RCTC soon to begin $4.8 million road improvement project in Idyllwild

Tony Ault Staff Writer

Idyllwild residents and visitors will be seeing much needed road work on North and South Circle Drives and in the downtown business corridor this summer thanks to a $4.8 million road repair project approved by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors earlier this month.

The work, according to the supervisors, will cover 4.7 miles of those roads, with the construction bids going out and the approval of the contract. The work will begin this summer and take about 3 to 4 months to complete. The work will be under the direction of the Riverside County Transportation Commission. The work of former District 3 Supervisor Chuck Washington and now District 4 Supervisor V. Manuel Perez was acknowledged for helping to bring this project to fruition.

Meanwhile, in the Wildomar/ Lake Elsinore area, the much needed widening and improvements of Bundy Canyon are near completion with street lights being adjusted and final line striping underway, with the final sign off soon to take place after a few “bumps” in the road are taken care of according to the Wildomar city staff. The project is one of Wildomar’s Major Capital Improvements Program projects with more to get underway on the city’s sidestreets exiting onto the busy highway.

Menifee

Menifee reports that storm drain facilities are being installed adjacent to Holland and Bradford roads as part of a planned 80 residential housing tract. Intermittent traffic control will be in place during construction, which is expected to continue through the end of May.

Also the Menifee Capital Improvement Program Holland Road Overpass project continues on Holland Road between Hanover Lane and Antelope Road that will remain closed for the duration of the project, which is expected to last 17 months. For additional information and to sign up for project updates, please visit www. hollandoverpass.com.

Valley Boulevard between McCall Boulevard and Ridgemoor Street will see the developer of Cimarron Ridge continue to install underground improvements in the area. This portion of Valley Boulevard will be subject to lane closures during this work and traffic delays should be expected in the area through May.

Paving work on the City’s Capital Improvements Program project on Menifee Road between Holland Road and Camino Cristal is completed. Work will continue in the roadway as the contractor addresses manhole adjustments, traffic loop installation and roadway striping. Work will continue through the end of May.

Southern California Edison work on Menifee Road from Newport to Holland roads is trenching new power lines. Work is currently active during daytime and nighttime hours at the intersection of Newport and Menifee roads. Traffic control will be in place during project work. Message boards containing contact information for the project will also be placed in the project area. SoCal Gas Company has completed the installation of gas lines for this project. All travel lanes are now open in the areas of Evans Road and Lazy Creek Road. For questions on the project/ construction updates listed, please contact Philip Southard, Public Information and Legislative Affairs Officer, at 951-746-0654 or at psouthard@cityofmenifee.us

Hemet

The California Department of Transportation continues its work on a $1.3 million safety project on State Route 79 in the City of Hemet. The project is modifying and upgrading a traffic signal, reconstructing and upgrading sidewalks, curb ramps and driveways to current Americans with Disabilities Act standards at the intersection of E. Latham Avenue.

Striping operations have taken place but other work continues as crews excavate, remove and pour concrete. Temporary pedestrian access will be provided as field conditions allow. Use caution in and around the construction zone. Hours of operation and potential impacts to commuters and pedestrians will be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. with intermittent lane closures in each direction but no full closures. The curbs are being reconstructed to ADA standards that will affect pedestrian traffic. Schedules can change due to inclement weather.

San Jacinto

Caltrans continues work on the $4 million safety project to construct a median concrete barrier and rumble strips on State Route 79 near San Jacinto, weather permitting. Crews continue to work on asphalt removal on the shoulders, layout and preparation for replacement and installation of guardrail, vegetation control and striping operations throughout the construction zone. Most of the k-rail has been removed.

Remaining work will require outside lane and shoulder closures in both directions for equipment operators to place striping and rumble strips. Use caution.

CHP will be on site to assist with traffic safety.

Banning

Caltrans continues work on a $2 million project to rehabilitate existing planting, landscaping and upgrading of irrigation facilities to current water efficient technology and provide erosion control on Interstate 10 at 8th Street in the City of Banning. Crews continue working on landscaping and irrigation facilities in and near the I-10 from .25 miles west of 8th Street to South San Gorgonio Ave. Weather may affect work schedules, set for Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Shoulder closures may take place on the off ramps to eastbound and westbound, I-10 at SR-243 at 8th Street. Other ramps and shoulders may be intermittently closed, throughout the duration of the project, to ensure the safety of the crew.

Palm Springs

Caltrans continues work on a $5.5 million project to construct and upgrade curb ramps to ADA standards and modify signal and lighting systems on State Route 111 in Palm Springs. Weather and temperature dependent.

Crews continue work at various locations on SR-111 from Lawrence Crossley Road to West Gateway Drive. A minimum of one lane will be open in each direction at all times.

Tony Ault can be reached at tault@reedermedia.com

RIVERSIDE COUNTY – The growth rate of homelessness in Riverside County decreased by 3% according to the annual Pointin-Time-Count. The decrease is a testament to the county’s investment in partnership with cities and local organizations.

The Wednesday, Jan. 25, count was coordinated by the county Department of Housing and Workforce Solutions, in partnership with the county continuum of care, a network of private and public sector homeless service providers, and cities. More than 1,000 volunteers and homeless providers covered all areas of the county during the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-mandated count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless populations in cities and counties throughout the nation. This year’s count reflected an increase by 409 individuals to a total of 3,725. In 2022, Riverside County experienced an increase of 15% in overall homelessness compared to this year’s 12%. In comparison to last year, the number of individuals identified during the count residing in a shelter decreased by 4%, or 52 individuals, and those unsheltered increased by 23%, or 461 individuals.

A comparison of the results from 2022 and 2023 showed that unsheltered people numbered 1,980 in 2022 and 2,441 in 2023; sheltered people numbered 1,336 in 2022 and 1,284 in 2023, totaling 3.316 in 2022 and 3,725 in 2023.

“While we strive for an overall reduction in homelessness overall, we are encouraged with the decrease in the growth rate and believe that it is a result of the many investments made on behalf of our county and city partners,” Heidi Marshall, director for the Department of Housing and Workforce Solutions, said. The county’s investments have included significant federal funding from the CARES Act and ARPA into housing, prevention and support of our community service providers.

Count teams included outreach workers, housing navigators and case managers. Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Riverside County staff and volunteers survey a homeless individual at a vacant lot in the city of Indio. deputies and police officers from cities throughout the county who regularly work with people experiencing homelessness were key in supporting volunteers and identifying areas where unsheltered residents live.

“This extra effort was necessary to complement the count’s ‘More Than a Count’ initiative, a local

Employment

**Now Hiring ** Receptionist PositionWe are looking for the perfect individual to join our effort inspired by the county’s board of supervisors, which aims to engage residents and connect them to services, especially shelter on the day of the count,” Tanya Torno, deputy director for the Riverside County Department Housing and Workforce SolutionsContinuum of Care, said.

As part of the “More Than a

Count” initiative, count volunteers identified an elderly couple with medical conditions who were street homeless behind a supermarket. The Department of Public Social Services-Adult Services Division staff, who were part of the count teams, connected them to an emergency shelter through a motel voucher and created a housing plan for them using a permanent Housing Choice Voucher. The couple has been successfully housed and linked to medical services.

“When we serve homeless seniors and connect them to housing, we don’t just give them shelter; we give them a reason to believe in a brighter future,” Supervisor Karen Spiegel of Riverside County’s Second District, who participated in the street-based count along with her district team, said. “We give them dignity to live out their golden years.”

If you or anyone you know is experiencing homelessness in Riverside County, call 800-4988847 or email homeconnect@ ruhealth.org

Submitted by Riverside County.

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