Every year the Metrolink Holiday Express Train brings joy and a one-of-a-kind experience that transforms an ordinary train ride into a festive wonderland featuring dazzling decorations, joyful carolers, and unforgettable appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus. This holiday season, this magical train returns to Riverside County for an immersive seasonal experience on Saturday, December 20, 2025.

The Holiday Express Train features a 90-minute nonstop round-trip adventure departing from and returning to the Riverside-Downtown Metrolink Station. Before boarding, join RCTC, Metrolink, and partner organizations for festive fun. Enjoy pop-up booths with activities, giveaways, and holiday surprises. Guests are also encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to support the Miracles and Dreams Foundation in helping families in need during the holiday season.

Two Holiday Express Trains will depart from the Riverside-Downtown Metrolink Station on Saturday, December 20, 2025. Reservations are required for these trains, and tickets are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The first train leaves the station at 10:30 a.m. and the second at 1:30 p.m. Please see the full schedule of activities below:

For more information about Metrolink’s Holiday Express Train events, including ticketing, pre-event festivities and boarding information, please visit: metrolinktrains.com/holidaytrain

For more than 10 years, the Riverside County Transportation Commission has commemorated Rail Safety Month in September with our partner, California Operation Lifesaver, and our communities. With frequent freight and passenger trains traveling through Riverside County, RCTC actively promotes rail safety education through public outreach programs to increase rail safety awareness at schools, businesses, and communities – especially those near railroad tracks.

With California consistently leading the nation in rail-related fatalities, it’s important to know what to do near tracks whether you’re driving, biking, or traveling on foot. By following these general safety tips, you can stay safe around trains and tracks:

1. Remember that trains approach faster and stop slower than they appear! Never overestimate how safe you are.
2. Always look both ways before crossing tracks. Always stay alert and eliminate distractions.
3. Always cross at designated crossings. Pay attention to and obey warning signs and signals.
4. Never walk on tracks. It is illegal and highly dangerous.
5. Trains are big! They overhang tracks. Always stay at least 15 feet from the tracks.
6. Never stop your vehicle on the tracks. If you stall or get stuck, get all passengers out and then get help.
7. Trains always have the right-of-way, so get out of the way! Don’t speed to beat the train, just wait it out.

Rail safety is everyone’s responsibility. You can help do your part by taking RCTC’s Rail Safety Pledge to affirm your commitment to rail safety and be entered for a chance to win a rail safety gift basket with four round-trip Metrolink tickets, a $150 gift card, and exclusive Metrolink swag. Take the pledge at: rctc.org/railsafety

Rail safety presentations are also available to schools, businesses, and organizations in Riverside County. If you are interested in scheduling a rail safety presentation, please contact us by email at: RailSafetyEducation@rctc.org

Call your friends or family – summer is almost over! Hop on a Metrolink train and get ready for a day filled with fun! Adventure awaits – let’s ride! With Metrolink, you can explore several southern California destinations near train stops.

If you’re a resident of Riverside and San Bernardino County, you can ride Metrolink anywhere in the system for free for up to 90 days with Experience Metrolink. Simply create a Metrolink account and an IE Commuter account using the same email, request your free tickets, and they’ll appear in your Metrolink app within three business days. Get started at iecommuter.org/ridefree.

Need inspiration for your next Metrolink trip, check out these destinations:

The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and your bike is calling! May is National Bike Month, the annual celebration of cycling that encourages people to dust off that bike, hop on, and hit the road. From the scenic mountain trails to the numerous paved paths, Riverside County offers a variety of opportunities to set out on bike.

Perhaps the most famous of all bike trails in Riverside County is the Santa Ana River Trail. The trail extends from San Bernardino through Riverside County to Orange County, following the Santa Ana River and provides scenic views of the waterway, parks, and other natural areas along the route. When completed, the Santa Ana River Trail will span 110 miles, making it one of the longest continuous trails in southern California.

For those a little more adventurous and seeking rugged terrain, there are numerous recreational areas that deliver such as Sycamore Canyon Park in Riverside. The park features several miles of multi-use trails for hiking, bird watching, and of course, mountain biking. The area provides spectacular views of Riverside and the surrounding areas. 

