Perris holds public scoping meeting for I‑215 Ellis Avenue overcrossing EIR; commissioners press for baseline, truck‑route and cumulative‑impact analysis

The Perris Planning Commission on June 4 conducted a public scoping meeting for the Interstate 215 Ellis Avenue overcrossing environmental impact report (EIR). City staff and consultants described the project purpose, alternatives and schedule; commissioners and attendees raised detailed technical and policy questions they asked the EIR to study.

Brad Brophy, assistant city engineer for the City of Perris, said the overcrossing was recommended as a preferred, lower‑cost alternative to a full interchange after an EXP Services feasibility study found an interchange at this location infeasible because of environmental constraints, proximity to adjacent interchanges and cost. Brophy said the city currently has about $1.5 million in its capital improvement program (CIP) account S141 to support preliminary planning and environmental work; design, right‑of‑way and construction could reach tens of millions of dollars over a multi‑year schedule.

Syed Raza, project manager for EXP, described the project’s purpose: “The purpose and need of the project is to improve local circulation, reduce travel time, to redistribute and rebalance traffic flow on various corridors, and improve operation of intersections, including at adjacent interchanges.” He said the technical work will evaluate two build alternatives (referred to in the staff slides as Alternative 2 and Alternative 3), with more than half of the corridor common to both; the bridge location is mostly shared while alignments north and south of the bridge differ. Raza said the design concept envisions two lanes in each direction with bike lanes and sidewalks on the roadway portions; the bridge section would not include a raised median to reduce cost, though raised medians would be included on the roadway portions off the bridge.

Kim Thompson, environmental planner with Moffatt & Nichol, explained the CEQA process and the EIR schedule. “CEQA is the California Environmental Quality Act,” Thompson said, and described the scoping period and next steps: written scoping comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. on June 19, 2025; a draft EIR is expected in late 2026 with a public comment period and hearings anticipated in late 2026 or early 2027; a final EIR and Planning Commission recommendation are targeted for mid‑2027 with City Council consideration thereafter.

Commissioners and public commenters pressed staff and consultants to clarify a range of baseline and scope questions the EIR should address: whether the environmental baseline will use existing physical conditions or a future buildout baseline tied to the New Perris Specific Plan; how the EIR will handle potential land‑use conversions (for example, conversion to logistics/industrial uses that could increase truck activity); the potential for trucks using the new crossing and the effect on San Jacinto Boulevard; emergency‑response travel times; pedestrian, bicycle and accessibility design for the bridge and approaches; noise, air quality and greenhouse‑gas impacts including heavy‑duty truck emissions; aesthetic and gateway treatment; and cumulative impacts with other planned projects (including nearby interchanges and Case Road and Redlands Boulevard connections).

Several commissioners emphasized the need for a clear analytical baseline. A city attorney present explained jurisdictions have discretion but that agencies commonly use existing physical conditions at the time the notice of preparation is prepared unless substantial evidence supports a future baseline; commissioners were invited to provide direction on the appropriate baseline for this EIR.

Other topics raised during the scoping discussion included coordination with Caltrans on design and permitting because the bridge would cross a state freeway and the Perris Valley storm drain channel alignment constraints; avoidance of conservation lands and coordination with resource agencies; potential effects or opportunities for regional transit and the nearby Metrolink station; and site‑specific issues such as interaction with an on‑site freight rail spur (near a Home Depot distribution facility) and whether the bridge should land upstream or downstream of that spur to avoid delivery conflicts.

No action was required or taken by the Planning Commission at the scoping meeting. Staff and consultants said they will accept written comments through June 19, 2025 and will incorporate scoping input into the technical studies that will form the draft EIR.