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The County held two public scoping meetings to inform the community about the Cajalco Road Project and our intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Report. The meetings were the first opportunity for the public to view and provide input on the proposed alternative alignments and on issues to be addressed in the EIR.
The meetings were held Monday, September 26th, 2011 and Thursday, September 29th, 2011 at Lake Mathews Elementary School and Tomas Rivera Middle School respectively.
WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETINGS?
The County of Riverside (County) is proposing to widen Cajalco Road from two to four lanes between Harvill Avenue to the east and Temescal Canyon Road to the west, and from four to six lanes between the Interstate 215 (I-215) southbound ramps and Harvill Avenue. The proposed project would provide an improved connection between Interstate 15 (I-15) and I-215, improve east-west mobility, and improve safety along the corridor. Other proposed improvements include traffic signals, bus turnouts, additional turn lanes, and watercourse crossing and drainage improvements.
The County of Riverside Transportation Department intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This report will be prepared jointly with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for proposed improvements to Cajalco Road.
The meetings were well attended and valuable information was both shared with and received from the community. The attendee’s were given a presentation of the proposed improvements and participated in a questions and answers session with the presentation team.
Copies of the presentation materials have been posted to this web site including the PowerPoint, videos and exhibits. These can all be downloaded from the “Public Documents” section of this projects web site.
Project Overview
PROJECT PURPOSE
The purpose of the proposed project is to:
- Provide improved east-west mobility in Riverside County.
- Provide increased capacity along Cajalco Road to better accommodate projected future traffic volumes.
- Improve roadway alignment and intersection design to promote improved traffic flow and safety along Cajalco Road.
PROPOSED PROJECT
The proposed project includes the widening of Cajalco Road between the I-215 southbound ramps and Temescal Canyon Road in the County of Riverside. A small portion of the westernmost part of the alignment is located in the city of Corona. The project would widen the roadway to four lanes between Harvill Avenue and Temescal Canyon Road, and to six lanes between the I-215 southbound ramps and Harvill Avenue, to improve east-west mobility and to provide increased capacity and improved traffic flow and safety. The total length of the project is approximately 16 miles.
Safety enhancements proposed for the project include the following:
- Construct medians
- Pave roadway shoulders
- Improve curves between La Sierra and Temescal Canyon Road
- Add left and right turn pockets
- Add roadway signs
- Provide new and improved traffic signals
- Install object markers and lighting
Two design alternatives are proposed to address the project purpose. The alternatives that have been developed are described in the following sections. A No Project Alternative also is analyzed for the proposed project.
Alternative 1
Widen Existing Cajalco Road with Minor Alignment Changes between I-215 and Temescal Canyon Road
Alternative 1 would construct two lanes in each direction (eastbound and westbound) from Harvill Avenue at the east to Temescal Canyon Road at the west, replacing the two-lane roadway that currently exists. Between the I-215 southbound ramps and Harvill Avenue, three lanes would be constructed in each direction (eastbound and westbound), replacing this existing four-lane roadway segment. Left turn lanes and right turn pocket lanes are proposed to be constructed along Cajalco Road at selected intersections. The proposed alignment would generally follow the existing roadway with some deviations from the existing alignment. The alignment changes include larger curve radii to bring the design speed into conformance with current road classification. Other alignment changes would result in reduced impacts to some existing properties or reduced construction costs by integrating the existing roadway into the proposed roadbed.
Medians of various widths and types are proposed for Cajalco Road to provide for the separation of opposing traffic, provide a recovery area for out of control vehicles, allow space for speed changes and for left- and U-turns, and minimize headlight glare. In rural areas, cross-slopes would be included where appropriate to better conform to the natural terrain, break up the expanse of paving, handle drainage, and serve as potential water quality treatment areas. In habitat areas, the medians would be designed to accommodate small mammal crossings and include the installation of openings to avoid long continuous crossing structures.
Drainage improvements along Cajalco Road will be made and bike lanes and a horse trail are proposed along segments between Harley John Road and Temescal Canyon Road where the facilities may be accommodated in roadway design.
Alternative 2
Widen Existing Cajalco Road between I-215 and Hollis Lane and between East of Eagle Canyon Road and Temescal Canyon Road; Construct New Segment of Cajalco Road between Hollis Lane and East of Eagle Canyon Road
Between the I-215 southbound ramps and Hollis Lane, the eastern portion of Alternative 2 would be the same as the alignment and changes proposed under Alternative 1. Between Hollis Lane and Eagle Canyon Road, the western portion of the proposed alignment would deviate from the existing roadway, and a new segment of roadway would be established through undeveloped land south of existing Cajalco Road. Specifically, just east of the Hollis Lane intersection with Cajalco Road, the roadway alignment would deviate from the existing alignment, extend west through undeveloped land, and turn north to transition back to join existing Cajalco Road east of Eagle Canyon Road.
From this point to the western terminus at Temescal Canyon Road, the proposed alignment would follow the existing roadway and include the reconstruction of the bridge at Temescal Canyon Wash, as described under Alternative 1.
Medians of various widths and types for Cajalco Road, as described under Alternative 1, would also be proposed under this alternative. Bike lanes and a horse trail are also proposed under Alternative 2.
No Project Alternative
Under the No Project Alternative Cajalco Road would remain a two-lane roadway and many of its segments would continue to operate at unacceptable traffic levels similar to existing conditions. Implementation of this alternative would not address regional growth trends expected for this portion of the county. Additionally, current grade deficiencies in the existing roadway would not be addressed or corrected under this alternative.
Cajalco Road between I-215 and Temescal Canyon Road would not be widened or otherwise improved under this alternative. Implementation of this alternative would not improve connectivity between I-215 and I-15 in Riverside County and would not meet project objectives of providing improved speed, capacity, and turning movements to an existing roadway. This alternative would not provide the safety features associated with the improvement project and hence will not improve traffic safety of the existing Cajalco Road.
Construction Activities
Lane closures/Detours: none planned
Public Meetings
Upcoming Meetings
| Title | Date / Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
Public Documents
To save file on your computer:
PC – Right-click on link, select “Save link as”
Mac – Ctrl-click on link, select “Download”
| Name | Completion Date | File Type |
|---|---|---|
| Public Presentation | September 2011 | PowerPoint |
| Public Presentation | September 2011 |  |
| Cajalco Project – West End Alternative 2 | September 2011 | Video |
| Cajalco Project – West End Alternative 1 | September 2011 | Video |
| Cajalco Project – East End Alternatives 1 & 2 | September 2011 | Video |
| September 2011 | |
|
| September 2011 | |
|
| September 2011 | |
|
| Initial Study | September 2011 | |
| Notice of Preparation – English | September 2011 | |
| Notice of Preparation – Spanish | September 2011 | |
Project Contacts
| Cheryl Donahue Public Relations cdonahue@arellanoassociates.com |
Mary Zambon Environmental Lead mzambon@rctlma.org |
| Scott Staley Project Manager cstaley@rctlma.org |
Frances Segovia Spanish Translator fsegovia@rctlma.org |
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