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.

The Point: New Lanes to Improve Safety and Mobility; Lanes Set to Open Summer 2022

It’s a changing landscape along Route 60 in the Riverside County “Badlands.” The Riverside County Transportation Commission began construction of the Route 60 Truck Lanes between Gilman Springs Road and Jack Rabbit Trail in June 2019, and a great deal has changed along this formerly very narrow roadway. The project is now 60% completed, with the new lanes expected to open in summer 2022.

The project is adding a truck lane in both directions to this 4.5-mile section of highway. The new lanes will separate big rigs from passenger vehicles with the new far-right lane dedicated to trucks. In addition, the project is widening the roadway shoulders and adding 18 feet of unpaved exterior shoulders by removing portions of hillside to create a safer drive through this curving corridor.

“This focus of this project is safety,” said RCTC Chair and Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem Jan Harnik. “With the work that has been completed so far, we already have a wider and safer way to travel between the desert communities and Riverside. It’s been exciting to see how much progress our crews have made so far,” she said.

Crews have paved the new westbound alignment and are preparing to pave the eastbound roadbed. Other ongoing work has included building 123 drainage systems, nearly 2 million cubic yards of dirt, and constructing two large wildlife crossings to provide safe passage for animals beneath Route 60.

The project has had its share of challenges. One westbound lane was fully closed from August 2019 to March 2020 to excavate the steep hillsides. During excavation, sections of slopes were unstable, which required a full closure of westbound Route 60 and a lane closure on eastbound 60 for crews to safely remove giant boulders in October 2019.

More recently, crews have been repairing sections of roadway damaged by winter rains on both the westbound and eastbound lanes. Another challenge has been unsafe drivers who exceed the 55 mile per hour speed limit, despite enhanced traffic enforcement by the San Gorgonio Pass CHP.

Despite the challenges, the project is on schedule to open in summer 2022 to offer a new safer route for travel.

Funding for the $113 construction effort is provided by a combination of federal, state, and local sources, including Measure A, the half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County.

To stay connected to construction news and to see great drone footage, follow @60Truck Lanes on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit rctc.org/60trucklanes. Please direct questions to 60trucklanes@rctc.org or 866-413-6060.

The Point: February is the month of love, and RCTC offers a shout-out to its design and construction teams

Candy hearts. Long-stemmed roses. Mushy-squishy Valentine’s Day cards. Rain. Snow. Sunshine. Vaccinations. Construction equipment… February has brought a mixed bag to Riverside County, but as the month draws to a close, RCTC is showing its love to our construction crews and design teams for their continued work on transportation projects across the region.

RCTC is sponsoring more than a dozen projects, which are providing close to 10,000 jobs in western Riverside County. These projects have helped mitigate some of the job losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and have kept construction workers, engineers, land surveyors, inspectors, and office staff busy delivering projects, large and small.

Several construction projects are nearing completion, so watch for announcements of opening dates:

• The 15 Express Lanes through Jurupa Valley, Eastvale, Norco, and Corona are scheduled to open this spring. Crews are testing tolling equipment, training customer service representatives, restriping lanes, and finishing “punch-list” items. Learn more.
• The Metrolink Riverside-Downtown Station Layover Facility is expected to be completed this spring. This project will allow more trains to be housed at the station at the end of each night shift, creating more efficient passenger rail service and increased on-site maintenance.
• The Pachappa Overpass in Riverside should be completed this fall. Crews have been building a retaining wall and removing part of the overhead railroad bridge.

Other projects are continuing full speed ahead, including those in Lake Elsinore, Perris, Corona, and Riverside County’s Badlands:

• Work on the I-15 Railroad Canyon Road Interchange in Lake Elsinore began in May and is forecast to open in late 2022. The project is building auxiliary lanes on I-15 to help drivers enter and exit the highway near Railroad Canyon, adding lanes on Railroad Canyon, and rebuilding ramps.
• In Perris, the first construction phase of the Mid County Parkway, the I-215 Placentia Avenue Interchange, began in August. Crews are adding on- and off-ramps to Placentia Avenue, realigning East Frontage Road, widening the Placentia Avenue overcrossing, and adding lanes to Placentia Avenue between Harvill Avenue and Indian Avenue. The interchange should open in summer 2022.
• The 91 Corridor Operations Project in Corona began in November and is fast-tracked to open by late this year. The project is adding a lane to westbound 91 between the Green River Road on-ramp and the 241 Toll Road to help ease morning traffic congestion.
• Further east, crews are continuing work on the Route 60 Truck Lanes between Beaumont and Moreno Valley. In addition to adding a truck lane in both directions, the project is improving drainage, building wildlife crossings, and greatly expanding the roadway inside and outside shoulders for a safer driving experience. Crews also have been repairing the roadway from winter rainstorms. The new lanes are set to open in 2022.