Riding your bike is more than just recreational – many people use their bike to commute to and from work. Metrolink allows passengers to bring bikes onboard their trains and is offering free rides Monday, May 13 through Friday, 17 as part of a week-long celebration of Bike Week. Just bring your bike and hop on, no ticket needed! Need to ride the bus? Riverside Transit Agency, SunLine Transit Agency, and bus operators across the county provide greater flexibility by making it easy to bring your bike onboard with integrated bike racks on most buses.  

But that’s not all! Commuters who frequently bike to work can earn $5 a day in gift cards and more through IE Commuter. Get fit, save money, reduce time spent in traffic, and improve air quality – all on the way to work. Just sign up through their website to start earning. 

So, what are you waiting for? Hit the road and explore Riverside County through your bike! 

Phone down. Eyes up. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, highlighting the unfortunate and increasing dangers of taking your eyes off the road. Distracted driving has become a significant public safety issue, with increased cell phone usage and other distractions leading to thousands of injuries and deaths on roads each year. According to the National Safety Council, nearly ten people are killed per day in distracted driving-related incidents. 

Not only is distracted driving dangerous, but it is against the law. Under California’s hands-free cell phone law, drivers cannot hold or manipulate a cell phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle. This includes talking, texting, or using an app. During April, many law enforcement agencies increase enforcement operations focused on drivers suspected of violating this hands-free cell phone law. The increased emphasis is meant to raise awareness and promote safer driving habits.  

As one of the largest growing counties in the country, Riverside County has experienced increased development and construction. Distracted driving is especially dangerous in construction zones, where there are often workers, equipment, and changing traffic patterns. It is important to slow down, focus on the road ahead, and obey all posted speed limits and signs. By staying alert and avoiding distractions, you can help keep crews, yourself, and other drivers safe. 

So, this month, and every month, put the phones away, avoid multitasking behind the wheel, and focus on the road. Together, we can save lives and make our roads safer for our communities and beyond. 

The Coachella Valley Rail Project (CV Rail) continues moving forward. Over the past year, the CV Rail project has made progress in getting funding for the next phase and coordinating closely with city and agency partners. Recently, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) made a big announcement to help keep project momentum going. The FRA added the CV Rail Project to the federal Identification and Development Program (Corridor ID) and awarded the project $500,000.

Why is this important? By being included in the Corridor ID program, the CV Rail project is now considered vital to developing intercity passenger rail across the Country. That’s a big deal. The designation will allow RCTC, Caltrans, and other project partners to better compete for engineering and construction grants as projects continue to move forward.

“I am pleased to see the Federal Rail Administration recognize the value CV Rail will bring to Riverside County. By including CV Rail in the Corridor ID program, the federal government has signaled that the project is viable and warrants attention,” said RCTC Chair and Lake Elsinore City Council Member Robert “Bob” Magee. “This designation will help CV Rail compete for more federal grants that will help get this service up and running for our residents,” he said.

In addition to being added to the Corridor ID program, the FRA will provide $500,000 to allow our project partners to create a Service Development Plan that will outline the future needs of passenger rail. The first round of route selections is intended to identify existing and potential new routes to create an intercity passenger rail system across the Country.

Daily intercity passenger rail to and from the Coachella Valley has long been a local and statewide priority. The new service will offer mobility choices, reduce traffic congestion, and expand economic opportunities by connecting the growing Riverside County desert communities to various resorts, commercial, retail, and quality jobs.

Learn more about the Coachella Valley Rail project at www.rctc.org/cvr

Pump the brakes on commuter headaches! The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) and San Bernardino County Transportation Authority’s (SBCTA) rideshare program, IE Commuter, has teamed up with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Orange County Transportation Authority, and Ventura County Transportation Commission to present a regional database expected to enhance commute options for registered users.

