The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) are working together to improve travel between Riverside and Orange counties. The two agencies are moving forward with a series of strategies and actions aimed at improving traffic flow along the congested Riverside Freeway (SR-91).
The SR-91 freeway serves travel between Orange County and Riverside County and is one of the most congested freeways in Southern California. Everyday, thousands of Riverside and Orange County residents experience commute times of up to 3 hours to get to work and return home. Currently, SR-91 is carrying more than 300,000 vehicles per day and is expected to increase to more than 425,000 vehicles a day by the year 2030.
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What are we doing now to improve traffic flow?
Working together, OCTA and RCTC are moving several projects forward which will bring much needed relief to SR-91. Some of these projects include:
- Construct a new eastbound lane between the Foothill/Eastern Toll Road (SR-241) and the Corona Expressway (SR-71). OCTA authorized the use of $2.5 million dollars in Express Lanes toll revenue as seed funding to accelerate preliminary engineering and environmental documentation to get this project moving. When completed this $75 million project will open up a major eastbound traffic chokepoint at the Orange County / Riverside County line. Project completion is anticipated for 2011.
- Add new lanes in each direction on SR-91 between the Ontario Freeway (I-15) and the Foothill/Eastern Toll Road (SR-241). Project completion is scheduled for 2015.
- Evaluate a seven-mile reversible lane facility on SR-91 between Orange County / Riverside County line to I-15. Project details are under development.
- Evaluate a new freeway interchange at Fairmont Boulevard connecting to and from the north side of SR-91. Project details are under development.
- Add a fifth general purpose lane in each direction between the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55) and SR-241. Conceptual engineering is complete. An environmental document will refine project details.
- Build a new direct connector between the 91 Express Lanes and SR-241 toll road. A feasibility study is underway.
- Construct a new direct carpool-lane connector between SR-91 and I-15. Project details are under development.
- Caltrans and RCTC are about to embark on a $26 million project to reconstruct the State Route 91/Green River interchange. The scope includes the widening of the bridge over the freeway and enhance on and off-ramps. Construction is expected to begin in March 2007. Click here for more information.
- Provide free tow services through the Freeway Service Patrol program during peak AM and PM commute hours to commuters traveling on the SR-91. This service helps stranded motorists get quickly back on the road and clears incidents or debris to maximize traffic flow and highway safety.
OCTA and RCTC will proceed with environmental and preliminary design work and seek sources of funding before construction on the transportation improvements can begin. With with passage of Renewed Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent transportation sales tax, approximately $1.5 billion is available to improve SR-91 in Orange County.
Future improvements will be coordinated with, and in some cases managed by, the Riverside County Transportation Commission and Caltrans.
RCTC to Move Forward with Ambitious Highway Development Plan
RCTC has approved a $2.2 billion plan to improve highways throughout Western Riverside County. The plan calls for improvements on four major freeways; however a significant focus of the plan is on State Route 91. During 2007, RCTC will begin the environmental clearance process to add as many as three lanes in each direction on State Route 91. The improvements will include:
- One general purpose lane in each direction to be funded by Riverside County’s Measure A, half-cent sales tax program
- A direct flyover connector between the eastbound State Route 91 and northbound State Route 71
- The addition of collector/distributor road systems near the I-15 and Main Street and Corona and the area between State Route 71 and Serfas Club Drive
- The development of two high occupancy toll lanes in each direction (similar to the 91 Express Lanes) between Orange County and I-15 which will also include an improved direct connection from I-15
- Auxiliary lanes to assist with access and merging on throughout State Route 91
Additional RCTC Highway Projects
- One HOV Lane in each direction on State Route 91 in Downtown Riverside
- Widening I-215 from Riverside to Murrieta
- Adding two High Occupancy Toll Lanes on I-15 from San Bernardino County Line to State Route 74
Keeping the 91 Express Lanes Moving
For commuters and everyone else who drives on the SR-91 – January 3, 2003 marked a historic moment. That is when OCTA took public ownership of the 91 Express Lanes from a private firm that had owned and operated them since its inception in 1985. This removed the non-compete on SR-91, clearing the way for much needed improvements to be made in the 91 corridor.
With OCTA’s purchase of the lanes, this also provided public officials from Orange and Riverside counties to make decisions on how the toll road is managed. An advisory committee was formed with OCTA and RCTC officials to oversee the SR-91 Freeway corridor and make recommendations for improving transportation between the two counties. Both agencies appointed five representatives to the committee. Representatives from the Caltrans District offices in Orange County and the Inland Empire, as well as the San Bernardino Associated Governments, have also been appointed as non-voting members. The advisory committee’s main duties are to review and make recommendations on issues such as toll structure, operations, maintenance, the use of toll revenues and improvements along the SR-91 corridor.
One of the first projects made possible due to the efforts of the Advisory Committee and their agencies was the improvement of the westbound commute on SR-91. In 2004, a lane was added between the Riverside County Line and the SR-241 Toll Road in Orange County, while in Riverside County striping changes were made to enhance traffic flow between SR -71 and the county line.
Pavement Project to Provide a “Smoother” Commute
For the first time since the lanes opened over a decade ago, a major pavement maintenance project took place on the 91 Express Lanes. In addition to extending the life of the pavement, the project made the pavement smoother to drive on and enhanced safety. For more information on the 91 Express Lanes pavement maintenance project, contact the California Department of Transportation at tcpubinfo@dot.ca.gov. For more information on the 91 Express Lanes or how to sign up for fast track, click here.
What other options are there to driving the SR-91?
