As part of the I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project, an updated online Smart Room has been relaunched and now includes a new performance dashboard to help residents understand how the system works and track its performance.

The Smart Freeway system uses technology and existing roadway infrastructure to help manage congestion on the northbound 15 between the Riverside/San Diego County line in Temecula and the I-15/I-215 interchange in Murrieta. Roadside sensors monitor traffic conditions, while coordinated ramp meters at Temecula Parkway, Rancho California Road, and Winchester Road adjust the flow of vehicles entering the freeway.

The updated Smart Room is an immersive online resource for learning how the Smart Freeway works. Visitors can move through the virtual space at their own pace to see where the pilot operates, learn how the different parts of the system work together, and understand what drivers may experience when the system is active. The Smart Room also includes frequently asked questions, project updates, videos, and the performance dashboard.

Through the new performance dashboard, residents will be able to track Smart Freeway system performance throughout the 2-year pilot period. Currently, the performance dashboard includes information on vehicle throughput and travel time. The Smart Freeway system comes with a lot of technical information, and additional key performance indicators will be added to the dashboard as RCTC gathers more data on performance. A glossary with terms and how the data should be read is also included in the performance dashboard.

Check out the Smart Room by visiting Smartfreeway.org

On Monday, June 1, 2026, RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans, City of Temecula, and Western Riverside Council of Governments, launched the state’s first-of-its-kind Smart Freeway system with the activation of the I-15 Smart Freeway Project. The pilot project will operate for a two-year period.

“Launching California’s first Smart Freeway is an exciting step forward for Riverside County,” said RCTC Chair Raymond Gregory. “Building our way out of traffic congestion is not an option. In today’s environment of rapid growth, we must look at how we can combine technology with existing infrastructure to improve the driving experience. The Smart Freeway Pilot Project is an example of finding a lower cost solution that will help improve traffic flow without the addition of new lanes.”

This project is intended to address the increasing traffic congestion along an 8-mile stretch of northbound I-15 between the Riverside/San Diego County line in Temecula and the I-15/I-215 interchange in Murrieta. The newly activated system uses advanced traffic sensors and adaptive ramp metering to optimize the rate of vehicles entering the freeway during peak hours – improving traffic flow, reducing stop-and-go conditions, and providing more reliable travel times for drivers.

Ramp meters at Temecula Parkway, Rancho California Road, and Winchester Road will operate in coordination to optimize the rate of vehicles entering the freeway during peak hours. Digital message signs will display recommended speeds in real-time to improve safety and traffic flow. During the pilot period, drivers may have a slightly longer wait before entering the freeway, but the goal is to improve overall freeway travel times.

In coordination with Caltrans, RCTC will analyze results over two years to evaluate system performance. A public dashboard will be available by the end of the year to share updates and performance metrics with the community. If the system is determined to be successful, implementation may be considered in other parts of Riverside County and beyond.

The project was funded by federal, state, and local sources. Of the $33 million secured, $27 million came from federal funding; the State provided $1 million, and $5 million was secured through a congressional Community Project Funding request by Representative Ken Calvert. Local, state, and federal officials gathered in the City of Temecula on Friday, May 29 to celebrate the partnership and significant project milestone of the system’s activation.

For more information about this innovative project, please visit: rctc.org/smartfreeway

The I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project has reached a significant milestone. In February, the Commission launched a 90-day baseline data collection period to help establish a reference point for current traffic conditions on northbound I-15 between the San Diego/Riverside County line and the I-15 in the city of Murrieta. Data collected during the pilot period will serve as a baseline to evaluate system performance over a two-year span. Results from the pilot period will help determine future implementation and whether this innovative approach could improve freeway operations in other parts of Riverside County and beyond.

This first-of-its-kind project in California incorporated “smart” technology on nearly eight miles of road along northbound I-15. Completed in late 2025, the system will use advanced traffic sensors and adaptive ramp metering to optimize traffic flow on the northbound I-15 and potentially make commutes shorter.

During the 90-day baseline data collection period, several sensors along this stretch of northbound I-15 will be gathering data on traffic volumes, vehicle speeds, and travel times to establish a snapshot of how the corridor is performing. Drivers won’t notice any changes to traffic patterns during this period. After the 90 days, activated ramp meters will adjust in real time to help smooth traffic flow, reduce stop-and-go conditions, and improve travel time reliability – marking the official start of the I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project demonstration period.

A public dashboard will be launched this spring at smartfreeway.org to share corridor performance data with the community, including traffic volume and travel times. Residents and commuters will be able to track how the system is performing over the two-year pilot period.

