September 03, 2013

Rep. Takano Releases Riverside County Transportation Survey Report – Will Tour Local Transportation Sites Today

Washington DC – Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) released “The State of Transportation in the Inland Empire” report, which explored the impact of aging infrastructure and access to public transportation on the residents of California’s 41^st Congressional District.

In May, Takano organized a transportation and infrastructure survey for residents to better assess their transportation needs.

“In 2010, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the transportation infrastructure in Riverside County a “D+” – a failing grade,” said Takano. “The survey my office conducted in May gave my constituents an opportunity to directly share their views on what the transportation infrastructure priorities of the Inland Empire should be and what areas need to be improved upon.”

“The report that we’re releasing today details the views of local residents and proposes ways Congress can address the problems of aging infrastructure. By collecting this information directly from the residents, we can make the proper investments in our infrastructure and improve our community for future generations to come.”

Topline Results from the Transportation Survey:

548 residents responded. 70% of respondents were from Riverside, 21% were from Moreno Valley, 8% were from Perris, and 2% were from Jurupa Valley. (Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.)
The top priority for Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Jurupa Valley was freeway maintenance, while the top priority for Perris was increased public transit.
The top five issues across the 41^st Congressional district were improving freeway maintenance and construction, increasing Metrolink services, expanding bus services, and adding more carpool lanes and improving bike paths.
Other concerns included increased transit options for the disabled as well as pedestrian and cyclist safety
32% of respondents said their total commute was longer than one hour.
Over 50% said they find themselves in heavy traffic at least five times a week.
Over 60% rated their commute as unsatisfactory or terrible.

Other Issues:

According to Transportation for America, by 2015 69% of seniors in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area will have poor access to public transit.
The Brookings Institution published a report which stated that 81% of low income residents in the Riverside metro area live in the suburbs and can only reach 7% of low- and middle-skill jobs via public transportation.
The American Society for Civil Engineers in their 2013 Infrastructure report card states that 68% of roads in California are in need of repair that that these roads cost motorists $13.9 billion extra per year in vehicle repairs
In the Riverside “Quality of Life Survey,” 17.8% of respondents said that what they liked least about living in Riverside was the traffic. (This was the top answer to this question).

The full report, which can be found here, also details problems that are being addressed through federal and local initiatives, such as the expansion of SR-91, Metrolink and bus services.

The report also advocates specific legislative solutions that would improve the transportation infrastructure in the Inland Empire, including the Safe Streets Act, an Infrastructure Bank that would provide loans for projects, and Intelligent Transportation Systems Technology.

Later today, Rep. Takano will tour local transportation sites with Riverside Transit Agency Executive Director Larry Rubio, and Riverside County Transportation Commission Executive Director Anne Mayer.

The tour will begin at 12:00pm at the Riverside Transit Agency Headquarters where Rep. Takano will view the facilities and new buses.

FULL TOUR ITINERARY:

RTA HQ

12:00pm – 12:45pm

Activities:

Overview of the day by RTA/RCTC
Facilities tour
New bus tour

Perris Transit Center

1:15pm – 1:45pm

Activities:

Show & Tell: Perris Transit Center
Conversation with construction contractor and labor
Conversation with transit rider(s)

{{Narration of I-215 widening project as we drive through construction}}

I-215/Van Buren IC Construction

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Activities:

Hard-hat tour

Guests on-hand:

Juan Perez, Riverside County TLMA Director
Lori Stone, March JPA Executive Director

Moreno Valley/March Station Site [DRIVE-BY ONLY: STAY IN VAN]

2:35 pm – 2:45 pm

Observe future station location

{{Narration of East Junction (60/215) project as we drive through construction}}

Hunter Park Station Site

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Activities:

Observe future station location (set-up easels w/boards w/renderings of station plans)
Conversation with employers adjacent to station site, including UCR
Conversation with Metrolink CEO about what PVL means for Southern California region

Guests on-hand:

Metrolink CEO Michael DePallo

END TOUR