HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/21/2003 - STAFF REPORTS (27) DATE: May 21, 2003
TO: City Council
FROM: Troy L. Butzlaff, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: 60/91/1-215 Interchange Project
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve a resolution supporting funding of the
60/91/1-215 Interchange Project.
SUMMARY:
The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC)has identified the reconstruction
of the 60/9111-215 Interchange as its primary near-term transportation priority. The cost of
improving the interchange is estimated at more than $350 million. Funding for this project
was anticipated from several sources including Measure A and State Transportation
Improvement Program funds.
Unfortunately, due to the State's budget crisis, millions of dollars that were earmarked to
fund road projects throughout the Inland Empire, including the 60/91/1-215 Interchange, are
now at risk and may be lost. Without State funding, this project may not be able to proceed
as scheduled.
BACKGROUND:
The 60/91/1-215 Interchange is strategically located in the center of the Inland Empire
connecting freeways traveling from various directions and destinations. The three major
highways in the proposed project area are important commuter and recreational routes.
Interstate 215 between the east and west junctions is an important north-south commuter
link to the region's major work centers in Los Angeles and Orange Counties via SR-91 and
SR-60. Interstate 215 and SR-60 are important route links for motorists heading to Riverside
County recreation destinations such as Lake Perris, Idyllwild in the San Bernardino National
Forest, and the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Salton Sea). Interstate
215 is also a link to recreational locations at the Colorado River via westbound SR-60 to
Interstate 10, which is evidenced by the heavy eastbound traffic on Friday afternoons and
holiday weekends, and the resulting westbound return traffic on Sunday afternoons.
The overall project will expand all three routes to five lanes in each direction, as well as
reconstruct the 60/91/1-215 interchange to improve mobility, reduce congestion and improve
the operational efficiency and safety on the freeway. The project improvements will better
serve the almost 150,000 motorists who use the interchange daily. In addition to increasing
the number of lanes on all three routes, the project improvements will also provide
congestion relief to the 60/91/1-215 interchange. The addition of auxiliary lanes leading to
and from the newly aligned freeway connectors also provides more manageable freeway
transitions for motorists and helps maintain a steady flow of traffic. Carpool lanes on both
State Route 91 from University Avenue and Interstate 215 from Box Springs Road will be
extended to the 60/91/1-215 interchange. The addition of carpool lanes equals increased
time savings for commuters and improved air quality of the general public.
The project has been identified for State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
dollars. Unfortunately,the State's budget crisis has resulted in a reduction in transportation
funding, causing State officials to craft an "allocation plan" which literally draws a line �J
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through a list of some 300 transportation projects that were scheduled to receive money.
Projects above the line, about$186 million worth, are recommended to get money. Those
below it, totaling about $525.9 million, are not.
It is estimated that the project stood to receive $193.1 million in State assistance. This
money is now at risk and will likely be significantly reduced or cut altogether.To avoid losing
all funding, Riverside County officials are planning to go before the California Transportation
Commission (CTC)in Sacramento to request that the State allocate at least$35 million,out
of a statewide pot with less than $70 million in it, for the interchange project.
The proposed resolution calls upon the CTC to commit STIP funding for the project.
�TrBy L. But�'l f ssistant City Manager-Administration
APPROVED �`��✓ .�5i
City Manager
Attachment:
1. Resolution Supporting Funding for 60/91/1-215 Interchange
RESOLUTION NO.
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA,
DECLARING SUPPORT FOR FUNDING OF
60/91/1-215 INTERCHANGE
WHEREAS the 60/91/1-215 Interchange located in Downtown Riverside is the Inland
Region's most complex freeway-to-freeway interchange; and
WHEREAS the 60/91/1-215 interchange is strategically located in the center of the Inland
Empire connecting freeways traveling from various directions and destinations; and
WHEREAS the Inland Area of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties are among the
State's most vibrant regions, adding thousands of jobs each year and attracting millions of
dollars in new business investment; and
WHEREAS the economies of Riverside County, San Bernardino County and numerous
communities within both counties depend on the viability of the 60/91/1-215 interchange;
and
WHEREAS the Coachella Valley consists of communities, including Palm Springs, Palm
Desert, La Quinta, Indian Wells and Rancho Mirage, that are world-renowned tourist and
convention locations that depend on highway travelers who use the 60/91/1-215
interchange; and
WHEREAS the voters of Riverside County approved Measure A by a 78.9 percent margin
in 1988; and
WHEREAS the Measure A program sets aside a significant portion of the needed funding
for improving the 60/91/1-215 project; and
WHEREAS since the cost of improving the interchange requires more than $350 million,
including State Transportation Improvement Program dollars; and
WHEREAS the project has been identified for State Transportation Improvement Program
funding; and
WHEREAS the Riverside County Transportation Commission has identified the
reconstruction of the 60/91/1-215 interchange as its primary near-term transportation
priority; and
WHEREAS the State of California has recognized the importance of improving the 60/90/1-
215 interchange and designated it as a "design sequencing" project;
RESOLVED that the City of Palm Springs respectfully calls upon the California
Transportation Commission to commit State Transportation Improvement Program funding
to the reconstruction of the 60/91/1-215 Interchange.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City of Palm Springs urges that economic
investment in highway development in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties should
remain a State priority to ensure the ongoing health and viability of one of California's most
successful and growing regions.
ADOPTED this day of 2003.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
By:
City Clerk City Manager
REVIEWED &APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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