Built on collaboration and a shared vision, Phase II of the State Route 60 (SR-60)/Potrero Boulevard Interchange Project advances to construction! On April 28, 2026, project partners, elected officials, stakeholders, and community members gathered in the City of Beaumont to break ground to celebrate a project that will improve regional and local traffic flow for motorists traveling through Beaumont and the surrounding communities.

Located between Jack Rabbit Trail and the SR-60/Interstate 10 junction, the project was designed as a key investment in regional infrastructure to improve mobility, safety, and economic growth.

“Projects like the SR-60 Potrero Boulevard Interchange symbolize the strong partnerships RCTC has with our cities and communities to build transportation infrastructure that benefits our growing region,” said Raymond Gregory, Mayor of Cathedral City and Chair of RCTC. “These investments are key to keeping our region moving as our communities continue to grow.”

In 2019, the City of Beaumont completed Phase I and opened the new six-lane Potrero Boulevard overcrossing above SR-60.

Phase II of the project includes:

• Construction of a six-ramp partial cloverleaf interchange at SR 60 and Potrero Boulevard
• Realignment of Western Knolls Avenue
• Widening Potrero Boulevard to six lanes, improving traffic flow and access to SR 60

The new interchange is anticipated to open to travelers in 2028. Construction crews will begin preparing the area near Potrero Boulevard bridge soon and are expected to begin construction on the new interchange in May.

The project was made possible by a mix of state and local sources comprised of the City of Beaumont’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) revenues, and SB1 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) funds.

Throughout the duration of the project, RCTC, the City of Beaumont, and Caltrans are committed to minimizing construction impacts and providing timely updates to the public. Sign up to receive project updates or for additional project information by visiting: www.rctc.org/PotreroInterchange

During its December 10 meeting, the Commission approved more than $156 million in construction contracts for two regionally significant projects: Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway and SR-60/Potrero Boulevard Interchange – Phase II. These projects aim to enhance roadway safety, improve travel reliability, and support economic growth in two of Riverside County’s fastest growing regions.

“Safe and reliable transportation is the foundation of our daily lives – connecting us to school, work, and the people who matter to us the most,” said Supervisor Karen Spiegel, RCTC Chair and Vice Chair of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. “The Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway will address critical safety improvements in one of the most traveled corridors in our region. Phase II of the Potrero Interchange will enhance regional mobility throughout the San Gorgonio Pass. Together, these two projects will a create a safer and more connected Riverside County for us all.”

The Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway Project will upgrade 8.6 miles of roadway between Rider Street and Warren Road in San Jacinto. Between 2017 and 2022, this heavily traveled corridor experienced numerous collisions resulting in 14 fatalities and 17 severe injuries. The project will address critical safety needs by widening the roadway to two lanes in each direction, adding a raised median, building a wildlife crossing, and constructing a new bridge over the San Jacinto River.

In the San Gorgonio Pass, the City of Beaumont has partnered with RCTC and Caltrans to deliver Phase II of the SR-60/Potrero Boulevard Interchange. The project will build a new interchange at State Route 60, realign Western Knolls Avenue, and widen Potrero Boulevard to six lanes. These enhancements will make it easier to access SR‑60 and support ongoing residential and economic growth in Beaumont and across Riverside County.

Construction for both projects will begin in early 2026. Once completed, these two projects will deliver on RCTC’s commitment to providing vital transportation infrastructure that meets the needs of our region’s rapidly growing communities.

Baseball, hot dogs, and trains, there’s no better combo! Spirits were high as Beaumont residents stepped on board Metrolink for a day at Dodger Stadium. On April 30, RCTC partnered with Beaumont Transit to take residents on a fun-filled adventure through the Metrolink system. This excursion is part of RCTC’s commitment to providing fun, efficient, and cost-effective transit options that enhance mobility across the region.

RCTC met with residents of Beaumont at the San Bernardino Transit Center, where the group received a presentation on rail safety and how to ride Metrolink. From there, they boarded the train to Los Angeles Union Station and transferred to the Dodger Stadium Express for the final leg of their journey. For some residents, it was their first time riding local transit, and their first visit to the iconic ballpark. This trip was more than just a baseball outing; it was a hands-on introduction to using public transportation, giving riders insight into how Metrolink can support their travel needs.

