Prop 6 could eliminate funding that would set the Inland Empire infrastructure back decades.

Have you driven through the Inland Empire recently? Hundreds of thousands of motorists do. Over the years, wear and tear on freeways, roads and bridges has taken its toll; fixes and updates are essential. The question presented to California voters via Proposition 6 is whether to continue funding these important projects.

Potholes and repaving in the Inland Empire

In the Beatles’ iconic song, “A Day in the Life,” they sing about reading the news to learn how many [pot] holes were counted in Blackburn, Lancashire. Here in California, the news is that SB 1 (better known as the gas tax) is helping fund 644 projects for filling the many potholes in the Inland Empire. There are 200 miles of pavement on I-10 that need repair. There’s pavement preservation needed on the I-10 spanning from the San Bernardino/Los Angeles County line to the I-10/I-15 Junction and also throughout Riverside County to the Arizona state line.

In various communities throughout San Bernardino County, there are another 150 local roads that need attention and repaving, including Monterey Avenue from White Water Channel to Hovley Lane West in the City of Palm Desert.

The California Legislature passed The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 in April, in an effort to fix California’s transportation system and address the backlog of repairs and upgrades. Over the next 10 years, Riverside County is promised over $1 billion and San Bernardino County is slated to receive $991 million to use toward these projects.

What’s at risk in the Inland Empire

Without important SB1 funding, the infrastructure projects currently underway in the Inland Empire are at risk of elimination. In addition to thousands of jobs put in jeopardy and a very real impact to the area’s economy, 103 projects that address local road and bridge safety could be on the chopping block. Another 42 safety improvement projects for pedestrians and bicyclists could also be scrapped.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 2017 released an Infrastructure Report Card that graded California as one of the worst states in the nation. Without SB 1 funds to make the necessary fixes to Inland Empire infrastructure, safety and traffic congestion will go unaddressed. Motorists using the bridge at Jefferson Street and the I-10 Interchange in Indio, which is currently slated for replacement, would have to wonder whether to take a chance if it goes unrepaired. New traffic signals at the intersection near Mt. San Jacinto High school in Cathedral City would not go up. Safety repairs on Metrolink commuter rail structures, track, signals, and stations face being shoved to the back burner.

Learn more about Inland Empire infrastructure

An educated voter is a smart voter. Californians fed up with outdated and unsafe infrastructure can decide to finally address the $130 billion backlog in deferred maintenance and move our transportation infrastructure into the 21st Century with necessary repairs and improvements. Learn more about why it’s important to vote NO on Prop 6 this November.

Below are projects currently underway in the Inland Empire that are at risk if Prop 6 passes.

Filling Potholes and Repaving roads

  • 200 miles of pavement repairs on I-10
  • Pavement preservation project on I-10 spanning from the San Bernardino/Los Angeles County line to the I-10/I-15 Junction
  • Pavement preservation on I-10 throughout Riverside County to the Arizona state line
  • Pavement preservation on SR 210 throughout San Bernardino County
  • 286 repaving projects in Eastvale
  • 105 repaving projects in Moreno Valley
  • Resurface more than 150 miles of roadway in various communities throughout San Bernardino County
  • Improve 116 miles and shoulders, ramps on I-10 from Rice Road/SR 177 to Teed Ditch Bridge in Riverside County
  • Repave Monterey Avenue from White Water Channel to Hovley Lane West in the City of Palm Desert

Traffic Congestion Relief

  • Improvement of the I-15/Railroad Canyon Interchange in Lake Elsinore to enhance safety and reduce congestion
  • Improvements on I-10 and SR 60 throughout San Bernardino and Riverside counties to ease congestion and improve movement of goods
  • Construction of roundabouts at multiple intersections to ease congestion on County Line Road in the cities of Yucaipa and Calimesa
  • Improvement project on Highway 111 between Madison Street and Rubidoux Street to widen road from 4 to 6 lanes, reconstruct pavement, and improve intersections and signals in Indio
  • Street widening and improvement projects on Second Street and Sixth Street to add dual right turn lanes onto the I-15 southbound freeway in the City of Norco
  • Upgrades to traffic monitoring systems on SR 71 from the Los Angeles/San Bernardino County line to the San Bernardino/Riverside County line
  • Widen Ranchero Road in Hesperia
  • Widening Temescal Canyon Road to improve traffic flow through Temescal Valley to improve traffic flow in Riverside County
  • Construct new freeway interchange at I-15 and French Valley Parkway in Temecula
  • Widen Railroad Canyon Road to 8 lanes, reconstruct northbound diamond ramps, widen southbound entrance ramp to 3 lanes, construct acceleration lane, and reconstruct southbound exit ramp to 2 lanes in In the City of Lake Elsinore

Bridges

  • Replace bridge at Jefferson Street and I-10 Interchange in Indio
  • Bridge and railing repairs throughout the City of San Bernardino
  • Construct a bridge over the California Aqueduct in Hesperia in San Bernardino County

Road Safety

  • Safety and preventative maintenance on 67.5 miles including shoulders and guardrails on I-10 from Ontario to Redlands, SR 210 and 66 near San Bernardino
  • Construct new traffic signal at the intersection near Mt. San Jacinto High School to improve driver and pedestrian safety in Cathedral City
  • Strengthen guardrails along 25 miles of I-10 from Ontario to Redlands
  • Restripe I-15 from the San Diego/Riverside County line to the Nevada state line to improve visibility and safety
  • Implement two express lanes in each direction for a total of four general purpose and two express lanes in each direction from San Antonio to I-10/I-15 Interchange with auxiliary lanes and reconstruct ramps to improve mobility
  • Safety and roadway improvements of 52 miles on I-10 to include construction of an eastbound truck lane, improving shoulders and ramps from east of Coachella Canal to Hazy Gulch Bridge in Riverside County
  • Crosswalk and dedicated left-turn lane at the intersection of Mission Inn Avenue at Pine Street to improve safety and reduce delays in Riverside

Pedestrian Safety

  • Enhance pedestrian and bike safety on Palm Dr. in Desert Hot Springs between Camino Aventura and Two Bunch Palms Trail
  • Install high-visibility crosswalks, sidewalk extensions, and ADA accessibility features around the Redlands Library and Redlands Bowl
  • Add shoulders and upgrade ramps and approaches to comply with ADA requirements on Village Drive between Mojave Dr. and Air Expressway in Victorville
  • Add sidewalk and crosswalk flashers to improve pedestrian safety access to Jurupa Valley High School
  • Sidewalk and intersection safety improvements on Clark St. in Riverside
  • Install changeable message signs along I-10, SR 60 and SR 86

Public Transportation

  • Expand weekday and weekend service, improve frequency and a new route serving communities of Eastvale, Norco and Corona for Riverside Transit Agency
  • Safety repairs on Metrolink commuter rail structures, track, signals, communication systems, facilities, stations, platforms, signage, and equipment
  • Secure ADA accessible van to transport passengers/wheelchairs
  • Upgrade bus stop at SR 62 and Elk Trail in Yucca Valley to improve accessibility and safety
  • Construct 9 miles of passenger rail line between Downtown San Bernardino and Redlands with 5 new transit stations

Click to Download Project Data in Inland Empire Region