Metrolink Train Service Being Extended To SR 74 In Perris

Local commuters who need -- or want -- to rely on public transportation will have another option for getting to downtown Riverside, Orange County and Los Angeles.

The Federal Transit Administration has authorized the Riverside County Transportation Commission to proceed with the construction of the Perris Valley Line project.

“I’m pleased to hear that the Federal Transit Administration has given the green light to the Perris Valley Line project,” said Rep. Ken Calvert (R), who represents local cities, including Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and Perris, among others. “Riverside County commuters are now one step closer to enjoying the benefits of enhanced transportation options.”

The Perris Valley Line project is a 24 mile extension of the Metrolink 91 Line, currently providing service from Riverside to Fullerton and downtown Los Angeles. The extension would begin at a junction with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line, north of the city of Riverside and turn southeast along the San Jacinto Branch Line. The terminus of the line is in the City of Perris at Route 74 and Ethanac Road, according to Calvert’s office.

The estimated total project funding for the Perris Valley Line project is $232.7 million, with approximately 50 percent of funding coming from federal sources, Calvert’s office stated.

The Perris Valley Line project utilizes existing railroad right-of-way.

According to the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the Perris Valley is projected to serve 4,350 riders daily when it opens, eliminating thousands of vehicle trips per day on I‑215 and SR-60.

The line will serve Southwest Riverside County, as well as the nearby cities of Hemet and San Jacinto.

According to a report from The Press-Enterprise, work on the line is expected to get underway in about two months.

For more information on the line, click here.