On January 29, Coachella Valley Rail (CV Rail) reached an exciting new milestone with the Commission’s approval of $80 million to HDR Engineering to begin the next phase of environmental studies, helping move the project one step closer to reality. This proposed passenger rail service will expand mobility choices in southern California, connecting communities, fueling economic growth, and giving travelers a fast, convenient choice to move across the region.

“CV Rail is a vital transportation investment that will connect Riverside County — particularly the San Gorgonio Pass and Coachella Valley — with the rest of Southern California through daily passenger rail service. This project delivers benefits that will positively impact our region for generations. At its core, CV Rail is all about offering residents, visitors, and commuters better choices and smart alternatives to traveling solely by automobile,” said Raymond Gregory, Chair of RCTC and Mayor of Cathedral City. “While there is still work ahead, today’s decision brings us one important step closer to construction.”

This next phase will include the preparation and delivery of an environmental document that meets all state and federal regulatory requirements, design, and station planning in collaboration with Caltrans and other partners. The Commission unanimously certified the Final Tier 1/Program-Level Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report in 2022. In 2023, the Federal Rail Administration added CV Rail to the Corridor ID program – putting the project in a position to better compete for federal funding to advance to final design and construction.

Once completed, CV Rail will establish daily intercity passenger rail service along a proposed 144-mile corridor connecting Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley, with planned stops at Los Angeles Union Station, Riverside, and destinations in the Coachella Valley. The project, along with future investments in our region’s rail network, represents the Commission’s ongoing commitment to delivering transportation projects that offer Riverside County residents convenient mobility options.

Learn more about how CV Rail will transform travel in the region: rctc.org/cvr

There is nothing like the feeling of the wind in your hair and face while riding a bike or even when you are sprinting the last mile on your run. Making such a ride or run on a dedicated trial is ever better in the Coachella Valley. After 14 years of perseverance, the Coachella Valley proudly celebrated the grand opening of CV Link – a 40-mile pathway connecting communities from Palm Springs to Coachella. Led by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), this multimodal corridor was designed and built for cyclists, pedestrians, and low-speed electric vehicles, offering a safer, scenic alternative to busy roadways.

Construction on the 40-mile corridor began in 2017 and was built mostly along the Whitewater River from Highway 111 and the Chino Wash in North Palm Springs to Airport Boulevard in the City of Coachella. CVAG, RCTC, and numerous partners across the county and the state worked together to bring this multimodal trail to life. Through Measure A, the twice voter-approved half-cent sales tax measure for transportation improvements in Riverside County, RCTC was able to support CV Link, and bring innovative mobility options to Coachella Valley that transform how people move.

The new pathway features a dual-path structure: a broad concrete lane catering to cyclists and low-speed electric vehicles, alongside a narrower decomposed granite trail designed for pedestrians and runners. To enhance safety, accessibility, and enjoyment, the facility features numerous shade structures, water stations, benches, bike racks, wayfinding signs, and solar powered LED lights along the pathway and at access points along each section of CV Link. The new trail will also be able to host future events like walks, races, and marathons.

CV Link marks an important step forward to building a resilient, more interconnected transportation system that provides options to residents in all corners of the County. Over the next 15 years, Riverside County will experience one of the largest population increases in the country. RCTC designed the Traffic Relief Plan – a countywide transportation investment blueprint – to address the transportation needs of our rapidly growing region. The Plan includes projects, such as the transformative Coachella Valley Rail, that will provide residents, commuters, and disadvantaged communities with more travel options.

RCTC congratulates CVAG and project partners on delivering the innovative CV Link and looks forward to continuing the momentum on Coachella Valley Rail, CV Sync, and the extension of CV Link to create a more mobile Coachella Valley and beyond.

Transportation projects in Riverside County may receive a funding boost later this year with the help of our local congressional delegation. In a bid to move regionally significant projects forward, Representatives Ken Calvert, Young Kim, and Mark Takano have submitted three projects on RCTC’s behalf under the Congressional Community Project Funding (CPF) program.

In July, requests included in the Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill include three RCTC-led projects:

• Representative Ken Calvert: $5 million for the Coachella Valley Rail Project
• Representative Young Kim: $4 million for the State Route 91 Eastbound Corridor Operations Project
• Representative Mark Takano: $500,000 for the Metrolink Double Track Project: Moreno Valley-Perris

Securing funding for the Coachella Valley Rail Project is critical to providing expanded passenger rail service to Riverside County residents, increasing access to jobs, education, and services. In July 2022, the Commission unanimously certified the Tier 1 Program-Level Environmental Document for the Coachella Valley Rail Project. Since certification, RCTC has been working diligently to secure state and federal funding for the Tier 2 environmental document that will identify and study potential station locations and detailed engineering, moving the project closer to shovel ready.

