Riverside County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Riverside County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
SR-91 Eastbound Corridor Operations Project
The 91 ECOP will add an operational lane on eastbound 91 between the 241 and 71 connectors to cut congestion and improve safety. Two funding agreements now move to the full Commission, with construction targeted for completion in 2030.
Truck routes and AB 98 compliance
The state requires Riverside County to designate truck routes in its general plan to keep heavy trucks off residential streets and away from schools, parks, and hospitals. The county missed the January 2026 deadline and is reporting monthly to the Attorney General while it completes outreach. Residents are contesting specific routes through Mead Valley, Nuevo, and Temescal Valley.
Regional transportation funding through TUMF
Two TUMF amendments will reimburse Wildomar up to $5.36 million for the Palomar Road project and the County up to $9.2 million for the Rancho California Road–Calle Contento roundabout — real money flowing to congestion relief in Southwest County.
I-10/Highland Springs Interchange Extension
A second TUMF amendment extends the I-10/Highland Springs interchange project timeline to the end of 2036, with funding capped at $5.5 million.
Transit needs public hearing results
Riders told the county what they need: more buses, more frequency, new regional connections, and better stops with shade and seating. The comments now shape what transit operators plan for the future.
Vision Forward 10-Year Transit Service Plan
Mid-year numbers show real impact — 31,000 freeway assists, 1.8 million trips reduced — but commissioners flagged gaps: no roadside assistance via 511 in Riverside County and unclear overnight parking rules at San Bernardino and Redlands stations.
I-10/Monroe Street interchange and I-215/Ethanac Road projects
The Board advanced two major interchange projects: authorizing bids for the $126 million I-10/Monroe Street interchange in Indio, and approving agreements with Perris, Caltrans, and Mark Thomas & Company for the I-215/Ethanac Road interchange environmental phase.
TUMF Reimbursement for Nuevo Road Widening
The committee authorized up to $500,000 in TUMF reimbursement to the County of Riverside for planning the Nuevo Road widening — money that helps get a key east-west corridor project moving.
Simpson Road traffic impacts from SR-79 Segment 3
Hemet's commissioner pulled the Simpson Road traffic study from consent and won a commitment for additional modeling of what traffic looks like if Segment 3 of the new expressway opens before the rest is built.
I-15 Express Lanes Southern Extension
The express lanes extension from Corona through Lake Elsinore cleared environmental review in December 2025 and is moving toward design-build contract award. The Caltrans oversight agreement is the last piece needed to obligate Phase 1 funds. Construction is estimated at $735 million, with about $400 million still needing financing.
Heacock Street widening objection near March Air Reserve Base
Moreno Valley wants to widen Heacock Street from two to four lanes near March, but the ALUC says that's incompatible with the airport's safety zones. Director Rull tied the recent deadly Miami runway-overshoot crash — five people killed on the ground — to why keeping that road at two lanes matters.
Gilman Springs Road Bridge Replacement Concerns
Multiple residents and Golden Era Productions opposed the county's plan to demolish and relocate the 1926 Portrero Creek Bridge for $11 million, arguing the realignment would turn a traffic-calming curve into a speedway. The item wasn't on the agenda, but the Chair committed to working with TLMA on answers.
I-15 Smart Freeway pilot performance monitoring
Leaders from six Southwest Riverside County cities are going to Sacramento on February 18 to push for freeway widening and synchronized traffic signals, backed by legislation from Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez to give cities local control over freeway-adjacent intersections.
AB 2307 traffic signal synchronization legislation
Murrieta's representative announced that local electeds and WRCOG will testify in Sacramento on April 13 for AB 2307, aimed at synchronizing efforts to ease Southwest Riverside County traffic congestion.
Green River Road cut-through traffic mitigation
Corona is building traffic improvements on Green River Road/Foothill Parkway to handle cut-through traffic expected from the 91 project. RCTC's fair share is about $393,500, with TCA paying about $119,000.
Mead Valley Community Planning Grant
A $492,595 state grant will fund a community-driven transportation plan for Mead Valley. Residents asked the county to partner with local environmental justice groups and build complete streets.
Mead Valley Florence Street paving
$365,000 from the Mead Valley Community Revitalization Fund will pave Florence Street from Cajalco Road to Dawes Street.
Wildomar Regional Arterials Funding Flexibility
Wildomar can move about $10 million between its three awarded road projects so Bundy Canyon Road Segment 2 can go to bid next month without shortchanging other cities.
