The Point: Comments are now Due February 18; Make Your Voice Heard

RCTC is extending the public comment period from residents, commuters, and community stakeholders for proposed improvements to the Metrolink Riverside-Downtown Station. This provides extended opportunity for the community to make their opinions heard. Comments will be accepted through Friday, February 18.

For the last several months, the RCTC project team met with community groups, presented project details to the Riverside City Council, and spoke with other local agencies about proposed improvements to the Metrolink Riverside-Downtown Station before releasing the draft environmental studies for public review.

The draft studies were released on December 3, 2021, followed by two public hearings in December, one in person and another virtually, to allow the public to safely provide formal comments and talk to project team members regarding the proposed improvements. Ongoing outreach has been met with comment submissions from the public throughout the comment period.

Conducted in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration and Metrolink, the studies support improvements that will enhance safety at the station and increase mobility options in Riverside County.

The project proposes new features on the east side of the station and tracks:

• Building a new platform
• Constructing new tracks and making other track improvements
• Modifying the railroad signal system
• Extending the pedestrian bridge, including elevator and ADA access
• Relocating ADA parking
• Adding parking to the south side of station
• Modifying the bus drop-off area
• Adding sidewalks and lighting

Freight train traffic continues to increase, causing delays to Metrolink at the Riverside-Downtown Station. The improvements will help avoid Metrolink schedule conflicts, reduce train delays, and allow for additional Metrolink service in the future. That means more options for residents to commute to work or school and explore attractions across southern California.

The draft environmental studies are available for review on the RCTC website and at these locations:

• RCTC Offices, 4080 Lemon St., 3rd Floor, Riverside, CA 92501​
• City of Riverside, 3900 Main St., 3rd Floor, Riverside, CA 92522​
• Cesar Chavez Community Center, 2060 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92507

From now until February 18, residents and others are strongly encouraged to submit their written comments using any of the following methods:

• Email: stationproject@rctc.org
• Online: https://bit.ly/RDSComment
• U.S. Mail:
  Mr. David Lewis, Capital Projects Manager
  Attn: Riverside-Downtown Station Improvements Project
  Riverside County Transportation Commission
  4080 Lemon Street, 3^rd Floor
  Riverside, CA 92501

The Point: Comments accepted December 3-February 3 via email, US Mail, or at two public hearings for proposed project

RCTC has completed draft environmental studies for proposed improvements to the Metrolink Riverside-Downtown Station and is seeking comments from residents, commuters, and other interested parties, starting Friday, December 3.

Conducted in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration and Metrolink, the studies support an Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Assessment for station improvements that will enhance safety at the station and increase mobility options in Riverside County.

“We are listening. RCTC is encouraging community members to provide feedback about this project, which will allow safer access to the station, a better experience for riders, more efficient train operations, and prepare for future growth in passenger train service in our county and the region,” said RCTC Chair Jan Harnik, who also serves as the Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Palm Desert.

The proposed project includes new features on the east side of the station and tracks:

• Building a new platform
• Constructing new tracks and making other track improvements
• Modifying the railroad signal system
• Extending the pedestrian bridge, including elevator and ADA access
• Relocating ADA parking
• Adding parking to the south side of station
• Modifying the bus drop-off area
• Adding sidewalks and lighting

The project is needed to expand capacity of the loading platform for Metrolink riders, and improve train operations, efficiency, connections, and the passenger experience at the station. Increasing freight train service causes delays to Metrolink service at the Riverside-Downtown Station. The improvements are needed to avoid Metrolink schedule conflicts with freight train traffic, reduce delays, and allow for future Metrolink service expansion.

The draft environmental studies will be available for review and comment on the RCTC website, rctc.org/riversidestation-enviro​ and at the following three locations:

• RCTC Offices, 4080 Lemon St., 3rd Floor, Riverside, CA 92501​
• City of Riverside, 3900 Main St., 3rd Floor, Riverside, CA 92522​
• Cesar Chavez Community Center, 2060 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92507

In addition, the project team will provide information and collect public feedback at a virtual public hearing and an in-person public hearing this month. Court reporters will be present at both meetings, and visitors may submit comments during the meetings or via email or US Mail by February 3. Spanish interpreters also will attend to assist attendees. City mandates require attendees to wear a face covering for the in-person public hearing.

The Point: Project removed temporary railroad bridge and added new retaining wall

Done! RCTC completed construction of the Pachappa Drive Underpass in downtown Riverside last month, marking the end of work that was deferred during Caltrans’ construction of the 91 carpool lanes in 2016.

