Orange County Branch Newsletter

October 2013

Branch News

Branch News - RCTC SR91 & I-15 Toll Program Update


By Josue Vaglienty, P.E.

State Route 91 and Interstate 15 are vital transportation corridors that serve both commuters and goods movement throughout Southern California and beyond. As such, major capital investment to improve the corridors is necessary to keep up the projected demand. But with diminishing funds from Federal and State sources, it has become increasingly challenging to obtain funding for major highway improvement projects. As a result, Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) has sought after more creative ways to successfully fund projects.  This past September, Michael Blomquist, P.E., Toll Program Director at RCTC was invited to the ASCE OC Branch Luncheon to provide an overview of RCTC’s planned Toll Program and the upcoming SR-91 and I-15 corridor improvements.

Mr. Blomquist led RCTC’s initiative for obtaining tolling authority along the SR-91 corridor. Tolling became part of the funding mix because of limited funding from traditional sources such as state gas tax revenue and the Highway Trust Fund.  RCTC obtained State tolling authority 2008, followed by Federal tolling authority in 2009. Tolling authority allowed RCTC take advantage of user-based financing, leveraging Measure A  (Riverside County’s ½ - cent sales tax for transportation funding) funds for other projects, and securing alternative sources of funding such as toll revenue bonds and federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (TIFIA) loans. With a comprehensive financing package in place, RCTC was able to move forward with the SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project (CIP).

State Route 91 Corridor Improvement Project

The joint venture of Atkinson-Walsh (including the following engineering consulting firms: URS, WKE, Tatsumi and Partners, and Jacobs Engineering Group) was recently awarded the Design-Build contract to overhaul SR- 91 between the Orange County and I-15. Major construction for the SR-91 CIP will begin in early 2014 and be completed by late 2017. The $627 million project will include the following major improvements:

• 2 New Express Lanes (in each direction)
• 1 General Purpose Lane (in each direction)
• 1 Auxiliary Lane (in each direction)
• 13 Widened Bridges
• 8 New bridges
• 2 Bridge Replacements
• 669,000 square feet of Retaining Walls
• Right of Way Acquisition
• Utility Coordination

Courtesty of RCTC

CURRENT

Courtesy of RCTC

PROPOSED

Courtesy of RCTC

Mr. Blomquist emphasized that the Express Lane component of the project will have several regional benefits. The extension of Express Lanes into Riverside County will provide a choice for commuters – general or toll lanes, for commuter heading to/from Riverside/Orange Counties. It is anticipated that the Express Lanes could save commuters up to 90 minutes per day and provide for more reliable travel times. The Express Lane facilities will also provide the added benefit of allowing emergency response vehicles to maneuver though the SR-91 corridor, even at peak hours of the day during rush hour. Mr. Blomquist added that the toll policies/equipment will be identical between RCTC and OCTA – thus providing a singular system with similar tolls for both counties.

Interstate 15 Corridor Improvement Project

Mr. Blomquist elaborated on how the project was recently re-scoped to provide the most value and benefit for all stakeholders. An ad-hoc committee was formed with representation from cities along the I-15 corridor to reach a consensus on a new scope for the I-15 CIP, taking into account the recent economic downturn. The committee outlined the following criteria to for a successful I-15 CIP project:

• Provide the most financially feasible option
• Build upon the SR-91 CIP project / toll network
• Address the most congested portion of I-15
• Deliver the improvements by 2020
• Provide the best value

Based on the input from the committee, RCTC has moved forward with implementing an updated Interstate 15 Corridor Improvement Project (CIP).  Preparation of environmental technical studies and preliminary engineering documents for the I-15 CIP are currently under way. The environmental clearance phase of the project is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2015. With an anticipated cost of $425-450 million, the major improvements include:

• 1-2 New Express Lanes (in each direction)
• 38 Lane Miles
• SR-60 to Cajalco Road (South Corona)
• Right of Way Acquisition
• Utility Coordination

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