The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) is considering a study for a study to create toll lanes on major highways throughout the region, including the 91, 215, and 60 freeways.
RCTC officials presented the potential study to the Riverside City Council's Mobility and Infrastructure Committee on November 14. The project could involve converting existing high-occupancy vehicle lanes and adding new lanes to create a network of express lanes.
"We're at the feasibility stage, but before we even begin the feasibility work, we want to check in with the council and make sure that the city is on board with this next step," said Aaron Hake, RCTC executive director.
The proposed study would examine converting HOV lanes on SR-91 through Riverside to express lanes and potentially adding a second express lane in each direction. On I-215, it would look at adding two express lanes in each direction from SR-60 to Perris, including extending the study area further south than previously considered.
David Thomas, RCTC's toll project delivery director, said the study aims to answer critical questions about the potential express lane network. "What sequence of construction makes the most sense? The 215 segment, even though that was priority number one from a financial standpoint, does it still make sense to build that first or should we build kind of continuous moving from the city of Corona?" Thomas said.
Other issues a study would examine include access points, impacts on general-purpose lanes, and the feasibility of constructing two express lanes on SR-91 through downtown Riverside.
The study would take about 18 months and cost several million dollars, according to RCTC officials. They emphasized no decisions have been made to move forward with construction.
City council members expressed mixed reactions to the proposal. Councilmember Jim Perry voiced concerns about the potential cost to drivers.
"It still comes down to how much it is going to cost the consumer because these things get really, really expensive," Perry said.
Councilmember Steve Hemenway questioned how converting existing lanes would alleviate congestion without adding new capacity.
"I'm trying to understand how it actually will alleviate the congestion. And that's the part I wrestle with," Hemenway said.
RCTC officials said express lanes provide a reliable travel option and can help fund other transportation improvements. The existing 91 Express Lanes in Corona have generated revenue to support other projects.
"We currently do not have other means to fund major capacity-improving projects," Thomas said. "And express lanes offer a significant portion of funding for finance projects."
The proposed study would also examine equity programs for low-income drivers and potential truck lanes or auxiliary lanes to improve traffic flow. Hake said RCTC wants to incorporate the city's priorities from the beginning of the study as it moves forward.
"We want to make sure that we're starting with something in mind that the city would support at the end of the day," he said.
The committee took no formal action. RCTC officials said they would use the feedback to determine the next steps for the potential study.
If approved, the study would take about 18 months to complete. Any actual construction of new express lanes would likely be years away, pending environmental review and funding.