The 91 Eastbound Corridor Operations Project is in the early phases of planning. In partnership with Caltrans, the Orange County Transportation Authority, the City of Corona, and the Transportation Corridor Agencies, RCTC is proposing to add an eastbound 91 lane from the 241 Toll Road connector to the 71 in Corona. Engineering and environmental studies have begun and are expected to take 2-3 years. With the help of federal funding, RCTC can complete the engineering and environmental phase.

As part of planned upgrades to the 91/ Perris Valley Line, the Metrolink Double Track Project: Moreno Valley-Perris will add a second set of tracks between the Moreno Valley/March Field Station and the Perris-South Station. The additional tracks will facilitate Metrolink improved operations, allow for increased future service and ensure reliability as part of Metrolink SCORE’s program – just in time for the 2028 Olympics.

With the support and leadership of Representatives Calvert, Kim, and Takano, funding for these much-needed transportation projects will help address the needs of Riverside County’s rapidly growing communities. RCTC will continue to closely monitor the appropriations process and advocate for increased transportation funding at the federal level.

RCTC submitted six applications last month to request $24 million from federal funding sources for a collection of passenger rail and highway projects. The projects are designed to help improve mobility options for residents in Riverside County and the region.

Three funding requests are for Coachella Valley Rail, the proposed 144-mile passenger rail corridor between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley, with stops in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. This once-in-a-generation project is critically important for the Inland Southern California region, which faces heavy traffic congestion daily.

RCTC is requesting Congressionally Directed Spending funding totaling $5 million each from U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla and a Community Project Funding request for $5 million from U.S. Representative Ken Calvert, for a total of $15 million. This will help fund in-depth engineering and environmental studies that must be completed to advance the project.

Once operational, the rail service will add a new car-free, stress-free option for travel, expand the regional economy with new connections to entertainment venues and commercial/retail centers, combat climate change with fewer emissions from single-passenger vehicles, and promote equity by offering new access to employment and education.

To learn more about Coachella Valley Rail, visit rctc.org/cvr.

RCTC also has applied for Community Project Funding for three additional projects through the following Congressional members:

• From Representative Mark Takano, a $3 million request toward construction of the Metrolink Double Track: Moreno Valley to Perris Project. The project will add a second set of tracks between the Moreno Valley/March Field Station and the Perris-South Station. Once completed, the extended tracks will facilitate Metrolink operations, offer an alternative to driving, and help relieve traffic congestion on Interstate 215. The project also will boost access to jobs and education in this traditionally underserved area, reduce air pollution, and help Metrolink achieve its goal of providing bidirectional service every 30 minutes in time for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.
• From Representative Raul Ruiz, a $3 million request toward construction of the Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway Project. RCTC is partnering with the County of Riverside for this 8.6-mile segment of roadway between Perris and San Jacinto that experiences a high rate of vehicular accidents. If funding is secured, construction could start in 2025 and take about two years to complete.
• From Representative Young Kim, a $3 million request for construction funds for the Route 91 Eastbound Corridor Operations Project. This project would add a lane to eastbound 91 from the southbound 241 Toll Road connector to Route 71 in Corona to help improve traffic flow in this heavily traveled area, especially during peak afternoon and evening commute hours. Engineering and environmental studies are expected to begin in mid-2023, with construction dates based on available funding.

In support for RCTC’s projects, Representatives Calvert, Takano, and Kim submitted RCTC’s funding request to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration. The three project funding requests included:

• $5 million request to the Coachella Valley Rail Project supported by From Representative Ken Calvert.
• $3 million request toward construction of the Metrolink Double Track: Moreno Valley to Perris Project supported by Representative Mark Takano.
• $3 million request for the Route 91 Eastbound Corridor Operations Project supported by Representative Young Kim.

While these requests still require Congressional approval, the funding amounts to $11 million to advance passenger rail and highway infrastructure projects that improve mobility and transportation options for Riverside County.

It was a year marked by major investments in highway, road, public transit, and the environment like none other in RCTC’s 46-year history. This progress is highlighted in the 2022 Annual Report presented to the RCTC Commission on February 8.

Our transportation network safely connects Riverside County’s diverse communities, offers mobility choices, improves traffic operations, and streamlines the movement of goods, all of which help residents make important connections to school, work, family, friends, and things that matter most.

