Who said field trips are just for kids? On a recent fall day, residents from the Beaumont Senior Center embarked on a fun-filled day trip to the historic downtown Claremont Village aboard a Metrolink train. RCTC partnered with the City of Beaumont and Metrolink to show how safe, easy, and enjoyable public transit options can be for Riverside County residents.

Before the trip, RCTC staff gave the senior group an interactive presentation covering the ins and outs of passenger train travel on the Metrolink system, platform safety, and how to make the most of resources such as IE Commuter. During the 50-minute train ride to Claremont, the group participated in train trivia games, testing what they learned from the presentation to earn prizes.

Once the train arrived at Claremont Station, staff showed the group around Claremont Village, where they enjoyed several hours of free time exploring all the things the historic downtown area had to offer. Following an afternoon of good food, shopping, museums, and parks, the group reconnected at Claremont Station to board the train back to San Bernardino. From start to finish, the excursion offered local seniors a hands-on way to experience Metrolink firsthand while putting rail safety practice into action. Participants praised the ease, comfort, and fun of traveling together by rail.

Metrolink excursions are a great way to educate residents about the benefits of public transportation. RCTC, Metrolink, and cities across Riverside County work closely together to ensure these trips are positive, safe, and educational. To learn more about taking your class, club, troop, or large group on an excursion, please contact us.

Metrolink service at four 91/Perris Valley Line stations will be suspended on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026, as part of RCTC’s Perris-South Metrolink Station and Layover Facility Project.

The two-day weekend closure will allow crews to safely perform critical construction activities at the Perris-South Metrolink Station, including construction of a new retaining wall, grading for the platform extension, demolition of a portion of the existing platform, track work, and required inspections before the track is returned to service.

During the weekend closure, there will be no Metrolink train service at the Perris-South, Perris-Downtown, Moreno Valley/March Field, and Riverside-Hunter Park/UCR stations. Service will resume on Monday, October 19.

Metrolink service from Riverside-Downtown and stations west will continue to operate on the regular weekend schedule. No alternate bus or shuttle service will be provided at the affected stations. Passengers traveling to or from these stations should plan ahead and arrange alternate transportation.

RCTC, in partnership with Metrolink, Caltrans, and the City of Perris, is expanding the Perris-South Metrolink Station and adjacent train layover facility. The project will add a second passenger loading platform, new canopies and other passenger amenities, more than 1,000 feet of new station track, and a fourth track at the layover maintenance facility to help improve Metrolink service operations.

Construction on the project began in June 2026 and is expected to be completed in 2028. Funding for the project is provided by a mix of local and state transportation sources, including Measure A.

For the latest project information, please visit: rctc.org/perrissouthstation

Great news for Metrolink riders – more improvements are coming to the 91/Perris Valley Line (PVL) thanks to the recently awarded construction contract for the Perris-South Station and Layover Expansion Project. During its November 12 meeting, the Commission approved the award of a construction agreement with the Granite Construction Company to start construction on a project aimed at enhancing passenger rail service and efficiency along I-215.

The project, led by RCTC, in partnership with Metrolink, Caltrans, and the City of Perris, will expand the Perris-South Metrolink Station, which serves as the end point for the PVL, and adjacent train layover facility. As part of the expansion, crews will add a second passenger loading platform at the station, new canopies and other passenger amenities, and extend the existing platform. To accommodate the new platform, over 1,200 feet of new track will be constructed to allow two passenger trains to board and deboard at the same time. This new track will also allow the station to remain operational in the event that a train is out of service on one set of tracks.

The project also includes construction of a fourth track at the layover maintenance facility, along with installation of a new switch to allow trains to change tracks. These additions are expected to further improve Metrolink service operations and efficiency by allowing more trains to be stored overnight.

Since passenger rail service first began on the PVL in 2016, RCTC has delivered numerous upgrades along the line to improve travel time and expand mobility options, including the recently completed improvements to the Moreno Valley/March Field Station – a project that added a second platform and upgraded track, and which was also built by Granite. The upcoming construction of the Mead Valley Station/Mobility Hub will add an additional access point on the PVL and serve the rapidly growing communities along I-215.

Construction on the Perris-South project is expected to start in early 2026 and be completed in 2028. Funding for the project is derived from a combination of local and state sources, including Measure A and a $25 million State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant. To learn more about this rail project and to sign up for updates, please visit: rctc.org/perrissouthstation

Drop cloths, primer, brushes, sprays, painters tape, and of course – Paint! All the equipment and materials needed to paint have been picked up. Thanks to feedback from the community, the Riverside-La Sierra Metrolink Station recently received a subtle, yet new paint job.

As part of routine maintenance, the Riverside-La Sierra station was identified as needing new paint. To determine the next color of the station, RCTC polled Metrolink riders and residents near the station and asked them to select a new color scheme amongst various options. The series of polls were conducted on social media, in-person at the station, and through the agency’s website. The winning color combination was a new blue and beige color scheme. This is not the first time the station has changed its colors – throughout the years, the station has undergone color changes to keep up with the times (and as part of routine maintenance).