OCTA and RCTC are working hard to provide additional options to provide commuters with choices other than driving alone on the 91 freeway. Metrolink train service between the Inland Empire and Orange County as well as Los Angeles County, provides commuters with an option to avoid the SR-91. The Inland Empire – Orange County (IEOC) line service provides eight round trips trains per day serving stations in Riverside, Corona, Anaheim, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin, Irvine, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente and Oceanside. More than 4,000 passengers per day ride the IEOC Line Monday through Friday. In July of this year the IEOC line also began operating year round weekend service with three round trips on Saturday and two round trips on Sunday. In addition to this service, Metrolink also offers an option for commuters traveling from the Inland Empire to Los Angeles via Fullerton on the 91 line. The 91 line offers up to 4 round trips between Riverside and Los Angeles. For more information please see www.metrolinktrains.com.
Another option is riding an Express Bus from the Inland Empire into Orange County. RCTC and OCTA are working hard to provide additional routes focusing on the most desired destinations. In September 2006, OCTA and the Riverside Transit Agency introduced Route 794 between Riverside/Corona and the South Coast Metro area in Costa Mesa. These buses use carpool lanes and the 91 Express Lanes to get people where they’re going quickly, concentrating on bus stops at major employment centers. Additionally, OCTA, RCTC, and RTA are working to bring new service that will connect commuters with major employment centers in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fullerton and Irvine. Still in the planning phase the service would run every 30-45 minutes. Implementation is planned for 2010. For map and schedule information, visit OCTA at octa.net or Riverside Transit Agency at www.riversidetransit.com. For more information on Express Bus service between the two counties click here.
Yet another option for people who can’t take advantage of public transit is to take advantage of discounted tolls on the 91 Express Lanes for carpools of 3 or more people. During non-peak hours, tolls for 3+ carpools are free of charge. During peak hours, the fare is discounted by 50 percent. OCTA and RCTC also provide carpooling assistance to commuters and employers who want to join a carpool or be part of a vanpooling program. For more information, please see www.commutesmart.info or call OCTA at (714) 636-RIDE or Inland Empire Commuter Services at 1-866-RIDESHARE.
And lastly, if you are traveling between Riverside County and the City of Orange or points south, you might consider taking the SR-241 toll road and bypass the SR-91/SR-55 interchange altogether. Try the 241 and you’ll discover it’s safe, smooth and speedy. For more information on the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) toll road system and pricing, please visit the TCA's web site at www.thetollroads.com.
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What are OCTA and RCTC doing to meet current and future demand?
OCTA and RCTC developed and annually update a 91 Implementation Plan. The 91 Implementation Plan details a series of projects that promise to provide a faster, more reliable commute between Orange and Riverside counties. The proposed transportation improvements have the potential to reduce travel time on SR-91 during the next decade, cutting commute times by more than an hour by 2015 for commuters traveling eastbound between the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55) in Orange County and the Corona Freeway (I-15) in Riverside County. Currently, eastbound travel times between the SR-55 and the I-15 average nearly 100 minutes in the afternoon peak hour. By 2011, travel times are expected to decrease by approximately 20 minutes, and could decrease by an additional 50 minutes by 2015.
The plan includes a proposed timeline for improving specific segments of the SR-91. For more information on the 91 Implementation Plan, click here.
OCTA and RCTC in partnership with the Foothill Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency teamed up to conduct a major investment study (MIS) to look at a wide variety of improvements to relieve congestion and improve the drive between Riverside and Orange counties. The recently completed study resulted in a number of recommendations. The transportation projects recommended for further study and consideration include:
- Make improvements to SR-91 the immediate priority. Add one new lane in each direction to SR-91, starting with improvements between the Corona Freeway (I-15) and the Foothill Toll Road (SR-241), followed by improvements between SR-241 and the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55). Click here for more information.
- Encourage more drivers to use the Foothill Toll Road (SR-241) by lowering tolls and adding new lanes as an alternative to widening SR-55. OCTA is working with the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) to determine the best way to move more people through the 91 corridor. OCTA retained Volmer Consulting to conduct a toll rate analysis and the TCA will retain Volmer to update their Toll and Revenue studies. The joint study is expected to be complete by winter 2007.
- Continue evaluating the costs and impacts of adding a new four- or six-lane elevated highway (viaduct) parallel to SR-91 between I-15 and SR-241 with a condition of not acquiring business and residential property. For more information, click here. RCTC has hired a consultant to evaluate the potential right-of-way impacts of constructing the viaduct within the 91 median through the city of Corona. Results from this study are expected in Spring 2007.
- Continue studying the technical feasibility of building a new four- or six-lane highway (Irvine-Corona Expressway), which could include a tunnel between I-15 at Cajalco Road in Riverside County and the intersection of SR-241 and SR-133 in Orange County. RCTC, OCTA and the TCA have executed a joint agreement forming the Riverside Orange Corridor Authority which will conduct geotechnical studies evaluating the feasibility of the tunnel with regard to terrain and ground water issues along the conceptual alignment. Click here for more information on ROCA. A permit to conduct geotechnical studies within the Cleveland National Forest has been requested from the United States Forest Service (USFS). The USFS is still reviewing the request and application. Approvals are pending.
- Balance highway improvements with expanded transit service, including additional Metrolink trains, express buses and high-speed or Maglev train service. OCTA and RCTC continue to work closely developing new Express Bus service and additional Metrolink service to provide options to commuters traveling between the two counties.
- Study and implement operational improvements on Ortega Highway (SR-74) to improve safety. A study to identify specific operational improvements to SR-74 began in the summer of 2007 and is expected to be complete by summer 2008.
RCTC and OCTA are working together to prioritize projects, seek funding sources and begin environmental studies to move these projects forward. The package of transportation projects is expected to cost more than $9 billion to build. Each recommendation listed above is moving forward. For more information the Riverside County – Orange County MIS click here. Direct to – OCTA/RCTC web site on MIS.