RCTC Gears Up to Rebuild 71/91 Interchange

RCTC — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 11:59:27 +0000

The Point: Project is designed to enhance safety, expand access, reduce emissions, and improve traffic flow

A new connection from eastbound 91 to northbound 71 will be under construction soon in Corona, helping to improve regional safety, access, air quality, and traffic flow for motorists and freight. RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans, expects to start construction late this month and to open the new interchange in 2025.

“Completing this project will provide welcome relief for our residents, especially those returning to Riverside County during afternoon hours on eastbound 91,” said RCTC Chair Robert “Bob” Magee, councilmember for the City of Lake Elsinore. “The project is another example of RCTC’s efforts to improve mobility along one of our most congested areas countywide,” he said.

The project will replace the existing single-lane loop connector with a new, two-lane, non-tolled, direct connector. To support access to this new connector, the project will add an eastbound 91 auxiliary lane next to the highway shoulder and realign the eastbound 91 Green River on-ramp to the south. Crews also will slightly realign southbound 71 to create space for the new connector.

The 71/91 Interchange serves as a gateway between Riverside, Orange, and San Bernardino counties and is a vital link for commuters and freight vehicles that travel along the 91 and the 71.

Once completed, the new interchange will improve safety by reducing weaving among lanes, expand access to other modes of travel – such as Metrolink passenger rail, reduce greenhouse gas emissions with fewer idling vehicles, and enhance traffic flow by replacing the existing single-lane loop connector with the two-lane direct connector along one of the region’s heaviest traveled corridors. The project will support continued movement through this area by native wildlife such as mountain lions, bobcats, and coyotes.

Project Rendering

Project funding is comprised of a combination of federal, state, and local funds, with $58.1 million of the $137 million construction costs provided by California’s Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, more commonly known as Senate Bill 1. A portion of the costs is funded by Measure A, the voter approved, half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County. The project is expected to create approximately 1,700 construction-related jobs, including contracts awarded to Riverside-based Skanska USA Civil West and Corona-based Falcon Engineering.

Motorists should watch for nighttime and weekend closures of lanes, ramps, and connectors. To register for construction updates, visit rctc.org/71-91interchange or text 7191INTERCHANGE to 77222.

The post RCTC Gears Up to Rebuild 71/91 Interchange appeared first on Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC).

Stalled at a Railroad Crossing?

RCTC — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 11:30:55 +0000

The Point: “Find the Blue and White to Save Your Life”

Do you know what to do if your car gets stuck at a railroad crossing? You and your loved ones should leave your vehicle immediately!

Once at a safe distance, look for the Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign posted at or near an at-grade railroad crossing. The sign will list an emergency telephone number and the crossing’s U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) numbers. Call the toll-free telephone number and provide the operator the crossing number listed so they know your location and can alert local train traffic dispatchers. If you cannot find the ENS sign immediately, call 911. Operation Lifesaver, a national organization that works to reduce incidents and fatalities at rail crossings, reminds you, “Find the Blue and White to Save Your Life.”

https://www.rctc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/find_the_blue_and_white_ens_sign_psa_-30_-_operation_lifesaver_inc.-Original.mp4

Always be alert around rail crossings and remember:

The only safe place to cross the railroad tracks is at a designated public crossing
It can take a mile or more for a train to stop – the length of 18 football fields
Railroad property is private property. It is illegal to be on railroad right-of-way unless you are at a designated crossing
Trains hang over the tracks at least three feet in both directions. If you are next to the tracks, you can be hit
Never walk around or behind lowered gates at a crossing
DO NOT cross the tracks until the lights have stopped flashing

Over the past few weeks, RCTC, through the Operation Lifesaver program, has participated in the Downtown Riverside Lunar New Year Festival, the Corona Kids and Cops Holiday event, the Moreno Valley Holiday Snow Day, and the City of Perris Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony to remind communities about the dangers of railroad tracks. With schools back to in-person instruction and with more residents out and about in their communities, everyone needs to be alert around rail crossings.

Interested in a rail safety presentation for your child’s school or for a community group in Riverside County? RCTC is available! Our California Operation Lifesaver (CAOL) team of trained volunteers can schedule a free virtual or in-person presentation tailored for any grade level or public gathering. Please email your request to RailSafetyEducation@rctc.org or call RCTC at at 951-787-7141.

The post Stalled at a Railroad Crossing? appeared first on Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC).

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RCTC Gears Up to Rebuild 71/91 Interchange

Stalled at a Railroad Crossing?