The Point: Station improvements project moves closer to completion as crews perform system tests during two-day weekend closure
A two-day weekend closure of the Metrolink 91/Perris Valley Line is scheduled this Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23 as part of the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvement Projects. During the closure, construction crews will conduct system tests of infrastructure enhancements related to the project.
The two-day shutdown will affect the Perris-South, Perris-Downtown, Moreno Valley/March Field, and Riverside-Hunter Park stations. Passenger rail services will not be available for the duration of the closures, but Metrolink will be providing alternate bus transportation for passengers travelling to destinations serviced by the 91/Perris Valley Line.
The Riverside-Downtown, Riverside-La Sierra, Corona-North Main, and Corona-West stations will maintain their standard Saturday and Sunday operating schedules. Riverside Transit Agency and other transit services around the affected stations will also continue their standard Saturday and Sunday schedules.
Construction of the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvement Project began in October 2022. Previous project work has included train switch upgrades, signal enhancements, drainage improvements, and track upgrades. Once completed, key elements of the project will include:
- Addition of a second passenger train platform;
- Extension of the existing platform to accommodate the length of the standard Metrolink six-car trains; and
- Upgrade of 2 ½ miles of track for the future nine-mile double-track corridor south of the station.
The Moreno Valley/March Field Improvement Stations Project is part of RCTC’s goal of expanding passenger rail service to relieve traffic congestion and improve air quality in the region. The project is also part of Metrolink’s Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program, which aims to upgrade the Metrolink system in time for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics Games.
Project funding is provided by a combination of local and federal transportation sources, including a $32 million Federal Transit Administration grant and Riverside County’s voter-approved Measure A.
The project is anticipated to be completed in fall 2024. For more information, visit the project webpage at rctc.org/moval.