During 2022, RCTC invested $879 million in construction activity with support for 10,513 construction jobs. Five highway projects opened – the 91 Corridor Operations Project in Corona, the I-15 Railroad Canyon Road Interchange in Lake Elsinore, the Route 60 Truck Lanes in Riverside County’s Badlands between Beaumont and Moreno Valley, the I-15 Interim Corridor Operations Project in Corona, and the I-215 Placentia Avenue Interchange in Perris (shown below). Construction also continued on the 15/91 Express Lanes Connector Project in Corona.

At the local level, RCTC allocated $126 million in Measure A funding for 248 road projects countywide. Measure A is the twice voter-approved half-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation improvements in Riverside County.

Public transit was an ongoing focus in 2022. RCTC unanimously approved the program-level environmental documents for the proposed Coachella Valley Rail passenger train service between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley, a significant milestone for this long-range project. Efforts are under way to secure grant funding for a more in-depth project-level environmental review that could lead to future construction. Construction began on improvements to the Moreno Valley/March Field Metrolink Station in Riverside, and RCTC received $25 million toward costs to upgrade freight tracks to meet the standards for passenger rail, allowing an additional set of tracks for the 91/Perris Valley Line. RCTC also completed 25 other Metrolink station maintenance projects and continued to help fund seven local bus systems and 15 specialized transit services across the county.

In addition to highway, road, and rail projects, RCTC provides commuter assistance. Our Freeway Service Patrol program aided 63,550 stranded motorists during the past year by jump-starting batteries, fixing flat tires, conducting other minor roadside repairs, or towing vehicles to CHP-approved locations. RCTC also encourages motorists to share rides, increasing its $2 per day incentive to $5 per day last year. The IE Commuter program supported 592 employers with ridesharing programs and provided subsidies to 40 vanpools, reducing 55,650 single occupancy trips and 7.2 million pounds of vehicle emissions.

Vehicle emission reduction is just one way that RCTC helps the environment. As the managing agency for the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority, RCTC supported efforts that added 2,445 acres of protected habitat toward the overall goal of preserving 500,000 acres. This habitat benefits 146 native animal and plant species.

Read more about RCTC’s 2022 work and accomplishments in our Annual Report infographic and watch for our video series coming soon.

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 Chair and Riverside County 4^th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and Commissioner Lisa Middleton, Mayor of Palm Springs, met with California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Secretary Toks Omishakin earlier this month in Riverside to discuss proposed passenger rail service between Los Angeles and Coachella Valley.

The meeting offered an opportunity for Secretary Omishakin to hear first-hand how the planned Coachella Valley Rail (CV Rail) service will transform travel across Riverside County, the region, state, and nation.

CV Rail discussions are taking place all over southern California, including the Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass. RCTC staff recently presented to the Indio and Banning city councils, with more presentations on the way to other cities. Staff also provided a project overview to the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership and the Palm Springs Hospitality Association last month. In September, RCTC attended a roundtable discussion with California’s Infrastructure Advisor and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. CV Rail was specifically mentioned as a once-in-a-generation project that will benefit all communities and support our region’s growth. These efforts built upon meetings with federal elected officials and staff in Washington, D.C., in September, in which RCTC representatives sought support for grant funding.

All of this outreach is helping spread the word about CV Rail. This is especially important as RCTC seeks federal funding to complete the “Tier 2” project-level engineering and environmental studies – an in-depth analysis of the service and operations along the planned 144-mile route, which crosses Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles counties.

RCTC is seeking $20 million to help fund the Tier 2 studies, which are expected to cost $60 million. Funds are available through the federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program on a competitive basis. RCTC and Caltrans will submit a joint CRISI Program grant application this week.

The service will provide greater access to jobs and educational opportunities, especially in underserved communities; expand the regional economy and tourism; and help the environment by reducing the number of cars on the road, greenhouse gases, and air pollution. CV Rail also makes up a significant segment of Amtrak’s future Tucson-Phoenix-Los Angeles corridor, with connections to San Diego, Santa Barbara, the Pacific Northwest, Arizona, and beyond.

In July, the program reached another milestone when the Commission unanimously certified its CV Rail “Tier 1” program-level environmental document. Now, all efforts are geared toward completing Tier 2. And support isn’t just with the Commissioners. There is broad community support for this project. RCTC collected 67 letters of support from cities, hospitality organizations, Native American tribes, business groups, transportation agencies, and more. A recent online support campaign garnered support from 486 residents, while a social media poll showed 89% support for the project.

While CV Rail is still years away from construction and service, this project represents RCTC’s long-term planning to provide mobility choices for Riverside County residents, including multimodal and car-free options.

