The Riverside County Transportation Commission, in partnership with Caltrans and the San Bernardino Associated Governments, recently celebrated the completion of the Interstate 215 Bi-County Gap Closure project. The $170 million project constructed a 7.5-mile carpool lane between Riverside and San Bernardino Counties and included the widening of three railroad bridges over the freeway.
The added carpool lane - which makes four lanes in each direction - is expected to relieve congestion on the route which, according to the project study, sees about 160,000 vehicles per day. Funding for the project included federal, state, and local funds from both counties.
On an annual basis, transit operators throughout Riverside County prepare Short Range Transit Plans (SRTP) identifying their operating and capital needs. The SRTPs serve as the county�s blueprint for continued operation and future development of transit services, operations, and infrastructure. Under state law, the Commission is tasked with the responsibility to identify, analyze, and recommend potential productivity improvements to ensure federal, state, and local funds allocated to transit operators provide services needed by county residents and are used in an efficient and effective manner. Through the SRTP planning process, the Commission and transit agencies analyze current transportation services, identify transit needs of the community, and determine the ability to meet those needs. Over the next three years to meet the growing demand for transit services, transit operators will focus on implementing new routes, improving frequency, and refining schedules to develop stronger intercity and regional transit networks. Express bus route and CommuterLink route extensions to the Perris Valley Line trains are also included in the SRTPs.
At its June meeting, the Commission took action to approve the FY 2015/16 operating and capital budget for the Southern California Regional Rail Authority's commuter rail service known as Metrolink. The budget includes funding for the three Metrolink commuter rail lines that traverse Riverside County - the Riverside Line, the Inland Empire-Orange County Line, and the 91 Line - and includes funding for an extension of the 91 Line known as the Perris Valley Line (PVL). The PVL service, anticipated to be available in late 2015, will provide passengers three weekday roundtrips from South Perris to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and an additional three weekday roundtrips between South Perris and Riverside. The budget also includes funding for the implementation of positive train control.
The Commission allocated approximately $2.8 million to 22 bicycle and pedestrian facilities located throughout Riverside County as part of the Commission's SB 821 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Program. Click here for a complete list of projects and funding amounts.
Speaking of funding, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) released a call for projects under its Active Transportation Safety and Encouragement Campaign program. Proposals are due by June 30, 2015. As part of national bike month (May 2016), SCAG will support local communities in transforming streets through temporary improvements (or pop-ups), street festivals, and other fun activities that increase awareness of active transportation and complete street concepts. Interested in learning more? Details of the call for projects are available at http://www.scag.ca.gov/programs/Documents/ATSEC_Application.pdf. In addition, Stephen Patchan, SCAG's Senior Regional Planner for Active Transportation, can be reached at Patchan@scag.ca.gov.
An additional funding opportunity was recently available through the state of California's Active Transportation Program (Cycle 2). A total of 30 applications were received for bicycle and pedestrian projects located throughout Riverside County requesting $42.8 million of the $359 million available statewide. It is anticipated that successful project applications will be announced in mid-September 2015 for the statewide distribution and mid-December 2015 for the MPO distribution.
Anne Mayer, Executive Director of the Riverside County Transportation Commission was recognized at the June 10 Commission meeting for ten years of outstanding performance.
Mrs. Mayer was also recently honored by the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce when she was awarded the thirty-first annual ATHENA award. Recipients of the ATHENA award must meet three criteria: professional excellence, community service, and a demonstrated body of work in assisting women to achieve their full potential.