SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project Facts

WHAT IS THE SR-91 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT?

Good news is on the way for those who are stuck in traffic on the 91 Freeway in Corona. Work is underway to obtain public input and comments on the completion of an environmental document for the State Route 91(SR-91) Corridor Improvement Project. Once the environmental analysis of multiple alternatives is completed and approved, the design and construction of the project can begin bringing a number of welcome improvements to SR-91 from the Orange County line to Interstate 15. Another key area of the project is located on I-15 between Hidden Valley Parkway and Cajalco Road where new connections are planned between I-15 and SR-91. On a daily basis, the main stretch of SR-91 handles more than 280,000 vehicle trips per day including commuters, tourists, contractors, businessmen and trucks and it’s not uncommon to see traffic back up until the late evening due to drivers returning to their homes in Riverside County.

Not surprisingly, improving this stretch of SR-91 continues to be the highest priority of the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) as part of a focused 10-Year effort to improve freeway conditions and public transit in Western Riverside County. The overall SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project will result in a $1.3 billion investment and create more than 20,000 jobs.

Improvements that are being considered include a regular (General Purpose) traffic lane in each direction, improved ramps and intersections at major city streets that intersect the freeway in Corona, better connections between I-15 and SR-91 and the extension of the SR-91 Express Lanes which are currently located on the SR-91 in Orange County to I-15. If this alternative is selected, this would mark the first time that toll lanes have been constructed in Riverside County.

WHAT ARE THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES?

• Provide maximum benefits to drivers by improving the freeway and connecting streets to improve mobility and relieve traffic congestion
• Provide the transportation infrastructure needed to attract employers and create jobs.
• Reduce harmful emissions generated by idling cars stuck in traffic.
• Improve conditions for local businesses and residents by improving local access to and from the freeway and discouraging “cut-through” traffic on city streets.
• Enhance safety by providing easier access for emergency vehicles along SR-91

WILL THE PROJECT BE COMPLETED ALL AT ONCE?

Building and funding a project of this size requires funding from multiple sources. Measure A, Riverside County’s voter-approved half-cent sales tax program, provides funding for a single lane in each direction on SR-91 and is the key part of Alternative 1 (click to see alternatives). Alternative 2 would add two new lanes in each direction. The addition of toll lanes in Alternative 2 would allow for the use of toll road bonds to finance additional improvements.

With today’s economic challenges, traditional sources of transportation funding, such as sales taxes and gas taxes, have declined. As a result, RCTC might consider a plan to build the project in phases. That decision will not be made until the environmental process is completed. Until that time, the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Study (EIS) will continue to consider the entire project area.

WILL ADDITIONAL PROPERTY BE NEEDED?

The widening of a major freeway in an urban area requires additional land, regardless of the project alternative that is eventually selected. RCTC will make every effort to reduce property impacts to homeowners, tenants and business owners. In some cases, RCTC will consider the purchase of property now if the property is likely to be needed to widen SR-91 and is already for sale on the open market. Once the EIR is completed, RCTC will actively seek to purchase property in a number of locations. All acquisitions will follow applicable state, federal and constitutional requirements to ensure property owners are fairly compensated and receive appropriate relocation benefits.

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT PROJECT ALTERNATIVES?

In addition to analyzing a no-build alternative, the project includes the study of two build alternatives on SR-91, from the SR-241 Toll Road in Orange County to Pierce Street in Riverside, a distance of approximately 14-miles.

Alternative 1 adds one general purpose lane in each direction while maintaining the existing carpool or High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane.

Alternative 2 adds one general purpose lane in each direction, but also converts the existing HOV lane into two tolled express lanes in each direction. The toll lanes would be similar in size and operation to the existing 91 Express Lanes in Orange County and would offer discounts or toll-free travel to carpools of three or more.

Both of the alternatives include improvements to ramps, interchanges and bridges, especially at locations where major streets cross the freeway. In some cases, auxiliary or merge lanes will be added to improve access on and off the freeway. The project will also consider direct freeway-to-freeway connectors between SR-91 and I-15 HOV or tolled express lanes. This could include the extension of HOV or tolled express lanes south along I-15 to Cajalco Road and north to Hidden Valley Parkway to improve travel between I-15 and SR-91. See diagrams at below.

General Purpose Lanes with HOV Lanes

Add one General Purpose Lane in each direction

General Purpose Lanes with Tolled Express Lanes

Add one General Purpose Lane and
extend two Tolled Express Lanes in each direction

WHO CAN I CONTACT ABOUT THE SR-91 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT?

If you have comments or questions about the SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project, email us through our website at www.sr91project.info. Or call: Eliza Echevarria, Community Relations Manager for RCTC, at (951) 787-7141.