Construction is right around the corner for the 15/91 Express Lanes Connector in Corona. This project will provide a direct link between the eastbound 91 Express Lanes and northbound 15 Express Lanes, as well as between the southbound 15 Express Lanes and the westbound 91 Express Lanes. Work is set to start this spring, and the connector is scheduled to open by 2023.

Project teams also are working on pre-construction activities and environmental/engineering studies for the 71/91 Interchange, the 15 Corridor Operations Project, the 15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension, the San Gorgonio Pass-Coachella Valley Rail Project, the Santa Ana River Trail, and the next phase of the Mid County Parkway. Visit rctc.org/projects and register to receive updates using the “Contact Us” forms.

The Point: Expect delays, allow extra travel time, use alternate routes

With many people staying home due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, the Riverside County Transportation Commission has scheduled closures on three construction projects in western Riverside County this weekend.

Good weather and fewer cars on the road during this time create ideal conditions for scheduling this trifecta of highway closures for the Route 60 Truck Lanes Project, the Interstate 15 Railroad Canyon Road Interchange Change, and the 15 Express Lanes Project. Motorists who plan to brave the roadways should expect significant delays, allow extra travel time, and use alternate routes. Work will include:

• A full closure of eastbound lanes on Route 60 through the Badlands area between Beaumont and Moreno Valley: Friday, January 8 at 10 p.m. to Monday, January 11 at 5 a.m. Crews for the Route 60 Truck Lanes Project will be relocating 4.5 miles of temporary concrete barrier from the existing eastbound lanes to shift vehicles to the newly paved median. Once lanes are shifted, crews will be able to safely work on the eastbound lanes and outer shoulder. For information, visit rctc.org/60trucklanes, follow @60trucklanes on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or call 866-413-6060.
• A full closure of the southbound I-15 Railroad Canyon Road on-ramp in Lake Elsinore: Friday, January 8 at 8 p.m. to Monday, January 11 at 4 a.m. Crews will be paving the on-ramp and ramp connection to Railroad Canyon Road. The southbound I-15 Railroad Canyon Road off-ramp also will be closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Learn more by visiting rctc.org/railroadcanyon, following @railroadcanyon, or calling 877-500-7715.
• A full closure of the southbound I-15 Hidden Valley Parkway on-ramp in Norco: Friday, January 8 at 9 p.m. to Monday, January 11 at 5 a.m. Crews are making drainage repairs along I-15 as part of RCTC’s 15 Express Lanes Project. In addition, the southbound I-15 to westbound 91 connector will be closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. For details, visit 15project.info, follow @15expresslanes, or call 844-415-9777.

During the past year, RCTC has continued its construction activities across western Riverside County, despite the global pandemic. The agency has eight highway projects under construction, including five that started last year. The projects have created more than 10,000 jobs, helping to offset the economic fallout from COVID-19 and improving the county’s infrastructure, which may lead more businesses to open or relocate to Riverside County.

“As many, many people across Riverside County continue to struggle with unemployment and the reality of this ongoing pandemic, RCTC is helping keep construction workers, engineers, land surveyors, and office personnel employed through these local projects,” said RCTC Chair and Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem Jan Harnik.

The Point: Closure needed to allow crews to safely shift motorists to new westbound lanes

Thinking about driving through the Badlands in Riverside County the weekend of August 7? You may want to rethink your plans or allow plenty of extra travel time, due to planned closures, August 7-10.

RCTC’s Route 60 Truck Lanes Project will require a full closure of the westbound lanes between Gilman Springs Road in Moreno Valley and the Interstate 10/Route 60 Interchange in Beaumont, from Friday, August 7 at 9 p.m. to Monday, August 10 at 6 a.m. One eastbound lane also will be closed nightly after 9 p.m. and will reopen daily before 7 a.m.

Crews will be shifting motorists onto recently paved westbound lanes and moving k-rail into place to allow work to begin in the Route 60 median. If you must travel that weekend, please expect significant delays, allow extra time, and use Interstate 10 as an alternate route.

Project construction began in June 2019. During the past year, crews have been excavating the steep hillsides to create space to add a truck lane in both directions. So far, crews have excavated a whopping 1.6 million cubic yards of dirt, about 78 percent of the total needed for the project.

During that time, crews also have built drainage systems using 7,000 feet of drainage pipe and are building two 20-foot by 20-foot wildlife crossings.

Paving of the westbound lanes began this June. The 12-inch thick top layer of concrete will cure this week and next week before drivers shift to the new lanes the night of August 7.

The $113 million construction project is expected to be complete in 2022.

For information, visit rctc.org/60trucklanes or follow the project on social media using @60trucklanes

The Point: Crews making good progress, despite winter rains

With a year of construction under their toolbelts, the Riverside County Transportation Commission’s Route 60 Truck Lanes project team is looking ahead to roadway paving.