First opened in 1995, the station stands as a vibrant regional transportation hub serving commuters on Metrolink’s Inland Empire-Orange County Line (IEOC) and 91/Perris Valley Line. The station made its debut during the opening of the IEOC on October 2, 1995. With multiple bus bays to accommodate RTA and OCTA buses, the station offers seamless connections to transport travelers to destinations in Riverside County and across southern California. The station also features a spacious Park and Ride lot, making it a great meeting place for rideshare options.

RCTC owns and operates all nine Metrolink stations in Riverside County and improvements are consistently being made to ensure a positive experience for riders. These improvements and station maintenance are made possible thanks to federal, state, and local funding sources such as Measure A; the twice voter-approved half-cent sales tax measure for transportation improvements in Riverside County.

RCTC is also nearing completion of the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvement Project and is planning several future transit projects across the county, including the recently announced Mead Valley Metrolink Station and Mobility Hub Project. These investments in our region’s public transportation network are part of RCTC’s goal of enhancing passenger rail and bus service to relieve traffic congestion and improve air quality for the residents of Riverside County.

“The Traffic Relief Plan is a guide for improving our transportation system. If we can clear up bottlenecks for better flowing freeways and provide greater mobility options, our residents will spend less time in traffic congestion and more time living life,” said RCTC Chair Lloyd White and Beaumont City Council Member. “By coming together to approve this plan, the Commission is working to ensure Riverside County remains a place of opportunity and not a region known for traffic.”

The Plan features more than $30 billion in transportation improvements across seven transportation categories, including:

Residents are encouraged to read the Plan at TrafficReliefPlan.org.

Later this summer, Commissioners representing every city in the County and all five members from the County Board of Supervisors will decide what steps can be taken to fund projects in the TRP.

Human trafficking is a gross violation of human rights, causing immeasurable harm to its victims, their families, and communities across U.S. and the globe. At times, human trafficking can infiltrate the different modes of public transportation where traffickers exploit the bus and passenger rail systems to move victims.  

In January, Riverside County Transportation Commission joined hundreds of transportation industry leaders across the country to sign the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking Pledge. This pledge reinforces RCTC’s continued commitment to combating and bringing awareness to human trafficking. 

As an operator of nine Metrolink stations in Riverside County, RCTC works in conjunction with Metrolink and bus operators to honor our commitment to help end human trafficking. This includes annual training for staff on recognizing the signs of human trafficking, driving broader public awareness, and tracking and sharing data with authorities.

We encourage our staff and passengers to join our efforts to end human trafficking. Stay alert. Recognize the signs. Speak up. To learn more about human trafficking and the steps Metrolink is taking to combat it, visit metrolinktrains.com/human-trafficking.  

To report suspected human trafficking on Metrolink’s system to a nearby Metrolink representative or call or text the Security Operations Center at 866-640-5190. Always dial 911 in an emergency. Remember, never intervene personally. Instead, report your suspicions as soon as possible.  

Together, we can end human trafficking.  

A two-day shutdown of rail services has been scheduled by RCTC and Metrolink to continue implementing critical work for the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvement Projects.

Passengers entering and exiting Perris this weekend should plan for a two-day interruption of rail service due to scheduled shutdowns affecting Perris-South, Perris-Downtown, Moreno Valley/March Field, and Riverside-Hunter Park. Passenger rail services will not be available at these stations, but Metrolink will be providing alternate transportation for passengers travelling to destinations serviced by the 91/Perris Valley Line.

The Riverside-Downtown, Riverside-La Sierra, Corona-North Main, and Corona-West stations will maintain their standard Saturday and Sunday operating schedules. Riverside Transit Agency and other transit services operating out of the affected stations will also maintain their standard Saturday and Sunday schedules.

The two-day shutdown will provide safe conditions for crews to continue working on infrastructure enhancements as part of the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvement Project. Enhancements include extension of the current platform, pedestrian crossing improvements, and drainage channel upgrades.

Construction began on the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvement Project in October 2022. Key project elements include:

• Adding a second passenger train platform
• Extending the existing platform to accommodate the length of the standard Metrolink six-car trains.
• Upgrading 2 ½ miles of track for the future nine-mile double-track corridor south of the station.

The Moreno Valley/March Field Improvement Stations Project is part of RCTC’s goal of increasing commuter rail service to relieve traffic congestion and improve air quality in the region. The project is also part of Metrolink’s Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program, which aims to upgrade the Metrolink system in time for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics Games.

Project funding is provided by a combination of local and federal transportation sources, including a $32 million Federal Transit Administration grant and Riverside County voter-approved Measure A.

The project is anticipated to be completed by spring 2024. For more information, visit the project webpage at rctc.org/moval.

Plan ahead if you plan to take Metrolink to and from Perris this weekend.

RCTC and Metrolink have scheduled a two-day rail service shutdown that will affect the Perris-South, Perris-Downtown, Moreno Valley/March Field, and Riverside-Hunter Park Metrolink stations. During the closure, these stations will not provide passenger rail service. The Riverside-Downtown, Riverside-La Sierra, Corona-North Main, and Corona-West stations will operate on the regular Saturday and Sunday schedules.

