RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Driven by lower housing costs, Riverside County is among the fastest growing counties in the state, outpacing broader Southern California, according to the Department of Transportation. Naturally, that also means there are more people on the road, and now, the county is looking to address traffic flow.
The Riverside County Transportation Commission released an extensive traffic relief draft plan, which envisions projects that, among other goals, seek to reduce traffic bottlenecks, add sidewalks and increase frequency of public transportation rides.
Some of the projects include:
- Adding express lanes in each direction on I-15 between Cajalco Road in Corona and State Route 74
- Building the realignment of State Route 79 from Temecula through Hemet and San Jacinto
- Expands the Freeway Service Patrol roadside assistance
The idea that there could be more times added to bus transit services is welcomed by Riverside County resident Giovanny Torcasio, who uses the bus as his main form of transportation.
"I have to make sure I leave like at four in the morning just so I could catch the last bus, which is one of their buses at 2 p.m.," he said. "So sometimes, I think, little things like that go unnoticed."
However, it may be a while before that happens, if at all. Aaron Hake, deputy executive director at RCTC, explained that everything in the traffic relief draft plan is aspirational, as they still need to get the funding for those projects.
"If we're going to do it, we're going to look at a local funding measure that would potentially go to the voters this November for a potential 1% sales tax," said Hake. "Now, that's not a decision that's been made as to whether that's going to be proposed. And of course, if anything happens, it'll take the voters to say 'yes,' but we're not there yet."
The commission projects that over a 30 year period, the sales tax could generate slightly over $25 billion for use in transportation.
If it makes it on ballot, it would require a two-thirds voter approval to pass.
It would not be the first sales tax measure in the county. Voters approved Measure A in 1988. Hake says the current transportation funds they have are focused on maintaining the system already in place and need additional investments for expansion projects.
However, not all residents agree with the sales tax plan for financing those projects. Ximena Ruiz, a Riverside County resident who also owns a long-haul trucking business, says everything is already heavily taxed.
"In my industry, which is transportation, trucking, we already pay a road tax fee, which is a form that we have to fill out every year for every truck that we own, and that is about 550 bucks," said Ruiz.
Ruiz agrees that transportation projects are needed but hopes they find another way to fund them.
"Use the money you already have and correctly allocate it to make it fit," said Ruiz. "If not, ask the federal government for money, not the private citizens. It's just so unfair. We already pay so many taxes. And once that's already established, what's going to happen when they want to increase it?"
In terms of transparency, the commission said there is a cap that no more than 1% of the funding could be used for administrative salaries. Any sales tax measure that would be approved by the voters would be subject to independent audit and mandatory reviews.
The commission is taking feedback on the draft plan until March 31 through its website.
"It's so important for the public to engage with us and tell us, 'Is the traffic relief plan something that you want to see implemented here in Riverside County? Are the projects right? Are we missing something? How is it that we can help you?'" said Hake. "And once we have that plan together, then we'll make the decisions on how to fund it."