Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Riverside commission approves study of converting HOV lanes to express toll lanes
Loading...
Summary
The Riverside County Transportation Commission voted to fund a feasibility study to explore converting high-occupancy vehicle lanes to express toll lanes on several corridors, with an amendment expanding study mileage on SR-60. Commissioners and public speakers raised equity, profitability and modal-alternative concerns during debate.
The Riverside County Transportation Commission on Aug. 15 approved a consultant study to analyze converting some HOV lanes to express toll lanes and related corridor improvements, including a friendly amendment to expand the study distance along State Route 60. The motion passed on a roll call vote with one no vote.
Commissioners and members of the public said the study is needed to respond to projected regional growth and to examine several design options and equity impacts. Supervisor Perez, who spoke during public comment, said, “I obviously fully support the study and perhaps even the amendment that's been made just now.”
The study will examine corridors including SR‑60, SR‑91 and parts of the I‑215 and I‑15 corridors and will include an equity analysis required under recently issued Caltrans guidelines. Mary Lou Halle, a meeting participant, noted the equity requirement and said, “The Caltrans guidelines that came out included the requirement for the equity analysis. So that is something we will be incorporating as you mentioned.”
Agency staff described financing and revenue rules for toll lanes. “By statute, we have to use those funds within the corridors in which they're generated for other transportation improvements,” a staff presenter said, describing how surplus toll revenue on the SR‑91 corridor has been used for local projects.
Some speakers urged caution. A commenter warned that toll lanes can worsen congestion for drivers who do not pay and questioned whether the study’s roughly $3,000,000 price tag is justified. “I’m concerned that we're gonna spend $3,000,000 to learn that it's gonna make congestion worse, except for the wealthiest residents,” the commenter said. Commissioners and other commenters raised related concerns about affordability and the potential need for programs to assist lower‑income commuters.
Several speakers urged the study to consider alternatives and supports beyond tolling, including dedicated truck lanes, multimodal investments and rail. Supervisor Perez suggested examining longer‑term land‑use and travel projections for the East End of Riverside County and noted interest in Coachella Valley rail as an alternate mode.
The motion approved by the commission included a friendly amendment to increase the distance studied on SR‑60 by an unspecified number of miles; the amendment text as read at the meeting described the change but did not specify the exact mileage in the public record. The motion was made by Harupa Valli and seconded by Marina Valli. On the roll call, all jurisdictions voted yes except Menifee, which voted no; the chair announced, “Item 11 passes.”
Staff said the study timeline will allow recommendations to be returned to the commission in future meetings for consideration; one commenter referenced an expectation of recommendations by 2027. The staff presenter and several commissioners emphasized that the study is exploratory and that any capacity changes, financing decisions or construction would require later approvals.
The commission’s action authorizes staff to move forward with the consultant agreement and the amended scope; the vote does not approve construction or specific toll policies. The record shows the commission also directed inclusion of an equity analysis and other feasibility considerations noted during debate. Future agenda reports are expected to provide detailed cost estimates, corridor-level options and recommended mitigation or assistance programs for lower‑income commuters.
