questions to 60trucklanes@rctc.org or 866-413-6060.

The Point: Study to be postponed for about two years   

A study to weigh the possibility of new express lanes is on hold, following a vote by RCTC Commissioners on September 11.

Earlier this year, RCTC completed a feasibility study for new express lanes on State Route 91 in Riverside, State Route 60 between Jurupa Valley and Moreno Valley, and State Route 60/Interstate 215 between Riverside and Moreno Valley. The study looked at converting current carpool lanes to express lanes and, in some cases, also adding a new lane.  The Commission then voted to pursue more in-depth studies of the carpool lanes in these three areas, including analysis of multiple options on these routes.

Simultaneously, Caltrans is conducting studies of carpool lanes in Riverside County and San Bernardino County.

The Riverside City Council adopted a resolution August 20 opposing conversion of the carpool lane on State Route 91 into an express lane.  The Riverside County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution September 10 to oppose converting carpool lanes to express lanes that do not allow two-person carpools to ride without a fee. After several RCTC Commissioners raised questions and concerns, the Commission placed the study on hold on Sept. 11.

At the meeting, Riverside Mayor and RCTC Commissioner Rusty Bailey noted the need to gather information to make an informed decision about expanding express lanes, but questioned the timing of conducting the study.

“Given the concerns raised by the Board of Supervisors and Riverside City Council and given that Caltrans has plans to do similar mobility analysis, I don’t believe this is the best use of our limited resources at this time,” he said.

Through a vote of 25-5, the Commission voted to place the study on hold until Caltrans concludes its analysis or until staff recommends that the Commission discuss the item further. The Caltrans studies are anticipated to take about two years.

In the meantime, RCTC is continuing construction of the 15 Express Lanes Project between State Route 60 and Cajalco Road, with the new lanes planned to open during the second half of 2020. RCTC also is conducting engineering and environmental studies of the 15 Express Lanes Southern Extension between Cajalco Road and State Route 74. In 2020, construction will begin on the 15/91 Express Lanes Connector, which will provide a direct connection to the 91 Express Lanes from southbound Interstate 15.