Officials dedicate Metrolink’s 91/Perris Valley rail extension
Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
Metrolink
A dedication ceremony for the 91/Perris Valley commuter rail extension from Riverside to Perris, Calif., was held Dec. 11.
The 24-mile extension of Metrolink service will reduce traffic congestion on Interstate-215 and significantly improve transit options for area residents, who have some of the longest commutes in Southern California.
“Expanding Southern California’s commuter rail network is critical for connecting fast growing communities in and around Riverside County to major employment centers throughout the region,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Across the United States, we are investing in projects like this one that offer residents convenient transportation options that improve access to jobs, education, medical care and other ladders of opportunity.”
The 91/Perris Valley Line, constructed by the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), will serve the communities of Riverside, Moreno Valley and Perris in a regional effort to improve connections for commuters traveling from east and south of downtown Riverside. It includes four new stations along the route at Hunter Park/UC Riverside, Moreno Valley/March Field, Downtown Perris and South Perris. Metrolink currently serves more than 44,000 riders on weekdays, more than three-quarters of whom commuted by car before adopting transit, according to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority.
“The Federal Transit Administration is proud to help bring expanded Metrolink service to Perris, making it easier and more convenient for commuters to access employment in Los Angeles and activity centers in western Riverside County,” said Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator Therese McMillan. “This extension will make a big difference in the quality of life for residents who want an alternative to sitting in traffic and it also lays a strong foundation for economic development along the corridor.”
FTA provided $75 million through its Capital Investment Grant Program to RCTC for the Metrolink extension to Perris Valley. FTA funding comprised approximately 30 percent of the project’s total cost of $248 million. The project also received approximately $63 million in other funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The remaining cost was covered by state and local sources.
The Metrolink 91/Perris Valley Line is expected to open in early 2016.