For passengers who need to get to destinations serviced by the 91/Perris Valley Line, Metrolink will provide alternate transportation. Riverside Transit Agency and other transit services from the affected stations will run on regular Saturday and Sunday schedules.

The weekend rail service shutdown is required for the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvements Project to ensure the safety of construction crews and the on-time completion of critical work. During the closure, crews will work at the station to extend the current platform, improve the pedestrian crossing, and upgrade drainage channels.

Construction on the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvement Project began in October 2022 and key elements include:

• Adding a second passenger train platform
• Extending the existing platform to accommodate the length of the standard Metrolink six-car trains.
• Upgrading 2 ½ miles of track for the future nine-mile double-track corridor south of the station.

The Moreno Valley/March Field Improvement Stations Project is part of RCTC’s goal of increasing commuter rail service to relieve traffic congestion and improve air quality in the region. The project is also part of Metrolink’s Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program, which aims to upgrade the Metrolink system in time for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics Games.

Project funding is provided by a combination of local and federal transportation sources, including a $32 million Federal Transit Administration grant and Riverside County voter-approved Measure A.

The project is anticipated to be completed by spring 2024. For more information, please visit the project webpage at rctc.org/moval.

Whether it’s visiting relatives, shopping for presents, or heading to holiday celebrations, Metrolink’s “Kids Ride Free” is sure to make the season bright. Up to three children ages 17 and under ride free on Saturdays and Sundays with a paying adult. With fares just $10 per day on weekends, that’s a deal worth unwrapping.

From Riverside and Corona, take the kids on Metrolink’s Inland Empire/Orange County Line to the Irvine Spectrum for shopping and skating. Two morning trains depart for Orange County and two late afternoon trains return to Riverside County, offering the perfect schedule for this day trip while skipping driving and parking stress.

If you live in Perris, you can take an early morning trip to downtown Riverside to see holiday décor, take a whirl on carnival rides, explore the new Cheech Museum, (ticket purchase required), visit the Riverside Library, and take selfies along the Main Street pedestrian mall. Trains return to Perris as late as 8:47 p.m., offering plenty of time to enjoy the Mission Inn Festival of Lights, hot cocoa, and yummy roasted almonds.

Heading out to Los Angeles? The 91/Perris Valley Line can take you to Union Station in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, where the historic station is decorated with holiday displays.

If you plan to travel on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, these holidays fall on the weekend in 2022, with fares again only $10 per adult with the “Kids Ride Free” promotion also in effect. Available through the Metrolink app and at ticket vending machines, the $10 “Holidays” passes are good for unlimited rides these two days.

Finally, if marching bands, floral-covered floats, and prancing horses make your heart skip a beat, Metrolink has your ride covered to the Tournament of Roses Parade. Remember, the parade will be held Monday, January 2 this time, and Metrolink is offering special schedules to L.A. Union Station with a free transfer to the Metro L Line (formally known as the Gold Line) toward Pasadena. More information at: https://metrolinktrains.com/rose-parade

RCTC is proud to support Metrolink service during the holidays and throughout the year as a member of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority Joint Powers Authority.

Coming soon, Metrolink riders on the 91/Perris Valley Line will begin seeing a series of station improvements and benefits that also may encourage drivers to make the switch to passenger rail.

RCTC, in partnership with Metrolink, began construction on the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvements Project in Riverside on October 10. This station serves Metrolink’s 91/Perris Valley Line and is the midpoint between the Perris-Downtown Station and the Riverside-Downtown Station. Construction is anticipated to be completed by spring 2024.

The project will add a second train platform and extend the current train platform to accommodate the length of Metrolink’s standard six-car trains. The project will also upgrade 2.5 miles of track – part of a larger effort to upgrade a total of nine miles of track south toward the Perris-Downtown Station. This area currently has one set of Metrolink track and one set of historic freight track, which require passenger trains to travel at a slower rate. The upgrades will provide two sets of modern tracks for the 91/Perris Valley Line to meet speeds for passenger trains.

Once completed, the project will improve Metrolink operations and efficiency, reduce traffic congestion on the Interstate 215, and help improve air quality for Riverside County’s rapidly growing communities by encouraging drivers to commute by train.

Passengers may be affected by construction activities on and near the platform and are urged to please follow pedestrian detours and signs and to allow more time to access trains. This work is not expected to affect the parking lot and bus areas.

For more information about this project and to sign up for construction updates, visit rctc.org/projects/moreno-valley-march-field-station-improvements.

Funding for the project is derived from a combination of sources, including a $32 million Federal Transportation Administration grant.

Additionally, as part of RCTC’s ongoing efforts to implement multimodal solutions, RCTC is seeking grant funding for the Metrolink Double Track Project: Moreno Valley-Perris Project. The project will improve another 6.5 miles of track beyond the 2.5 miles to be improved for the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvements Project. Riverside County residents can voice their support for this project by including their names in RCTC’s application for funding.

These projects are part of Metrolink’s multi-faceted Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program. The program will introduce significant improvements throughout the Metrolink system in time for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These improvements will not only assist with the transportation of the millions projected to arrive in Southern California in 2028 but will also generate regional prosperity in the decades to come.