For more information about the I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project and to sign up for future updates, please visit: rctc.org/smartfreeway

Residents and motorists planning to travel northbound on I-15 from the Rancho California Road loop on-ramp are advised to plan ahead for an extended closure of the ramp. The extended full closure of the Rancho California Road loop on-ramp for northbound I-15 will begin on Thursday, August 14 at 9 p.m. through Monday, August 25 at 5 a.m. The closures are required to allow crews to safely extend a second lane of the on-ramp by several hundred feet and create a safety pocket for emergency vehicles.

While crews are completing work on the ramp, motorists are advised to travel east on Rancho California Road, northbound on Ynez Road, and west on Winchester Road to enter Northbound I-15.

Closure dates are subject to change due to weather, site conditions, construction progress, and other factors.

The work will involve reconfiguring and realigning the ramp to create a merge point between the loop and the direct on-ramps for Rancho California Road.

The Smart Freeway Pilot Project will use ramp meters that work as a coordinated system that adapts to allow more or fewer vehicles to enter I-15 at any given time from the Temecula Parkway, Rancho California Road, and Winchester Road on-ramps. The project is anticipated to improve overall traffic flow and reduce rear-end collisions within the I-15 corridor, without highway expansion and related construction costs and impacts.

For more information about the Smart Freeway Pilot Project and the Temecula Parkway on-ramp closure, visit rctc.org/temeculaclosures 

Residents and motorists planning to travel northbound on I-15 using the Rancho California Road direct on-ramp are advised to plan ahead for an extended closure of the ramp. RCTC will require an extended full closure of the Rancho California Road on-ramp for northbound I-15 beginning on Sunday, July 13 at 9 p.m. through Monday, July 21 at 5 a.m. The closures are required to allow crews to safely extend a second lane of the on-ramp by several hundred feet and create a safety pocket for emergency vehicles.

While crews are completing work on the ramp, motorists are advised to travel west on Rancho California Road, northbound on Jefferson Avenue, and east on Winchester Road to enter Northbound I-15.

Closure dates are subject to change due to weather, site conditions, construction progress, and other factors.

The work will also involve reconfiguring and realigning the ramp to create a merge point between the loop and the direct on-ramps for Rancho California Road. Later this summer, RCTC will require a similar closure of the northbound 15 Rancho California Road loop on-ramp.

The Smart Freeway Pilot Project will use ramp meters that work as a coordinated system that adapts to allow more or fewer vehicles to enter I-15 at any given time from the Temecula Parkway, Rancho California Road, and Winchester Road on-ramps. The project is anticipated to improve overall traffic flow and reduce rear-end collisions within the I-15 corridor, without highway expansion and related construction costs and impacts.

For more information about the Smart Freeway Pilot Project and the Temecula Parkway on-ramp closure, visit: rctc.org/temeculaclosures

On June 16, 2025, the City of Temecula, RCTC, and project partners gathered to celebrate the completion of Phase 2 of the French Valley Parkway Improvements Project.

The I-15/215 junction serves as a vital connection for Riverside County and the greater southern California region. This junction connects travelers from San Diego and beyond and is a vital lifeline for residents of Temecula and Murrieta. As southwest Riverside County continues to grow, the I-15 corridor and ramps have become increasingly congested, but relief is on the way.

Phase 2 of the French Valley Parkway Project addresses a major traffic bottleneck on northbound I-15 between Winchester Road and I-15/215 by constructing a concrete barrier to separate highway and on-ramp traffic. It features new dedicated ramps for motorists entering northbound I-15, including a new bridge overpass for direct access to I-215, which eliminates troublesome merging and weaving.

For nearly 20 years, RCTC prioritized funding for the French Valley Parkway Project, recognizing the project’s pivotal role in alleviating congestion in the region. RCTC allocated $47 million in State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funding for this project, one of the largest such allocations for a project.

Looking to the future, Phase 3 of the French Valley Parkway Project is a cornerstone of RCTC’s Traffic Relief Plan – a regionwide transportation improvement blueprint aimed at enhancing mobility across Riverside County. Partners in the region are working to start construction on future phases of French Valley Parkway to further alleviate traffic congestion. Phase 3 includes construction of the full-width of French Valley Parkway between Jefferson Avenue and Ynez Road, including the bridge overcrossing of I-15, and connecting on-ramps to the new dedicated on-ramps constructed in Phase 2. Phase 4 will construct a new northbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramps for the French Valley Parkway interchange, and new dedicated ramps along southbound I-15.

RCTC is also working on additional improvements along the I-15 Corridor in Temecula and Murrieta with the construction of the I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project – a first of its kind in California. Completion of Phase 2 of the French Valley Parkway Improvements Project, along with planned future improvements along this busy corridor, demonstrate how local and regional agencies are working collaboratively to improve Riverside County mobility for all residents.

