91 Freeway Widening Plan Clears Major Hurdle Monday

One of the nation's most congested freeways is slated to get some relief.

A financing plan that would see State Route 91 widened and the busy freeway’s interchange at Interstate 15 upgraded was green-lighted and is now headed to the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) for approval.

The Budget and Implementation Committee for the RCTC approved the multi-million-dollar financing plan Monday, which, among other things, calls for the issuance and sale of up to $475 million in Riverside County Transportation Commission sales tax revenue bonds (limited tax bonds), and up to $275 million in county transportation commission toll revenue bonds.

The plan also includes a $435 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The RCTC is expected to vote on the plan next month, and a contract award is anticipated in May, according to Lake Elsinore Mayor Bob Magee who serves on the RCTC.

“The project will break ground early in 2014 and be completed in 2017,” Magee said.

The project would see improvements along SR-91 from the Orange County line to about Pierce Street in Riverside. The work would complement ongoing Interstate 215 construction that includes widening as well as improvements to the SR-60/I-215 interchange, Magee said.

Magee has worked to improve commute conditions for Lake Elsinore residents, who have some of the longest home-to-work commute times in the region.

According an to RCTC statement, "State Route 91 in Riverside County ranks among the nation's worst commutes."

A 2009 Measure A Expenditure Plan approved by Riverside County voters in November 2002 identified SR-91 improvements to be financed using Measure A Western Riverside County highway funds. In November 2010, Riverside County voters increased the Measure A debt limit to $975 million.

According to the RCTC, the sales tax and toll bonds would be issued as fixed, long-term bonds.

Click here for RCTC videos on the proposed SR-91 improvements.