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.
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-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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.