SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project Facts

PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE IDENTIFIED

The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), in partnership with Caltrans, completed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in May 2011. Following public review of the Draft EIR/EIS, RCTC and Caltrans identified Alternative 2 Design Variation F as the preferred project alternative in September 2011. Although Alternative 2 Design Variation F was identified as the preferred project alternative that decision is not final until the project is approved by Caltrans following completion of the Final EIR/EIS and publication of the federal Record of Decision.

Tolled express lanes play a key role in Alternative 2. The four proposed tolled express lanes (two in each direction) will have toll rates that vary by time of day, similar to the existing tolled express lanes in Orange County. The lanes are designed to offer free-flowing traffic, no matter how congested the SR-91 regular (general purpose) lanes become. Besides offering drivers a chance to use the tolled express lanes for faster and more reliable travel, the lanes generate revenue that will pay for their construction and future operation and maintenance.

WHAT IS THE SR-91 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT?

About 280,000 vehicles travel each day along this section of SR-91, which is the primary route for commuting, goods movement and tourism between Riverside County and Orange County. Traffic congestion is common not only during peak morning and evening commute hours, but also on weekends.

Not surprisingly, improving this stretch of SR-91 continues to be the highest priority of RCTC as part of a focused 10 -year effort to improve freeway conditions and public transit in western Riverside County. The first phase of the project would extend eight miles from the Orange County line to Interstate 15. The project proposes adding one general purpose lane in each direction and two new tolled express lanes in each direction, replacing the existing carpool lanes. This project would be the first time that toll lanes are built 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

WHY DESIGN-BUILD?

The SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project would be constructed using a best value design-build process. RCTC would contract with a design-build contractor, which would be responsible for both designing and building the project. A primary advantage of this process is that design and construction activities can occur concurrently, which can substantially reduce the time between completion of the environmental process for a project and the beginning of operations for the first project improvements.

The primary benefit of a best value design-build process for the SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project for the traveling public is that the best value contracting will result in the availability of the improvements to the public approximately 3 years sooner than under the traditional design-bid-construction process.

WILL ADDITIONAL PROPERTY BE NEEDED?

Widening a freeway through a fully developed area presents many challenges, not least of which is buying the right-of-way needed for improvements. RCTC is sensitive to how the project will affect residents and businesses near the freeway and is working to minimize this impact. RCTC will be required to purchase properties – either in part or in full – and to establish both temporary and permanent construction easements.

To protect the rights of property owners and tenants, RCTC follows the acquisition process defined by federal and state laws. RCTC will describe in detail the property acquisition process to each affected property owner and tenant. RCTC is working with a select group of property owners now to offer to purchase properties under certain conditions. These properties were chosen based on the specific schedule needs of the project. Property owners and tenants will not be required to move until the property is needed for construction.

Property owners and tenants with questions about how they may be affected by the project may call the toll-free project helpline, 1-877-770-9191, or go to the Contact Us section of the project website, www.sr91project.info. A team member will research questions and respond promptly.

WHAT ARE THE 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. Following the public review period of the Draft EIR/EIS, RCTC and Caltrans have identified Alternative 2 as the preferred project alternative.

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 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. Call our TOLL FREE NUMBER at (877) 770-9191.