This trip is just one of many Metrolink excursions RCTC has organized over the past year. In addition to community trips, RCTC coordinated several excursions with high schools across Riverside County to provide youth with a fun and educational transportation experience. Earlier this year, students from Eleanor Roosevelt, Santiago, Corona, and Norco High Schools took a trip with Metrolink from Corona to downtown Riverside. RCTC provided a hands-on opportunity to 60 students to learn how to navigate and enjoy public transportation, including how to read schedules, locate platforms, and understand safety signage. This exercise blends education with real-world experience, helping students build confidence in using transit independently.

Encouraging transit education and providing meaningful experiences helps shape the future generation of riders – empowering them to explore their region through new modes of travel.

Group excursions with Metrolink offer a great way to introduce students and residents to the benefits of public transit. RCTC works closely with Metrolink to ensure these trips are safe, educational, and enjoyable for all participants. To learn how you can take your class, club, or group on a Metrolink excursion, please contact us.

The City of Beaumont and RCTC recently announced that RCTC will be taking the lead on two major infrastructure projects designed to improve connectivity in the region: Phase II of the SR-60 / Potrero Boulevard Interchange Project and initial planning and feasibility phase of the I-10 / SR-79 (Beaumont Avenue) Interchange Project. These important infrastructure projects aim to expand regional mobility, improve traffic flow, and enhance safety for thousands of daily commuters who travel through these busy corridors.

The SR-60 / Potrero Boulevard Interchange Project, located between Jack Rabbit Trail and the SR-60 / I-10 junction, will continue with major improvements as part of Phase II that include:

• Widening Potrero Boulevard to six lanes on both sides of SR-60
• Adding two direct on-ramps, two loop on-ramps, and two direct off-ramps
• Realigning Western Knolls Avenue with Potrero Boulevard north of the new interchange

In addition, RCTC, the City of Beaumont, and Caltrans are also collaborating to improve the I-10 / SR-79 (Beaumont Avenue) interchange and nearby roads in Beaumont. This heavily traveled area is a major hub used by local commuters and regional travelers from Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles counties. The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion, improve traffic flow, and provide a smoother, safer commute for motorists passing through this busy corridor.

“RCTC is proud to take the lead on these projects that will help improve the lives of residents in Beaumont and the surrounding communities, and for commuters traveling through this busy corridor,” said Supervisor Karen Spiegel, Chair of RCTC and Vice-Chair of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. “The collaboration between RCTC, the City of Beaumont, and Caltrans will help deliver these vital transportation projects to shape the future of travel in Riverside County.”

Construction for the SR-60 / Potrero Interchange Project is anticipated to begin in 2026, pending approval by Caltrans and construction bid advertisement and award by RCTC.

For more information on the Potrero project, visit: www.beaumontca.gov

Residents, business operators, motorists, and surrounding community members who travel near the Interstate 10 Highland Springs Interchange in Beaumont and Banning are invited to attend a public information meeting on Monday, February 27 to learn about proposed improvements to this heavily traveled area.

RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans and the cities of Banning and Beaumont, have started preliminary engineering and environmental studies to look at ways to enhance traffic flow and safety. The interchange has some of the highest traffic volumes in Riverside County during peak morning and afternoon hours. It also serves as the main connection to large housing developments as well as retail, commercial, medical, and employment centers.

The meeting will be held in an open house style format with no formal presentation, although attendees are encouraged to talk to team members and ask questions about the project. Participants can learn about and give feedback on the proposed designs, which will modify the lanes at the Highland Springs underpass and add merging lanes to make it easier to reach homes and other destinations.

Two main design options will be studied – one that would change the existing on-ramps to hook-style ramps and the other that would convert the ramps to a diverging diamond interchange. This second option would allow drivers to travel on Highland Springs Avenue under I-10 by crossing to the opposite side of the street, and then returning to the right side of the street once through the interchange. This option would enable drivers to enter or exit I-10 or continue on Highland Springs Avenue without crossing opposing traffic. Watch the video below to learn more.

Meeting attendees are encouraged to talk to members of the project team about the designs and provide feedback with a comment card, by email at highlandsprings@rctc.org, or by U.S. mail at Riverside County Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 12008, Riverside, CA 92502-2208. Public comments are an important part of the project development process. Comments will be accepted through March 27.

The engineering and environmental studies are expected to be completed in 2025. Once funding and environmental approvals are secured, final design of the interchange could begin as early as 2026, and construction could follow in 2027.

To register for project updates, please visit the project webpage and register through the Contact Us section.

Improvements may be on the horizon for the Interstate 10 Highland Springs Avenue Interchange at the border of Banning and Beaumont, thanks to RCTC’s award of a contract this month for preliminary engineering and environmental studies.