This multi-agency partnership provides employers with carpool/vanpool matches stretching across almost all of southern California, with a uniform set of core ride-matching services across five counties. The new database will allow vanpools and carpools to fill empty seats with greater ease, while unlocking a more convenient and efficient method of planning additional commute solutions for riders.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) estimates that there are more than 12 million licensed drivers in Southern California, and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) reports that Southern California drivers average more than 21 miles driven each day, often alone. Opting for transit via buses, trains, vanpooling, and carpooling can contribute to beneficial solutions to help mitigate the stress of commuting, reducing vehicle wear and tear, and generating significant savings from reduced fuel consumption. The five partner agencies are working together to help reduce vehicle miles traveled and traffic congestion, with a goal of improving air quality in Southern California.

These enhancements will improve convenience and efficiency of travel throughout Southern California, and is expected to generate an increase in ridership, reductions in single-occupancy vehicles on the road, and a decrease in CO2 emissions.

Discover a new, enhanced commute after the regional database merge completion. Access more ridesharing, transit, and incentives options by visiting IECommuter.org for Riverside and San Bernardino counties, or ridematch.info for Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties.

Heading out of the Inland Empire on weeknights? Motorists are advised to stay alert for full westbound 91 closures between State Route 71 and Green River Road in Corona. Following the successful weeknight closures of eastbound 91 during October and November, full closure of westbound 91 will take place Monday through Wednesday nights starting on December 11 through January 24, 2024.

Due to the holidays, no closures will be scheduled from December 22 through January 1, 2024. Nighttime closures will resume on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

The westbound 91 closures are needed to allow crews to safely construct support structures extending across the entire width of the 91 as part of RCTC’s 71/91 Interchange Project. The support formwork on top of the tunnel for the new connector will be approximately 30 feet in height with over 200 beams being positioned during these weeknight closures.

The weeknight closures include:

• Full closure of westbound 91 lanes from the 71 to Green River Road
  • Monday – Wednesday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
• Full southbound 71 to westbound 91 closure
  • Monday – Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Full westbound 91 Express Lanes closures from the 15/91 Interchange to the Orange County/Riverside County Line
  • Monday – Wednesday 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
• Full southbound 15 to westbound 91 Express Lanes closures
  • Monday – Wednesday 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
• Full northbound 15 to westbound 91 Express Lanes closures
  • Monday – Wednesday 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
• Westbound 91 Green River Road off-ramp closure
  • Monday – Wednesday 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Motorists are advised to use the northbound 71 to westbound 60 to southbound 57 to navigate around the closure. Please use caution traveling through this area and plan extra time to arrive to your destination. The suggested detour route is shown below.

Access will remain available for fire, police, and ambulance units in case of emergency response. Construction activity is subject to change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.

The 71/91 Interchange began construction in February and the anticipated opening of the connector is slated for 2025. This project will create a two-lane direct connector between eastbound 91 and northbound 71 to replace the existing single-lane loop connector. This enhancement is intended to improve safety, develop alternative modes of transportation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and optimize traffic flow. The $137 million investment is providing 1,677 jobs during construction.

To register for construction updates, text 7191INTERCHANGE to 77222 or sign up through the project webpage, rctc.org/7191closures.

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.

Traffic, transit, and travel information can sometimes be challenging to find. Between traffic radio reports, transit schedules, and online tools, finding comprehensive travel information can be a daunting task. In an effort to make this process a little easier, Riverside County Transportation Commission, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, Orange County Transportation Authority, Ventura County Transportation Commission, and LA Metro have banded together to provide you travel information with live traffic reports, transit information, and other commuter services information.

SoCal 511 recently launched the new SoCal 511 mobile application on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The beta version of the app launched on August 15 offering users an opportunity to provide feedback on this new tool.

The SoCal 511 mobile app serves as a one-stop-shop for travel information to help offset traffic. Through the app, users are able to:

• Access real-time traffic information and turn-by-turn navigation with travel time
• Receive notifications about road closures and/or major traffic events while driving
• Explore information to plan for various transit options and/or vanpools available
• Monitor real-time departure and arrival times, and much more

The recently released Just Drive feature allows users to receive updates on traffic events hands-free without having to take your eyes off the road. Just Drive announces traffic events within two miles of the driver’s active location.

Help improve the app by providing feedback on the user experience directly in the app. To access the feedback submission, open the settings menu, click on the feedback option, and submit your comments.

Download the app today! The beta version of SoCal 511 will be available for 60 days after launch–don’t miss out on the opportunity to submit your input.