LOS ANGELES, CA – Riverside County motorists can now put their traffic worries behind them and switch to a safer, more reliable, and greener alternative as Metrolink launched its longawaited 91/Perris Valley Line rail extension last month with support from STV, a leading transportation engineering firm.
STV has been a partner with the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) since the 91/Perris Valley Line extension was first proposed in 2001, and was contracted by the commission to perform planning, environmental studies and reports, as well as the necessary engineering and construction support since the project broke ground in 2013.
“We are proud to have seen this project to completion and meet the exceptional quality and safety standards set by the RCTC,” said STV project manager and senior architect Richard Quirk. “This project will benefit people in this region every day and provide economic benefits for these fast-growing communities for years to come by connecting them to the larger Metrolink network.”
More than 4,000 daily riders are anticipated to eventually use the service, providing much needed relief along the I-215 and SR-91 freeways. The 24-mile line runs from the Riverside-Downtown Station to the City of Perris with four stations along the extension at Riverside-Hunter Park, Moreno Valley/March Field, Perris-Downtown and Perris-South. The extension also connects the new stations to a route that operates between Los Angeles Union Station and Riverside.
STV has a long, storied history with Metrolink dating back to the agency’s beginnings in 1992. STV served as the general engineering consultant for the rail service, performing planning, engineering design and program and construction management for various key assignments throughout the system’s development. The 91/Perris Valley Line extension is Metrolink’s first new expansion project since construction of the Antelope Valley Line in 1994.
Quirk and his team designed the rail line’s four new stations in close collaboration with RCTC and Metrolink featuring 510-foot-long platforms with canopies, ticket kiosks, scheduling information and parking ranging from about 450 to 900 cars. The stations were built with flexibility and future expansion in mind and can accommodate platforms up to 850 feet as well as double-tracking and second platforms in certain areas.
In addition, STV worked with the RCTC and Metrolink to uphold stringent safety standards by replacing miles of worn track, upgrading multiple grade crossings and improving the line’s signal system. Work also included the replacement of two railroad bridges and designing a new layover facility for locomotive maintenance and inspection areas.