The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) continues to make headways in the pursuit of much-needed federal funding for transportation improvements in Riverside County. Four Community Project Funding (CPF) projects totaling $12.5 million have received support from local members of Congress in the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations bill. These requests follow RCTC’s recent accomplishment of securing $9.5 million in federal funding. 

Representative Young Kim has championed RCTC’s request for $4 million for the State Route 91 Eastbound Corridor Operations Project (91 ECOP). The 91 ECOP will alleviate traffic congestion along eastbound SR-91 between the 241 Toll Road connector and SR-71 in Corona, especially during peak afternoon commutes between Orange County and Riverside County. 

Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler have been instrumental in advancing RCTC’s request of $3 million for the Mid County Parkway: Ramona Expressway Project. This project, spanning an 8.6-mile stretch of road in the rapidly growing communities of Perris, San Jacinto, Nuevo, and Lakeview, is a significant step towards enhancing safety and furthering the vision of a multimodal corridor.  

Representative Ken Calvert has requested $3 million for the Interstate 15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension. The project will extend the existing I-15 Express Lanes south by 14.5 miles between Corona and Lake Elsinore and will significantly improve traffic operations and enhance safety. For residents in the surrounding communities, I-15 is the lifeline connecting them to jobs, education, and regional destinations. Once completed, the project will increase travel choices, allow for commuter buses, and improve travel time reliability.

Representative Mark Takano has advanced RCTC’s $2.5 million request for the Metrolink Double Track Project: Moreno Valley to Perris. The project will upgrade 6.5 miles of existing freight track on the 91/Perris Valley Line between the Moreno Valley/March Field Station and just north of the Perris-Downtown Station. The historic tracks are currently rated for much slower speeds than passenger trains require, and the upgrade would improve the reliability of Metrolink service, increase access to jobs and education, and reduce air pollution in this rapidly expanding area of Riverside County. 

RCTC appreciates the leadership and efforts of Senators Padilla and Butler, as well as Representatives Calvert, Kim, and Takano, to bring federal transportation funding to Riverside County to enhance mobility and quality of life for its residents. 

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) returned to Riverside on December 7 and 8, its first visit since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting offered an opportunity for CTC members to see the growing Inland Empire in-person and for host agencies RCTC and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) to present highway and passenger rail milestones and reiterate the challenges we face as a region.

“RCTC and SBCTA are leading the way by delivering capital projects, passenger rail, and transit services to a diverse and highly mobile population,” said RCTC First Vice Chair and Lake Elsinore City Council member Bob Magee, who opened the meeting and introduced the executive directors of both agencies before airing a jointly produced video.

RCTC had the opportunity to spotlight 5 capital projects delivered in 2022 – the Route 60 Truck Lanes, the 91 Corridor Operations Project, the I-15 Interim Corridor Operations Project, the I-15 Railroad Canyon Road Interchange, and the I-215 Placentia Avenue Interchange. Additionally, RCTC certified its Tier 1 environmental studies for Coachella Valley Rail, a planned 144-mile passenger rail service between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley. This certification clears a path for in-depth environmental studies to advance this daily intercity rail service to final design and construction.

In San Bernardino County, SBCTA is finishing its I-10 Express Lanes Project and widening of Route 210, constructing new bridges in San Bernardino and Barstow, as well as 15 interchanges throughout the San Bernardino Valley. In October, the agency opened its Arrow service, providing a new passenger rail connection for southern California residents.

RCTC and SBCTA also work together to promote ridesharing through the IE Commuter program, which encourages carpooling, vanpooling, public transit use, bicycling and walking to work.

Even with the progress made in 2022, Inland Empire residents continue to face heavy traffic congestion, the impacts of goods movement, and limited multimodal options, all of which impede access to jobs and detract from our quality of living.

As the 12^th most populous metro area in the United States, the Inland Empire ranks in the top five in growth nationwide. This growth is a result of the region’s affordable living combined with the 300,000 new housing units required to meet the state’s housing plan, further underscoring the need for and importance of expanded transportation solutions.

RCTC and SBCTA are working together at local, regional, state, and federal levels to bring new transportation investments to inland southern California and continue to move the needle to deliver more mobility options than ever before.

RCTC is applying for a $75 million federal grant to help improve travel along the 91 through three separate projects. Commissioners are traveling to Washington, D.C. this week to seek congressional support for the grant application, which is due March 4.

The “91 Workforce to Workplace Vitality Network” application seeks funds from the federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“Riverside County residents power the economy of southern California,” said RCTC Chair Chuck Washington.  “Unfortunately, our residents must endure among the longest commutes in the nation to secure their own prosperity and support the national economy.  With local and state funds we have helped ourselves to the maximum extent, and now we need federal partnership.”

