PUBLIC NOTICE
Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment Available for Interstate 15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension (ELPSE)
Announcement of Public Hearing
Project Name: Interstate 15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension (ELPSE)
What Is Being Planned: The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS), is proposing to extend the tolled express lanes in both directions along Interstate (I ) 15 in Riverside County between the cities of Lake Elsinore and Corona. RCTC is the local Project sponsor and CALTRANS is the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). RCTC and CALTRANS have conducted preliminary engineering and environmental studies to support the Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) for the proposed I-15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension (Project). The Project is intended to improve and manage traffic operations, congestion, and travel times along the corridor by extending the I-15 Express Lanes an additional 15.8 miles. The proposed improvements would extend from El Cerrito Road in Corona, through Temescal Valley, to State Route (SR-) 74 (Central Avenue) in Lake Elsinore. The Project would also add southbound auxiliary lanes between both the Main Street (post mile [PM] 21.2) Off-Ramp and SR-74 (Central Avenue) On-Ramp (approximately 0.75 mile), and the SR-74 (Central Avenue) Off-Ramp and Nichols Road On-Ramp (PM 23.9) (approximately 1 mile). Other Project features include widening 15 bridges, creating multiple express lane access points, and constructing potential noise barriers, retaining walls, drainage systems, electronic toll collection equipment, ramp meters, and signage that would be located within the Project limits between PM 20.3 and PM 40.1.
This Project, as currently proposed, is included in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) 2023 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) under the Project’s FTIP ID, RIV170901 (Amendment #23-16) and fiscally constrained. The Project is also included in the SCAG 2024–2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) Project List under its RTP ID 3160001 and the Project’s FTIP ID. According to the FTIP, the Project cost is estimated to be $668 million and is proposed to be funded by local agency funds.
Construction activities are anticipated to commence in 2026 and be completed by 2030. Construction is planned to last approximately 36 months.
Project ID: EA 08-0J082; PN 08-18000063
Why This Notice: Caltrans has studied the effects this Project may have on the environment. Our studies show it will significantly affect the quality of the environment. The Draft EIR/EA explains why. This notice is to inform you of the preparation of the Draft EIR/EA and of its availability for you to read. A hearing will be held to give you an opportunity to talk about certain design features of the Project with Caltrans staff before the final design is selected. The tentative schedule for construction will be discussed.
Caltrans has also determined that this project is not a Project of Air Quality Concern as discussed below.
Air Quality Conformity
Air Quality Conformity requirements apply only in nonattainment and “maintenance” (former nonattainment) areas for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), and only for the specific NAAQS that are or were violated. United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulations at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 93 govern the conformity process. Conformity requirements do not apply in unclassifiable/attainment areas for NAAQS and do not apply at all for State standards regardless of the status of the area. The Project is in an area that is extreme nonattainment for the 8-hour ozone (O3), serious nonattainment for particles of 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5), and attainment-maintenance for carbon monoxide (CO), particles of 10 micrometers or smaller (PM10), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Therefore, a Project-level air quality conformity analysis was required. The Draft EIR/EA explains the air quality conformity findings.
Not a Project of Air Quality Concern
The Project-level conformity analysis shows that the Project will conform to the State Implementation Plan, including localized impact analysis with interagency consultation for particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and CO required by 40 CFR 93.116 and 93.123. This Project is not considered a Project of Air Quality Concern regarding particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) as defined in 40 CFR 93.123(b)(1). A detailed PM10 and PM2.5 hot-spot analysis was not completed because Clean Air Act and 40 CFR 93.116 requirements are met without an explicit hot-spot analysis. The Project comes from a conforming RTP and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Comments are requested regarding the Project-level conformity analysis. On September 28, 2021, the Transportation Conformity Working Group (which includes federal [USEPA and Federal Highway Administration], State [California Air Resources Board and CALTRANS], regional [air quality management districts and SCAG], and sub-regional [county transportation commissions] agencies and other stakeholders) confirmed that the proposed I-15 ELPSE is not a Project of Air Quality Concern.
What Is Available: You can look at or obtain the Draft EIR/EA at the CALTRANS District Office (The Rosa Parks Memorial Building, 464 West 4th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401) on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and at the RCTC office (4080 Lemon Street, 3rd Floor, Riverside, CA 92501) Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Maps and other information are also available. There are also copies of the Draft EIR/EA available at:
- City of Lake Elsinore 130 South Main Street Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Available for review: Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 5:00 PM; Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 PM; and closed on holidays.Please call the city of Lake Elsinore at (951) 674-3124 to confirm availability of hard copies for review.
- Lake Elsinore Library 600 West Graham, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Available for review: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 am to 6:00 PM; Tuesday from 11:00 am to 7:00 PM; Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 PM; Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 PM; and closed on holidays.
Please call the Lake Elsinore Library at (951) 674-4517 to confirm availability of hard copies for review.
- Corona Public Library 650 South Main Street, Corona, CA 92882
Available for review: Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am to 8:00 PM; Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 PM; Saturday from 1:00 PM to 5 PM; and closed on holidays.
Please call the Corona Public Library at (951) 736-2381 to confirm availability of hard copies for review.
- The Draft EIR/EA is available under at the State Clearinghouse (SCH) website under SCH #2019100381 at https://ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/2019100381/4.
- In addition, the Draft EIR/EA and technical studies are available at the RCTC website athttps://www.rctc.org/projects/i15-express-southern-extension/.
Where You Come In: Have the potential impacts been addressed? Do you have information that should be included? Your comments will be part of the public record. If you wish to make a comment on the Draft EIR/EA, you may submit your written comments until November 26, 2024, to RCTC at:
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Jeff Dietzler, Capital Projects Manager (Tolling) Riverside County Transportation Commission 4080 Lemon Street, Third Floor, P.O. Box 12008, Riverside, CA 92501 or via email to: 15projectsouth@rctc.org
Please use “Interstate 15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension” in the subject line. -
Public hearings will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024; Wednesday, October 23, 2024; and Tuesday, October 29, 2024, to discuss the Project.
Where and When:
- Temescal Valley
The Retreat 8007 Soft Winds Drive, Corona, CA 92883
The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, from 6 PM to 8 PM. - Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore Cultural Center 183 N Main Street, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 6 PM to 8 PM. Corona - Corona
Eagle Glen Golf Club 1800 Eagle Glen Parkway, Corona, CA 92883
The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, from 6 PM to 8 PM. - Contact: For more information about this study, please contact Jeff Dietzler at (951)787-7141. For any other transportation matter, please contact the Caltrans District 8 Office of Public Affairs at (909)383-4631.
For individuals with sensory disabilities, this document can be made available in Braille, in large print, on audiocassette, or on computer disk. To obtain a copy in one of these alternate formats, please call or write to the Riverside County Transportation Commission, Attn: Jeff Dietzler, Capital Projects Manager, 4080 Lemon Street, 3rd Floor, Riverside, CA, 92502; call (951)787-7141 (Voice), or use the California Relay Service 1 (800) 735-2929 (TTY to Voice), 1 (800) 735-2922 (Voice to TTY), 1 (800) 855-3000 (Spanish TTY to Voice and Voice to TTY), 1-800-854-7784 (Spanish and English Speech-to-Speech) or 711.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations, including auxiliary aids and services at no cost, to participate in the public hearing by contacting the individual noted above at least three (3) business days before the scheduled event.
Title VI Information
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).
Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, or national origin. In addition, Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner.