The Point: RCTC has delivered significant transportation solutions this year with more on the horizon

It’s only August, but RCTC has already completed four highway projects in 2022, reached a major milestone for new passenger rail service, and is preparing to open a new interchange this fall. This year is shaping up to be a big one for project delivery with more on the horizon, designed to keep communities connected and the economy moving.

The four newly opened projects include:

• The 91 Corridor Operations Project, which added a new lane to westbound 91 between Green River Road in Corona to the southbound 241 connector, improving the morning commute – Opened in January 2022

The Point: Avoid the area or expect significant travel delays, Friday night to Monday morning

Travel on southbound Interstate 15 will take longer than usual this weekend, due to the closure of all lanes on southbound I-15 just north of the 91 in Corona. Lanes will be closed from Friday, June 10 at 9 p.m. to Monday, June 13 at 5 a.m. The closure will allow crews to place support structures over I-15 as part of RCTC’s 15/91 Express Lanes Connector Project.

To support the full closure, the southbound 15 Express Lanes from Route 60 to the 15/91 Interchange will be closed along with the southbound I-15 on-ramps at Second Street and Hidden Valley Parkway in Norco. The southbound 15/westbound 91 connector will remain open. All lanes on northbound I-15 and the northbound 15 Express Lanes also will be open.

Please avoid the area by using regional detours, including Route 60, Route 71, or Interstate 215 to connect to southbound I-15 and allow extra travel time. Motorists who must travel on southbound I-15 should expect significant delays and may follow local detours using Main Street, Hidden Valley Parkway, or Second Street. See detour map.

Construction activity is subject to change due to wind or other factors. If the scheduled work cannot be completed the weekend of June 10-13, it may be rescheduled for the weekend of June 24-27.

Placing the support structures over I-15 is a key component of construction of the 15/91 Express Lanes Connector. The June weekend closure is the second in a series of four weekend closures that are needed for the project. The first occurred in January to place support structures over the 91. The two remaining weekend closures will allow crews to remove the support structures. Please watch for future information.

RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans, began construction of the connector in April 2021 to build a seamless link between the 15 Express Lanes and the 91 Express Lanes. The $270 million design-build investment is expected to help reduce traffic congestion, enhance safety due to less weaving among lanes, and improve travel time reliability between the two tolled facilities. The connector is anticipated to open in 2023.

To register for construction updates, visit rctc.org/15-91connector or text CONNECTOR to (844) 771-0995.

The Point: Commission approves construction contract; work could begin in May

Drivers on southbound Interstate 15 in Corona and Temescal Valley won’t have to wait long for an additional lane. RCTC approved a $3.4 million construction contract for the I-15 Interim Corridor Operations Project on March 9. Work is anticipated to begin in May and the new lane should open in the summer or early fall. In the transportation arena, that is lightning fast.

The project will add a non-tolled lane to southbound I-15 from the Cajalco Road on-ramp to the Weirick Road off-ramp, next to the outer shoulder. The highway is wide enough to accommodate the new lane, and crews will strengthen the shoulder pavement to handle additional traffic loads and restripe the lanes. Once completed, southbound I-15 in this area will include four lanes. Other enhancements include:

• Additional space for emergency vehicles along the inner shoulder
• Upgrades to existing guardrails and installation of new guardrails
• Improved drainage systems
• New overhead signs

The project was developed to help relieve increased traffic congestion along southbound I-15 near Cajalco Road, where the 15 Express Lanes end. RCTC, Caltrans, the City of Corona, and the County of Riverside began meeting last spring to develop traffic management solutions, combined with input from the California Highway Patrol. The group recommended the I-15 interim project to provide near-term congestion relief with a temporary lane.

RCTC conducted environmental studies and design, which were completed earlier this year, paving the way to seek bids and award a construction contract to All American Asphalt, based in Corona. The contract includes financial incentives for the work to be completed ahead of schedule.

The new temporary lane will be in place for about three years. RCTC and project partners are concurrently working on environmental studies for the Interstate 15 Corridor Operations Project, which will add a permanent lane to this section of southbound I-15, create wider lanes and shoulders, modify the Cajalco Road on-ramp and Weirick Road off-ramp, widen the Bedford Wash Bridge, build retaining walls, and improve drainage.

Register to receive email notices at rctc.org/15icop and follow @theRCTC on social media for updates. For more information, call 951-787-7141.

The Point: Motorists should access northbound I-15 at Grape Street through early April

Progress continues on the I-15 Railroad Canyon Road Interchange Project in Lake Elsinore, with construction crews preparing to open the new northbound I-15 hook on-ramp at Grape Street and temporarily close the existing northbound I-15 on-ramp at Railroad Canyon Road next week. The temporary closure, which will last until approximately early April, will allow crews to rebuild the ramp and widen lanes to 12 feet.

Construction dates are subject to change, based on weather and other factors.

During the closure of the existing on-ramp, which will start on February 21 at 8 p.m., motorists may use the newly constructed hook on-ramp at Grape Street, which will open on February 22 at 5 a.m. Crews will restripe lanes on local streets, adjust traffic signals, and post signs to direct drivers to the new hook ramp using the following traffic pattern; see map below.

• From East Diamond Drive: Head east on Diamond Drive in the far right lane toward Grape Street, turn right onto Grape Street, and turn right onto the northbound I-15 hook on-ramp using the right-turn lane.
• From West Railroad Canyon Road: Head west on Railroad Canyon Rd toward Grape Street, use the left-turn lane at the intersection of Railroad Canyon Road and Grape Street to turn left onto Grape Street, and turn right onto the northbound I-15 hook on-ramp using the right-turn lane.
• From South Summerhill Drive: Head south on Summerhill Dr toward Railroad Canyon Road, continue through the intersection onto Grape Street, and turn right onto the northbound I-15 hook on-ramp using the right-turn lane.
• From North Grape Street: Head north on Grape Street and turn left onto the new northbound I-15 hook on-ramp using the left-turn lane.

During the on-ramp closure, crews also will repave Grape Street and Diamond Drive and reconfigure the traffic signal at the southbound I-15 Railroad Canyon Road on-ramp. Once the ramp reopens, motorists will be able to enter northbound I-15 using either on-ramp.

Project construction began in May 2020. RCTC is the lead agency for the $41 million investment, in partnership with Caltrans and the City of Lake Elsinore. The project is designed to improve safety by adding auxiliary lanes on I-15 to help drivers enter and exit and highway and reduce traffic back-ups. It also is intended to improve traffic flow by adding two new lanes on Railroad Canyon Road, widening the lanes on the on-ramps and off-ramps, and adding the hook on-ramp at Grape Street. New sidewalks and bicycle lanes along Railroad Canyon Road also will promote local access.

For more project information and to register for updates, text RAILROAD to 772-22, visit rctc.org/railroadcanyon, or follow @railroadcanyon on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Point: Watch for daytime and nighttime closures through February 11 for paving work and avoid the area if possible

Multiple lane closures are needed for RCTC’s Route 60 Truck Lanes Project in the Badlands area between Moreno Valley and Beaumont. The closures will allow crews to safely build transitions and shift vehicles from the existing lanes to the newly paved lanes.

The traffic shift will provide two travel lanes in both directions with significantly wider roadway shoulders. The shift will allow crews to focus on completing the eastbound truck-climbing lane and the westbound truck-descending lane, scheduled to open this summer.

Motorists should watch for the following closures. Construction is subject to change, based on weather and staffing.

The Point: Commissioners appoint V. Manuel Perez as new Chair, Bob Magee as First Vice Chair, Lloyd White as Second Vice Chair

The Point: Avoid the area by using the 60 or expect significant travel delays, Friday night to Monday morning

Last weekend’s full closure of the westbound 91 has been rescheduled for this weekend. Due to high winds, RCTC and project partners canceled the January 21-24 closure to ensure the safety of construction crews who will be placing support structures over the 91 as part of RCTC’s 15/91 Express Lanes Connector Project. Crews will be operating cranes to place beams – work that is not suited for windy conditions.

All lanes on westbound 91 between McKinley Street and Main Street in Corona will be closed from Friday, January 28 at 9 p.m. to Monday, January 31 at 5 a.m. To support the full closure, the westbound 91 Express Lanes in Riverside County and the westbound 91 McKinley Street on-ramp will be closed throughout the weekend.

Please avoid the area by using Route 60 or allow significant extra travel time to use local detour routes. Drivers may head north on I-15, exit at Hidden Valley Parkway, enter southbound I-15, and head west on the 91. Another option is to head south on I-15, exit at Magnolia Avenue, enter northbound I-15, and continue west on the 91. A third option is to exit at McKinley Street, travel west to Magnolia Avenue, enter northbound I-15, and head west on the 91. See detour map.

RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans, started construction of the 15/91 Express Lanes Connector Project in April 2021 to build a seamless link between the 15 Express Lanes and the 91 Express Lanes. The $270 million design-build investment is designed to help reduce traffic congestion, enhance safety due to less weaving among lanes, and improve travel time reliability between the two tolled facilities. The connector is expected to open in 2023.

Three additional weekend closures will be scheduled to place and remove additional support structures for the connector during 2022 and 2023. Please watch for information.

To register for construction updates, visit rctc.org/15-91connector or text CONNECTOR to (844) 771-0995.

The Point: New lane to help provide traffic relief; watch for full closure of all 91 lanes on Friday night for sign placement

RCTC opened a new lane on westbound 91 today, helping to improve traffic flow through western Riverside County, particularly for commuters who routinely battle morning traffic congestion in the area. The new two-mile, non-tolled lane from the westbound Green River Road on-ramp in Corona to the 241 Toll Road in Anaheim was the centerpiece of RCTC’s 91 Corridor Operations Project.

The Point: Federal investment can help leverage local and state funding to deliver more transportation infrastructure improvements in Riverside County

Following significant debate and negotiation in Congress over the last several months, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in November to provide $550 billion in new infrastructure spending. After working closely with the California Congressional delegation to include language in the legislation that allows us to compete for funds, RCTC is prepared to apply for grants to make much-needed investments in our region’s transportation system.

The IIJA includes substantial funding for roads, bridges, electric vehicle infrastructure, rail-highway grade crossing improvements, climate resiliency, and carbon reduction.

“This new infrastructure bill may give Riverside County and our region the tools we need to improve and expand our transportation investments for the 21^st century,” said RCTC Chair Jan Harnik, who also is the Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem. “RCTC eagerly awaits the opportunity to compete for these funds. We are ready!” she said.

In addition, the IIJA includes the five-year reauthorization of federal surface transportation legislation, which provides funding for roads, bridges, transportation safety, and freight programs.  The IIJA makes the single largest investment in repairing and reconstructing bridges since the construction of the interstate highway system with a $40 billion bridge program.  The bill also includes historic funding for public transit and passenger rail by providing nearly $70 billion for public transit, a 40% increase over current spending levels, and $66 billion for passenger rail, the largest investment in 50 years.