The grant would fund three improvements, which could begin next year:

91 Corridor Operations Project – A new auxiliary lane from the Green River Road on-ramp on westbound 91 to the State Route 241 connector, a project championed by local residents and accelerated by RCTC in 2018.

71/91 Interchange – Replaces the single lane loop connector between eastbound 91 and northbound 71 with a two-lane director connector ramp. This project is part of the voter-approved Measure A expenditure plan and has been on the books for decades.

15/91 Express Lanes Connector – New connector from the future southbound 15 Express Lanes (currently under construction) to the westbound 91 Express Lanes, and links the eastbound 91 Express Lanes to the future northbound 15 Express Lanes. State funding secured by Assembly Member Sabrina Cervantes and Senator Richard Roth in 2017 jump-started this project, which was shelved during the Great Recession.

Motorists and community members who wish to express their support for the grant funding can register at rctc.org/91workforce.

RCTC sought funding for the 71/91 Interchange last year through a similar federal grant program and received a “Highly Recommended” rating by U.S. DOT officials, according to a debrief provided to RCTC by U.S. DOT.  However, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao did not select the interchange for this highly competitive nationwide program.

RCTC Vice Chair Ben Benoit, who is leading the delegation to the nation’s Capital, is optimistic and determined in the commission’s pursuit of federal funds.

“Our residents and businesses struggle every day on the 91 corridor and throughout our fast-growing county,” Benoit said. “And every day we will do our best to make our case to our representatives in Washington. I am confident our voice will be heard and ultimately we will get these projects moving,” he added.

Keeping its promise to commuters, the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) recently made improvements to State Route 91 and Interstate 15 to improve the entrance and exit points to the 91 Express Lanes.  RCTC is continuing to develop additional improvements.

In September, the northbound I-15 entrance lane to the 91 Express Lanes was extended one mile south so cars entering the express lanes can move from the general purpose lanes sooner and help overall traffic flow on I-15.  In November, RCTC restriped the transition point between the Riverside County and Orange County segments of the 91 Express Lanes to provide a smoother transition for motorists entering and exiting the express lanes.  RCTC Commissioners authorized these improvements after thoroughly evaluating traffic data and listening to public suggestions.

RCTC also released an update of work it has aggressively pursued since spring 2018 to develop environmental and technical analyses to add an additional lane on westbound 91 between Green River Road and the 241.  This additional westbound lane has been known as “Option 4M” or the “91 Corridor Operations Project” (91 COP).  At its May 9 meeting, the Commission voted to accelerate the 91 COP by authorizing the expenditure of nearly $5 million in surplus toll revenue to begin environmental and design work, amend existing contracts, and procure estimates of construction costs and toll revenue impacts. Results of this work are as follows:

• The estimated construction cost is $36.1 million ($43 million total).
• The 91 Express Lanes in Riverside County will experience an estimated net loss of $165.5 million in toll revenue between 2022 and 2035 due to the 91 COP.
• Design and environmental work are ongoing concurrently and can be complete by late 2019.
• Advertising for construction could occur in early 2020.
• The soonest the 91 COP can be open to motorists is late 2021.

Today, the Commission voted to continue progress on the 91 COP and to consider this project for a limited pool of funding available for several long-deferred projects in Riverside County. This action followed similar action taken on November 26 by RCTC’s Western Riverside County Programs & Projects Committee.

Additionally, RCTC worked with Caltrans and the City of Corona this summer and fall to study the impact of turning off the on-ramp meter at the westbound 91 Green River Road interchange. Results of two studies showed an increase in overall delay on the 91 corridor, an increase in unsafe movements by drivers, and a decrease in the total number of cars moving through the area.  Therefore, Caltrans has determined the ramp meter will continue to operate, allowing one car per lane per green light. The studies were performed at the request of Caltrans, RCTC Commissioner Karen Spiegel, and members of the public who communicated with RCTC, Caltrans, and the City of Corona.

We’ve made progress in managing traffic congestion since the opening of the 91 Express Lanes. We still have more work to do. Population and employment growth, while good for the economy, mean challenges for traffic congestion. See the latest Commission presentation on fine-tuning the 91 corridor, including potential options, traffic data, and decision criteria the Commission will use as adjustments are studied:

Western Riverside County Programs and Projects Committee Meeting 04/23/2018 

Western Riverside County Programs and Projects Committee Meeting 03/26/2018 

Western County Programs & Projects Committee presentation 02/26/18

RCTC Commission Presentation 02/14/18

Original Post: 02/14/18

Updates with additional materials: 02/26/18, 03/26/18, 04/23/18