During the first year, crews focused on excavating the steep hillsides through the Badlands between Moreno Valley and Beaumont, moving nearly 1.5 million cubic yards of dirt within the project limits, about 70 percent of the total to be excavated. From August to March, one westbound lane was fully closed to allow crews to safely excavate the dirt.

Other Year 1 highlights include placing 5,000 feet of pipe for drainage systems and completing the first of three stages to build 20-foot by 20-foot wildlife crossings beneath the roadway.

The work was completed in conjunction with heavy rainstorms last winter that caused roadway damage, requiring ongoing repairs on both eastbound and westbound Route 60. Barring any substantial weather delays, the new lanes are expected to open in 2022.

With the hillsides significantly cut back, there is now space to build the new truck lanes, which will stretch 4.5 miles from Gilman Springs Road to 1.4 miles west of Jack Rabbit Trail. Crews have placed sub-base material for the westbound lanes and are preparing to place hot-mix asphalt and then concrete pavement this summer.

A weekend full closure of westbound Route 60 may occur in July or August to prepare for a traffic shift; please watch for details. Following the traffic shift, work will begin in the highway median, and then later on the eastbound lanes.

The team and the San Gorgonio CHP remind motorists to follow the 55 mph speed limit and to watch for changing conditions.

Stay connected to project updates through social media (@60trucklanes) and sign up for construction updates at rctc.org/60trucklanes.

The Point: Lane closure has provided safe condition for motorists, crews and reduced one year of construction time

Traveling through the Route 60 Badlands in Riverside County will be easier soon, with the reopening of a lane that closed last summer for construction. The Riverside County Transportation Commission will reopen the westbound Route 60 lane between Beaumont and Moreno Valley on the night of March 5, marking a milestone for the Route 60 Truck Lanes Project.

To prepare for the lane reopening, the CHP will be conducting intermittent daytime traffic breaks of 5-10 minutes the week of February 24 to allow crews to move k-rail and equipment. In addition, the nights of February 24-28, westbound Route 60 will be fully closed and one eastbound lane will be closed for crews to check pavement quality, make repairs and reset k-rail. Nighttime lane closures will occur from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

RCTC closed the lane August 23 to allow crews to safely excavate thousands of cubic yards of dirt from the hillsides to carve out space to build a truck lane in both directions and widen the inner and outer shoulders.

During the closure, crews excavated 1.3 million cubic yards within the project area. This represents about 60 percent of the total 2.1 million of cubic yards that need to be excavated for the project.

Crews are shifting k-rail and checking pavement quality to prepare for the reopening of the westbound lane on March 5.

The timing will improve traffic flow in time for the April festival season in the Coachella Valley.

Closing the westbound lane created safer conditions for motorists and construction crews and saved overall project time. Originally planned as a 3.5-year project, the lane closure has reduced a year of construction time and should allow the project to be completed in about 2.5 years or in late 2021.

RCTC operated Freeway Service Patrol roving tow trucks to help stranded motorists while the westbound lane has been closed. Tow truck drivers assisted more than 1,600 motorists, including 134 with flat tires, 205 with mechanical problems, 75 with overheated engines, and 74 who ran out of gas.

Learn more about the 60 Truck Lanes Project.

The Point: Closure is needed for safety of motorists, crews   

Weekend travel through the Riverside County Badlands will take longer than usual on October 12 and 13, due to a closure of both westbound lanes and one eastbound lane on Route 60.

The lane closures will take place from the Interstate 10/Route 60 Interchange in Beaumont to Gilman Springs Road in Moreno Valley, Saturday, October 12 at 4 a.m. to Sunday, October 13 at 8 p.m.

Crews will be removing large rocks from the hillside north of the roadway for the Riverside County Transportation Commission’s Route 60 Truck Lanes Project. The rocks could fall onto the roadway during excavation, so the lanes will be closed for the safety of motorists and crews operating machinery.

Drivers should expect significant delays, allow extra time, and avoid the area by using Interstate 10 as an alternate route. Although one lane on eastbound Route 60 will remain open during the weekend, travel likely will be slow-going in this area.

RCTC Chair and County Supervisor Chuck Washington reminded drivers, “Check traffic conditions before you leave home, be alert in our construction zone, and use I-10 as a detour route. While this closure may be inconvenient for weekend travelers, it is for your safety and the safety of our crews.”

RCTC began construction in June to add truck lanes in both directions, widen shoulders, flatten roadway curves and increase the height of the center barrier. The new lanes are expected to open in late 2021

This weekend closure is separate from the Caltrans “60 Swarm,” which is requiring weekend full closures of westbound Route 60 between Riverside and Ontario through November.

Weather and other factors may affect work. Register to receive construction updates by visiting rctc.org/60trucklanes, emailing 60trucklanes@rctc.org, following @60TruckLanes on social media, or calling 866-413-6060. Calls made to the helpline will be returned within one business day.

More information about the weekend closure is available for download from the webpage.