Who said field trips are just for kids? On a recent fall day, residents from the Beaumont Senior Center embarked on a fun-filled day trip to the historic downtown Claremont Village aboard a Metrolink train. RCTC partnered with the City of Beaumont and Metrolink to show how safe, easy, and enjoyable public transit options can be for Riverside County residents.

Before the trip, RCTC staff gave the senior group an interactive presentation covering the ins and outs of passenger train travel on the Metrolink system, platform safety, and how to make the most of resources such as IE Commuter. During the 50-minute train ride to Claremont, the group participated in train trivia games, testing what they learned from the presentation to earn prizes.

Once the train arrived at Claremont Station, staff showed the group around Claremont Village, where they enjoyed several hours of free time exploring all the things the historic downtown area had to offer. Following an afternoon of good food, shopping, museums, and parks, the group reconnected at Claremont Station to board the train back to San Bernardino. From start to finish, the excursion offered local seniors a hands-on way to experience Metrolink firsthand while putting rail safety practice into action. Participants praised the ease, comfort, and fun of traveling together by rail.

Metrolink excursions are a great way to educate residents about the benefits of public transportation. RCTC, Metrolink, and cities across Riverside County work closely together to ensure these trips are positive, safe, and educational. To learn more about taking your class, club, troop, or large group on an excursion, please contact us.

Metrolink service at four 91/Perris Valley Line stations will be suspended on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026, as part of RCTC’s Perris-South Metrolink Station and Layover Facility Project.

The two-day weekend closure will allow crews to safely perform critical construction activities at the Perris-South Metrolink Station, including construction of a new retaining wall, grading for the platform extension, demolition of a portion of the existing platform, track work, and required inspections before the track is returned to service.

During the weekend closure, there will be no Metrolink train service at the Perris-South, Perris-Downtown, Moreno Valley/March Field, and Riverside-Hunter Park/UCR stations. Service will resume on Monday, October 19.

Metrolink service from Riverside-Downtown and stations west will continue to operate on the regular weekend schedule. No alternate bus or shuttle service will be provided at the affected stations. Passengers traveling to or from these stations should plan ahead and arrange alternate transportation.

RCTC, in partnership with Metrolink, Caltrans, and the City of Perris, is expanding the Perris-South Metrolink Station and adjacent train layover facility. The project will add a second passenger loading platform, new canopies and other passenger amenities, more than 1,000 feet of new station track, and a fourth track at the layover maintenance facility to help improve Metrolink service operations.

Construction on the project began in June 2026 and is expected to be completed in 2028. Funding for the project is provided by a mix of local and state transportation sources, including Measure A.

For the latest project information, please visit: rctc.org/perrissouthstation

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.