Mead Valley Cajalco Road and Oleander Avenue route concerns
Contracts were awarded to resurface Alexander Street ($1.48M) and build a traffic signal on Cajalco Road and Carroll Street ($341,649), improving safety and ride quality in Mead Valley.
Sun Lakes Boulevard Extension
Commissioner Flynn of Banning flagged that the long-awaited Sun Lakes Boulevard extension — 30 years in the making — wasn't listed by name in the budget presentation, though staff confirmed it's funded under the Measure A regional arterials program. Groundbreaking is May 26 at 10 a.m.
Chuckwalla Valley Road Bridge Replacements
The county took the first eminent-domain step to replace the aging Airport Boulevard bridge over the Whitewater River near Coachella, improving safety, flood clearance, and future CV Link trail connections.
Mead Valley Sidewalk and Drainage Problems
A resident described frequent crashes on two-lane Old Elsinore Road and asked for speed calming, shaded bus stops and inclusion in the updated Mead Valley community plan.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Funding
An extra $491,000 in SB 821 funds will fully fund pedestrian improvements near Pedley Elementary School in Jurupa Valley and partially fund ADA ramp upgrades in Eastvale, improving safe routes to school and accessibility.
Modernizing commuter programs (TDM)
RCTC is spending $385,895 on a strategic plan and up to $7 million on an on-call consultant bench to reduce solo driving through carpooling, vanpools, transit, and telework — backed by $4 million in MSRC air-quality funding. The goal is less congestion and more commute options countywide.
SoCal 511 traveler information service extension
Riverside County will stay in the five-county 511 traffic and transit info partnership through June 2031, paying an extra $940,731. Commissioners flagged that roadside assistance isn't offered here yet — a study is underway to consider adding it.
State-funded rail and transit projects
New Caltrans master agreements unlock state grants for Coachella Valley Rail, double-tracking projects, and the Mead Valley Metrolink station mobility hub — key steps for expanding passenger rail in the county.
SR 71/91 Interchange Completion
The Corona interchange project is nearly done — the new connector bridge opened in June 2025 — but unexpected boulders and buried concrete drove up costs, requiring a $2.3 million contingency increase to close out. It stayed within the overall budget.
CEQA relief legislation for Coachella Valley Rail
RCTC is sponsoring a bill by Assemblymember Gonzalez (with Assemblymember Jackson co-authoring) to streamline or exempt the Coachella Valley Rail project from CEQA, modeled on Senator Wiener's SB 71. Commissioners were asked to build public support ahead of the February 20 bill introduction deadline.
TUMF Collections Slowdown and Near-Term Transportation Studies
TUMF fee collections are running well below the $77.5 million projection because development has slowed, cutting WRCOG's admin share to $1.9 million. New pilot studies in the Pass and Southwest zones aim at quick congestion fixes like signal coordination, backed by AB 2307 pushing Caltrans to cooperate.
Bus stop improvements at 16 locations
RTA is spending $311,639 to add shelters, benches, trash receptacles and ADA upgrades at bus stops across the region. Six stops are being fixed specifically because passengers flagged accessibility problems.
SR 71/SR 91 Interchange Improvement Completion
The Corona interchange project is nearly done — the new direct connector bridge opened in June 2025 — but surprise underground conditions required $2.3 million more in contingency. The project stays within its original budget.
Smart Freeway Pilot Project on I-15 in Temecula
Data collection has begun on the I-15 Smart Freeway through Temecula — the first such technology deployment in California. A 90-day baseline period starts before the system goes live.
Haskel Road vacation in Thousand Palms
A stretch of Haskel Road now sits entirely inside SunLine Transit Agency's property, so the county would vacate it and end maintenance to let SunLine expand its facility. Utility easements stay protected and private access rights are preserved.
I-10/SR-79 Interchange Improvement Project
The Beaumont interchange is congested nearly all day and is squeezed between the SR-60/I-10 merge, the Pennsylvania Avenue interchange, frontage roads, and a railroad. The PID phase will study configurations, but construction is likely 4-5 years away and depends on the city securing funding for later phases.
TUMF road project reimbursements for Norco and Perris
Cities building major road projects get reimbursed from the regional transportation fee program — up to $4 million for Hamner Avenue in Norco and nearly $5 million for Perris Boulevard.