$23M In Funding OK'd For Banning, Beaumont Road Improvements

PASS AREA, CA — Last week, the Riverside County Transportation Commission unanimously approved $23 million to pay for three massive road improvement projects in the San Gorgonio Pass Area.

During its June 14 meeting, the RCTC OK'd $13.5 million in Measure A funds for the extension of Sun Lakes Boulevard in Banning to Highland Home Road and Sunset Avenue. The county agency also approved $1.5 million in Measure A funds for the extension of Second Street in Beaumont from the Home Depot shopping center to Pennsylvania Avenue. Beaumont's state Route 60/Potrero Boulevard interchange project was also approved for $8 million in TUMF funds to add off-ramps, loop on-ramps, and traffic signals to the interchange.

Measure A funding is the voter-approved half-cent sales tax that provides dollars for passenger rail, public transit, local streets and roads, and major highway projects. TUMF (Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee) is charged to developers in Riverside County and used for local county infrastructure projects.

All three Pass Area projects are part of $135 in funding approved by the RCTC on June 14 to tackle more than a dozen regional transportation projects. Approximately $85 million of the total is coming from Measure A; the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee will provide the remaining $50 million.

"Regional arterial roads are the backbone of our communities and their economies," said Commission Chair and Lake Elsinore City Councilmember Robert "Bob" Magee. "RCTC continues to deliver on promises made to Riverside County voters to improve mobility for our residents and businesses. Many communities will see tangible results from the funds approved by the Commission."

In total, 13 cities in western Riverside County will see funding for local transportation projects as part of last week's approval. Here is the full list:

• City of Banning – Sun Lakes Extension ($13,500,000/Measure A)
• City of Beaumont – Second St. Extension ($1,500,000/Measure A)
• City of Beaumont – Potrero Interchange Phase 2 ($8,000,000/TUMF)
• City of Calimesa – Realign Calimesa Blvd. at Cherry Valley Blvd. ($5,200,000/TUMF)
• City of Corona – Ontario Ave. Widening ($7,938,781/Measure A)
• City of Eastvale – Limonite Ave. Gap Closure Project ($13,500,000/Measure A)
• City of Menifee – McCall Blvd. Widening Project ($3,140,000/Measure A)
• City of Menifee – Bundy Canyon Rd./Scott Rd. Widening ($632,440/Measure A) & ($9,367,560/TUMF)
• City of Moreno Valley – Indian St./Cardinal Ave. Bridge (Over Lateral A) ($750,000/Measure A)
• City of Murrieta – Murrieta Hot Springs Rd. Widening – Margarita to SR-79 ($3,000,000/Measure A)
• City of Perris – Ethanac Rd. Bridge over San Jacinto River & and Extension ($8,798,000/TUMF)
• City of Riverside – Third St. Grade Separation ($12,000,000/Measure A)
• City of San Jacinto – Esplanade Ave. Widening – Sanderson to Warren ($3,960,00/Measure A)
• City of Temecula – Ynez Rd. Improvements ($1,475,000/Measure A)
• City of Wildomar – Clinton Keith Rd. Widening ($2,254,919/Measure A) & ($3,396,221/TUMF)
• City of Wildomar – Bundy Canyon Rd. Improvement – Segment 2 ($13,298,440/Measure A)
• City of Wildomar – Bundy Canyon Rd. Improvement – Segment 3 ($8,050,420/Measure A)