Good news for 91 drivers heading back from Orange County – the SR-91 Eastbound Corridor Operations Project (ECOP) was awarded with new funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) earlier this month. Once completed, the 91 ECOP project will provide motorists a three-mile, non-tolled auxiliary lane on eastbound SR-91 between the SR-241 connector and SR-71 near Green River Road. Improvements will also include widening two bridges, constructing retaining walls, implementing rockfall mitigation measures, replacing overhead signs, and building a new two-lane exit ramp at Green River Road.

“With more than 300,000 vehicles traveling SR-91 between Riverside and Orange counties each day, continued investment in the corridor is needed to keep our communities moving,” said RCTC Chair Raymond Gregory. “RCTC appreciates the U.S. Department of Transportation for recognizing the importance of this project through the BUILD grant program, and we thank Representatives Ken Calvert and Young Kim for their leadership in supporting the project’s grant application. These funds help improve traffic operations on the 91.”

The SR-91 corridor is one of the most traveled corridors in the United States, serving thousands of commuters, businesses, and goods movement throughout the region. The $25 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant provides a significant federal investment toward advancing the project from design to construction.

RCTC is advancing the project in partnership with the California Department of Transportation and the Orange County Transportation Authority to help improve traffic flow, support economic development, and enhance travel reliability throughout the region. Construction is expected to begin in 2028. The $178 million for construction of the 91 ECOP will be funded through a combination of federal, state, and local funds, as well as toll revenues.

USDOT’s BUILD grant program is a nationally competitive discretionary grant program that funds significant transportation infrastructure projects across the country. The grant is used for transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact.

For more information, visit rctc.org/91ecop.

RCTC marked another major milestone this year by breaking ground on a significant project that will address high-priority transportation safety needs in Riverside County. On June 24, 2026, RCTC celebrated the start of construction on the Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway Project alongside project partners, elected officials, stakeholders, and community members at the project site.

The 8.6-mile project, located between one mile east of Rider Street and Warren Road in San Jacinto, will improve safety and access by constructing a raised median, adding one lane in each direction, building a new bridge over the San Jacinto River and a wildlife crossing, and upgrading traffic signals.

“The Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway Project will provide a safer and more efficient east-west connection for residents, businesses, and emergency responders throughout the region,” said Raymond Gregory, Mayor of Cathedral City and Chair of RCTC. “This project is ultimately about protecting lives, strengthening connections, and investing in the people and communities who depend on this corridor every day.”

Ramona Expressway is the second construction segment of the Mid County Parkway, a planned 16-mile corridor between Perris and San Jacinto. In 2022, RCTC completed the first segment with the delivery of the I-215 Placentia Avenue Interchange. The project added new on-ramps and off-ramps to Placentia Avenue, realigned East Frontage Road, widened the Placentia Avenue overcrossing, and added lanes to Placentia Avenue between Harvill Avenue and Indian Avenue.

The MCP Ramona Expressway Project advanced to construction thanks to Measure A – the twice voter-approved half-cent sales tax measure for transportation improvements in Riverside County – and a combination of federal, state, and local funding sources.

For more information about this vital safety project and to sign up for updates, please visit: rctc.org/mcpramona

The opening of the Clinton Keith Extension Project makes it easier for motorists throughout the region to access I-215. This project widened the section from I-215 to Whitewood Road and Whitewood Road to Leon Road, providing six full lanes that offer access from I-215 to SR-79.

Before the project opened, motorists had to travel across a two-lane, rural road roughly two miles away to connect to SR-79. Through a partnership between Riverside County, the City of Murrieta, the City of Menifee, the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), and the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the Clinton Keith Extension Project became a reality. This connection was necessary to accommodate the increased growth in the area.

The Clinton Keith Extension Project improves quality of living for the community by reducing travel time and improving safety, while also keeping environmental considerations in mind. Live goats from a local farmer were used as an environmentally friendly way to clear vegetation, which encouraged birds to nest in other locations. In addition to the hungry goats, a wildlife overcrossing was constructed to allow free movement of species, including the MSHCP-protected quino checkerspot butterfly.

Recently, the County of Riverside celebrated the completion of the project’s final phase which includes the extension of Clinton Keith Road from Leon Road to SR-79 connecting at the existing intersection at Benton Road.

This project was made possible by Measure A funding that was approved by the Commission. The new roadway was put in place to provide a more convenient and direct route for travelers throughout the region. The addition of this road creates a positive impact on the community by reducing congestion, enhancing economic development opportunities, and expanding accessibility to employment and education for disadvantaged communities.