It’s 2023, and RCTC is off to a great start. I am humbled and honored to have been elected RCTC Chair once again by my fellow Commissioners. The work RCTC does for Riverside County is vital to meeting the needs of our residents and to the greater southern California region. A safe, efficient, reliable, and affordable transportation system is the glue that connects our communities and supports our economy.
RCTC was created in 1976 because our residents wanted a local transportation vision to support our region’s growth and economy. Riverside County residents responded to this vision by voting in 1988 and again in 2002 to approve Measure A, a half-cent sales tax to provide dedicated local funding for transportation infrastructure across our county the geographic size of New Jersey. In doing so, we took control of our transportation destiny. Since then, the Commission has worked tirelessly to deliver transportation projects and programs that support and evolve with our population growth, keeping us connected and thriving.
Bob Magee, RCTC Chair
The results of the Commission’s work have been staggering. From extending Metrolink service through the 91/Perris Valley Line, to the widening I-215 from Murrieta to Perris and providing ongoing funding for numerous interchanges along I-10 and the 111 in the Coachella Valley, to the 91 Corridor Improvement Project, RCTC doesn’t stop working. Using local, state, and federal funds, RCTC has helped invest billions of dollars in transportation projects. Not only does this investment help people travel, but it also generates thousands of jobs. The bottom line is that the Commission has kept the promises made to Riverside County residents and has done so with remarkable success, delivering transportation solutions for our region. Our County is better off because of it.
In 2022 alone, RCTC hit significant infrastructure milestones with the opening of:
- Route 60 Truck Lanes;
- The I-15 Railroad Canyon Road Interchange;
- The I-215 Placentia Avenue Interchange;
- The I-15 Interim Corridor Operations Project; and
- The 91 Corridor Operations Project.
Together this represents over $870 million in transportation infrastructure investment in Riverside County.
While we continue to build projects like the 71/91 Interchange Project in Corona, work toward securing funding to upgrade track along the 91/Perris Valley Line, continue construction on the 15/91 Express Lanes Connector in Corona, and complete the environmental documents for the Coachella Valley Rail Project, now is the time to plan and prepare for our transportation future.
Nearly 50 years ago, our communities came together to seek a transportation vision. Now we need to consider what the next 50 years will look like for transportation in Riverside County. We will have to tackle issues like expanding multimodal transportation options that include bus transit and passenger rail, reducing traffic congestion, and identifying ways to meet state and federal clean air and climate goals while supporting the needs of our communities, goods movement, and growing our economy. Here’s the good news: RCTC has been incredibly successful in delivering innovative transportation solutions for Riverside County. I am confident that the Commission, guided by the voices of our residents, can work together to plan and deliver a transportation system that doesn’t just work for the next 50 years but for the next 150 years.
So get ready, buckle up, and enjoy the ride with us.
Robert “Bob” Magee
2023 Commission Chair
Robert “Bob” Magee
2023 Commission Chair