RCTC is in the front line of grappling with goods movement issues with an emphasis on the planning of truck lanes and grade crossings to support the efficient movement of trucks and trains, and to reduce their impact on local streets and freeways. RCTC with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments and the Western Riverside Council of Governments first identified the problems associated with rail crossings in 2001 in a study that identified the needs in Riverside County, referred to as “Alameda Corridor East.”

Riverside County is a conduit for the nation’s second largest port, and the route for the vast majority of the 108 million metric tons of goods that arrive by ship each year. More than 77% of that freight is destined for areas beyond the Southwest.

The result is that at most rail crossings there’s a train at least twice an hour. Longer and slower trains create congestion at many of the 61 at grade crossings for three main lines in western Riverside County.

In addition, commuter rail services in Riverside County operate on railroad tracks owned by the private freight operators, Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. As a result, passenger trains share the tracks with freight trains. As freight train traffic continues to increase at a faster rate than passenger trains, negative impacts may occur such as poor on-time performance without increased track capacity.