Learn more about CV Rail at: rctc.org/cvr.

RCTC Commissioners and staff went to Washington, D.C. this month to meet with Congressional representatives and other federal officials to promote the need for a new daily passenger rail service between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley. RCTC is seeking federal funding that will allow planning for Coachella Valley Rail to advance to the next level.

“CV Rail will be a massive boost for the Coachella Valley, connecting us to employment and educational opportunities, bolstering southern California’s economy, improving our air quality, and providing necessary transit alternatives to fight climate change,” said V. Manuel Perez, RCTC Chair and Riverside County’s 4^th District Supervisor. “CV Rail is about equity for our communities and is an important step for the national revitalization of passenger rail,” he said.

In July, the Commission unanimously certified its Coachella Valley Rail “Tier 1” program-level environmental document and now is seeking funds for “Tier 2” project-level studies – in-depth analysis of the service and operations along the planned 144-mile route, which crosses Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles counties.

RCTC is seeking $20 million to help fund the Tier 2 studies, which are expected to cost $60 million. Recently, funds became available through the federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program on a competitive basis. RCTC and Caltrans will be submitting a joint CRISI Program grant application, due December 1. In addition, several sources of state funds may also be available in the future, and RCTC plans to meet with state officials this fall to request support.

Following the environmental studies and approvals, project design and construction would begin. While the passenger train service could still be 10 years away, RCTC is moving full speed ahead to create a transformational car-free, stress-free way to travel through inland southern California.

The service will provide greater access to jobs and educational opportunities, especially in underserved communities; expand the regional economy and tourism; and help the environment by reducing the number of cars on the road, greenhouse gases, and air pollution. CV Rail also makes up a significant segment of Amtrak’s future Tucson-Phoenix-Los Angeles corridor with connections to San Diego, Santa Barbara, the Pacific Northwest, Arizona, and beyond.

RCTC is seeking community support for upcoming grant applications, even from people who may have voiced their support in the past. Add your name to our list of supporters and future riders by visiting rctc.org/cvr.

Passenger rail service proposed between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley took another step forward with RCTC’s unanimous certification of its “program level” environmental document on July 13.

Since 2016, RCTC, the Federal Railroad Administration, and Caltrans have been studying expanded travel options through passenger rail between L.A. and the Coachella Valley. Commissioners certified the Final Tier 1 Program Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Coachella Valley-San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor Service Program following a public hearing that was held as part of the Commission meeting.

The EIS/EIR studied and documented potential environmental impacts of operating this rail corridor service. Certifying the EIS/EIR will not lead to immediate construction and operations; additional Tier 2 or “project level” environmental review is needed before construction may begin. The certification of the EIS/EIR is considered a major milestone as it allows more in-depth Tier 2 “project level” environmental studies to proceed.

“Every day, the project is closer to becoming a reality as an alternative to driving to and from the Coachella Valley,” said RCTC 1st Vice Chair and Lake Elsinore Councilmember Bob Magee. “With the help of our state and federal partners, we continue to take steps toward service that will help our disadvantaged residents expand their travel and employment options, improve air quality for our region, and boost tourism and our desert economy,” he said.

The service is envisioned to begin with twice-daily roundtrips between L.A. Union Station and the Coachella Valley. The 144-mile route would include stops in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. Existing stations in Los Angeles, Fullerton and Riverside would be part of the line, the existing station in Palm Springs would be improved for use, and up to five new stations could be built east of Colton with a service endpoint in Coachella.

Work on the Tier 1 program-level environmental studies began in 2016. Last summer, the agencies released the draft environmental document for public review. During the 45-day public comment period, RCTC received 307 comments from public agencies, organizations, and individuals through multiple methods, including two virtual public hearings. Most comments supported the program.

With the certification of the Tier 1 program-level environmental document, RCTC is positioned to start work on Tier 2 project-level environmental studies when funding becomes available. These studies would perform an in-depth analysis of required infrastructure improvements and station locations.

RCTC is actively working with state and federal partners to secure $60 million for this next phase. Earlier this year, the project received a funding commitment of more than $25 million from the State Transportation Improvement Program, and RCTC requested Congressionally Directed Spending and Community Project Funding through the federal appropriations process. Ongoing support from stakeholder partners will help deliver this transformative project.

The IIJA will also create opportunities for RCTC to advance regionally transformative projects such as the daily passenger rail service between Coachella Valley and Los Angeles to provide residents and tourists an alternative to traveling on Interstate 10, as well as next-generation transportation improvements identified in RCTC’s 2020 Commission-adopted Traffic Relief Plan.