Highland Springs Avenue is the main connection to multiple housing developments, employment centers, the Sun Lakes Country Club, retail and commercial businesses, and medical centers, such as San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital. This interchange has one of the highest peak traffic volumes per hour and per month on I-10 in Riverside County.

RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans and both cities, will evaluate several design options, including hook ramp alternatives, “diverging diamond interchange” alternatives, and auxiliary lanes to make it easier for drivers to merge on and off I-10 and to improve access for emergency responders.

The diverging diamond interchange concept, which debuted in Manteca, California in 2020 and has been implemented in Colorado, New Mexico, and Washington, has drivers enter from the right side of the road, cross to the left side as they pass through the interchange, and then cross back again to the right side. The “crisscross” pattern helps drivers move steadily through the intersections and creates free left-hand turns for drivers entering and exiting I-10.

The study will look at ways to improve the interchange, on-ramps, off-ramps, and existing local roads, including the closely spaced intersections with Joshua Palmer Way north of I-10, to enhance traffic flow through this heavily congested area. The project also is intended to improve air quality with fewer idling vehicles waiting to enter and exit I-10 and to support access to public transit and a Class II bike lane.

The engineering and environmental phase of work will start this summer and could be completed by summer or fall of 2024. Design would follow, and construction may begin as early as 2026 if RCTC secures project approvals and funding.

A public scoping meeting will be scheduled for later this year to review the studies to be completed and to gather initial feedback from residents, business operators, and other stakeholders in the area.

Funding for the $2.2 million study is provided through Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fees administered by the Western Riverside Council of Governments.

The Point: Three new lots open in Beaumont, San Jacinto, and Temecula

Busy morning? After taking the kiddos to school, dropping off Fido at doggy daycare, and grabbing a cup of coffee, you could use a convenient spot to park your car and continue your commute to work. With more and more employees returning to the office as COVID-19 restrictions ease, and with rising prices at the gas pump, it’s a great time to check out ridesharing options.

Park & Ride Lots are the perfect spot to meet your carpool and vanpool partners or to connect to train and bus routes. The lots offer safe, well-lit places to park and help reduce highway congestion by promoting carpooling and transit use. Ridesharing also decreases pollution and helps you save money by driving less.

The Riverside County Transportation Commission, working with public and private entities, manages 32 Park & Ride Lots in western Riverside County, as part of its overall goal of providing alternative transportation solutions. Measure A, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax in Riverside County, provides funding for commuter assistance programs, like ridesharing, teleworking, and Park & Ride Lots, helping to reduce traffic congestion and offer incentives to those who drive less.

In the last few months, three new lots opened in Beaumont, San Jacinto and Temecula. Drivers will need to park in marked stalls and follow posted signs:

1. City of Beaumont – 600 E. 6^th, Beaumont

Next to the Beaumont Civic Center, this lot features three electric vehicle charging stations. Bus stops that serve RTA CommuterLink Routes 120 and 125 as well as Beaumont Transit Routes 3 and 4 are just across the street

2. City of San Jacinto – 501 S. San Jacinto Ave., San Jacinto

This lot is adjacent to San Jacinto City Hall and is just one block (Route 79 & 6^th Street) from RTA bus stops that serve Routes 42, 74 and 79 and one block (Route 79 & Main Street) from the RTA Route 32 stop.

3. Grace Presbyterian Church – 31143 Nicolas Rd., Temecula

This lot is open Monday to Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (no parking on the weekends) and provides easy access to I-15 from Winchester Road

For a listing of all of the Park and Ride Lots in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, click here. And to learn more about ridesharing, including commute options, teleworking, incentives, vanpool subsidies, and support for employers, go to iecommuter.org.

RCTC and Caltrans will begin studies for possible upgrades to the Highland Springs Avenue Interchange with Interstate 10, which straddles the cities of Banning and Beaumont.

The study will look at potential ways to modify existing local roads, the interchange, on-ramps, and off-ramps to improve how people travel through this heavily-congested area.

The interchange is the main connection to large housing developments, the Sun Lakes Country Club, and multiple shopping, retail, and medical centers. This interchange has one of the highest peak traffic volumes per hour and per month on Interstate 10 in Riverside County.

RCTC approved agreements with Caltrans and the cities of Banning and Beaumont this month to begin the study process. RCTC will be the lead for the project study, which should take about a year.

Following this initial study, the project could move forward for environmental reviews, design and possible future construction. Funding for the estimated $40 million construction project has not yet been identified.