For more information about this project, please visit: TemeculaCA.gov/FVP

Residents and motorists who are planning to enter northbound 15 using the Temecula Parkway on-ramp are advised to plan for an extended closure of the ramp. RCTC will require an extended full closure of the northbound I-15 Temecula Parkway on-ramp beginning on Sunday, May 11 at 9 p.m. through Monday, May 19 at 5 a.m. The closures are needed to allow crews to safely demolish and reconstruct portions of the on-ramp to provide an additional lane for the I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project. The work will require the use of heavy construction equipment during the extended closure.

During the closure, motorists are advised to travel west on Temecula Parkway, northbound on Old Town Front Street, east on Santiago Road, north on Ynez Road, and west on Rancho California Road to enter northbound I-15.

Closure dates are subject to change due to weather, site conditions, construction progress, and other factors.

Once in operation, the I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project will use a dynamic coordinated metering system to allow more or fewer vehicles to enter the highway at a given time, allowing for a smoother traffic flow on the northbound 15. The system is designed to improve traffic and reduce collisions on the eight-mile stretch of the northbound I-15 from the County Line in Temecula to the I-15/I-215 Interchange in Murrieta.

For more information about the Smart Freeway Pilot Project and the Temecula Parkway on-ramp closure, visit rctc.org/temeculaclosures

The I-15 is a major lifeline for residents and commuters across southern California – connecting cities, major job hubs, cultural centers, and recreational areas. Residents of Temecula and nearby communities experience some of the highest traffic volumes along this corridor, but a recently completed project aims to make travel in this region a little bit easier. On October 1, 2024, the City of Temecula cut the ribbon on the I-15 Congestion Relief Project designed to improve operations and safety on a heavily congested segment of northbound I-15.

The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) approved $3.5 million in Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) funding that helped make the $4.4 million project possible.  

The project constructed a new 1.5-mile auxiliary lane on northbound I-15 between the Temecula Parkway on-ramp and the Rancho California Road off-ramp. This auxiliary lane allows motorists to get on and off I-15 with minimal disruption on the four general purpose lanes. This new lane will help improve traffic flow and safety along the corridor. Retaining walls were also constructed along the east side of I-15 and the undercrossing beneath the Santiago Road bridge was widened as part of the project.

The project was envisioned by a years-long effort by the Move I-15 Through Temecula Valley Regional Task Force – a group consisting of RCTC, elected officials from the region, and various transportation planning agencies that focused on anticipated congestion efforts in the southwestern part of Riverside County. The result of this collaboration paved the way for the I-15 Congestion Relief Project and RCTC’s I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project – which is slated to start construction later this year.

Riverside County’s continued growth underscores the vital need for transportation solutions along the heavily traveled I-15. With the completion of the I-15 Congestion Relief Project, along with planned future improvements along this busy corridor, local and regional efforts are working together to improve the region’s transportation network for our residents.

For more information about this project, please visit: TemeculaCA.gov/CongestionRelief 

Construction is anticipated to begin during the summer this year, and once construction is complete, RCTC will activate the system for a two-year operations pilot.

“Smart” improvements will be made to the 8-mile, non-tolled section of northbound I-15. Improvements include new sensors that sit at tire-level and track the volume of cars on the interstate and ramps. Ramp metering technology will continuously monitor and adjust to real-time traffic conditions as vehicles enter the freeway from the Temecula Parkway, Rancho California Road, and Winchester Road on-ramps. This coordinated smart system will work together to control traffic and increase safety within the corridor.

The system will monitor traffic on the northbound I-15 and turn on when congestion builds up in the project area. Once the system turns on, drivers will notice that traffic signals on the Temecula Parkway, Rancho California Road and Winchester Road ramps are activated. The light sequencing will be coordinated between the three ramps to allow cars onto the interstate where gaps open up. The system also monitors the on-ramp car queue of cars on the on-ramps and cycles faster to avoid any backup onto local streets.

Drivers may also notice changeable message signs on I-15 that say, “Slow Traffic Ahead” and will list the real-time recommended speed of traffic ahead to warn drivers to slow down. When traffic is free-flowing again, the ramp signals will shut off until needed again.

What’s next? RCTC will be hosting a series of in-person and virtual community open house meetings for the public to learn more about the project and upcoming construction, with the opportunity to ask questions of the project team.

Interested in learning more about our project? Watch our project overview video.

For more information about the Smart Freeway Pilot Project, please visit  https://www.rctc.org/projects/smart-fwy-pilot/

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.