When Caltrans and RCTC widened the 91 in Riverside to build carpool lanes, the existing railroad bridge owned by Union Pacific Railroad had to be replaced to span the wider width of the freeway and to be raised in height. While the new bridge was under construction, crews built a temporary bypass bridge for freight trains to use as a detour. ​

Union Pacific did not need the bridge for long-term use, so RCTC was required to remove it, along with an associated retaining wall, and to build a new retaining wall to support the final UP track alignment along the 91, north of Central Avenue.

Nighttime closures of the 91 were required during the summer months for crews to safely build the project.

The $11.5 million project provided about 118 jobs at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Work began in April 2020 and was completed in September 2021.

The Point: The Riverside-Downtown Station Layover Facility is expected to open in April

It’s all about the space. In the past, RCTC and Metrolink have struggled with having enough room to store and maintain trains at the end of each shift. Expanding the Riverside-Downtown Station Layover Facility will solve that problem.

RCTC began construction last April of the expanded layover facility, which is scheduled to open next month. The facility will allow crews to complete minor maintenance on locomotives and rail cars on-site, refuel, and deep-clean the passenger cars to meet Metrolink’s health and safety standards.

All of this will help trains be on their way, bright and early, for commuters bound for Los Angeles and Orange County. The Riverside-Downtown Station is the only station other than Los Angeles Union Station to serve three Metrolink lines, the 91/Perris Valley Line, the Inland Empire/Orange County Line, and the Riverside Line.

Trains leave the station as early as 4:35 a.m. on weekdays, so saving time the night before adds efficiency.

Crews have been working during the past year to extend the existing layover facility tracks, constructing second and third tracks for train storage, and building drainage facilities, electrical systems, lighting fixtures, security fencing, access gates, utility relocations, and water and sewer connections.

As the southern California region continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and service begins to increase, the improved layover facility will be vital to maintaining and expanding passenger rail service to and from Riverside County. The approximately $6 million project was funded with a series of Federal Transit Administration grants.

The Point: Watch for lane and ramp closures near downtown Riverside

The Riverside County Transportation Commission is starting construction work at the Route 91 Pachappa Drive Underpass in Riverside. Located north of Central Avenue, the project will include building a retaining wall along Route 91 and removing part of the overhead railroad bridge.

Construction will begin the week of March 29, with nighttime lane closures and ramp closures planned April 1-5. Motorists should expect closures of the #1 and #2 lanes on eastbound and westbound 91 between Central Avenue and 10th Street, starting nightly at 9 p.m. The 91 east 10th Street on-ramp and the 91 west 14th Street on-ramp also will be closed on April 2 from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.

To register for Construction Updates, email info@rctc.org or call 951-787-7141.

Crews should complete the project by mid-2021.

The Point: Project will allow more night storage of trains to make Metrolink service more efficient

The Riverside County Transportation Commission will begin construction in mid-March to expand the Metrolink train layover facility at the Riverside-Downtown Station. The project will allow more trains to be housed at the station at the end of each night shift, which will allow for more efficient passenger rail service.

Construction activities will include track improvements north of the train platform, new drainage facilities, new electrical systems, lighting fixtures, security fencing, access gates, utility relocations, and water and sewer connections.

The improvements will allow seven trains to be housed overnight at the station; currently five trains are stored there each night. The work also will increase flexibility of the order that trains leave the station each morning and enable light maintenance work and fueling to be performed at the Riverside Station, rather than at other maintenance facilities.

Work will occur on the west side of station near Vine Street and is expected to last through late 2020. The station will remain active during construction and Metrolink service will continue to start on weekdays at 4:35 a.m. The City of Riverside Noise Ordinance allows construction between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. No construction activity is scheduled on Sundays or federal holidays.

Some demolition work will be required during construction. This work will generate noise.

For questions or more information, email info@rctc.org or call 951-787-7141.

The Point: Public meeting will allow visitors to talk to project planners, provide feedback

Changes may be coming to the Riverside-Downtown Station, which will allow more efficient Metrolink service and improve the experience for train riders.

The Riverside County Transportation Commission, which owns and operates the station, and Metrolink propose adding another passenger loading platform and tracks, extending the pedestrian bridge, expanding parking, and enhancing pedestrian access to the station.

Join RCTC for a public meeting to learn more and provide comments on the proposed project:

• Thursday, February 6
• 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Abraham Lincoln High School, 4341 Victoria Ave., Riverside

The meeting will feature an open house format with no formal presentation. Team members will be present to talk one-on-one with visitors and answer questions.

The proposed project is part of Metrolink’s new capital improvement program, SCORE (Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion) that will upgrade Metrolink’s system in time for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Visit RCTC.org/stationimprovements for information about the proposed project.