June 2, 2015
The Honorable Anthony Foxx
Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Secretary Foxx:
This letter is to convey Inland Action’s support for the Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) application jointly submitted by the Cities of Yucaipa and Calimesa. Inland Action is a non-profit organization of business and community leaders dedicated to the economic and community betterment of the Southern California region. The joint application proposes improvements to County Line Road between Oak Hills Parkway/East Street and Bryant Street.
The proposed TIGER grant project includes two multi-lane roundabouts at the County Line Road and I-10 Freeway which will eliminate the need to widen the existing three-lane underpass structure estimated to cost $50 million. The project will also install five roundabouts along County Line Road to improve access to the communities of Yucaipa and Calimesa along the two mile corridor as well as curbs, gutters, bike lanes, sidewalks, and master planned storm drain improvements.
County Line Road is an existing arterial street crossing the Interstate 10 Freeway east- and west-bound ramps and is also the county line dividing San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Over time, increasing traffic related to added residential and commercial development will continue to impact County Line Road in both directions. During peak traffic periods, motorists exiting the freeway encounter delays, at times backing into the freeway lanes. The four-way signal at County Line Road and Calimesa Boulevard slows traffic and, combined with deep cross-gutters and busy commercial uses on each corner, present serious challenges to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Interstate 10 is one of the most heavily traveled corridors in Southern California, serving as a major goods movement corridor as well as a major recreational route used by Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino County residents. Improvements proposed in this TIGER grants will greatly improve mobility and safety for communities directly adjacent to I‑10 and will also improve safety on the Interstate by rectifying the stacking of vehicles at off ramps during peak traffic hours. Inland Action supports this joint application as it will greatly improve regional travel facilities and the adjacent roadways serving the Interstate. We urge your favorable review of this application.
Sincerely,
Deborah Barmack
President