Project Status & News

• The final engineering design is nearing completion

Description

This project will lower Magnolia Avenue under the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks in Magnolia Center. Then a two track railroad bridge will be constructed over Magnolia. This project will also shift the alignment of Magnolia Avenue approximately 50 feet to the west.

Beatty Drive will be widened between Brockton and De Anza Avenues, and traffic signals will be installed at the intersections of Beatty Drive with Brockton, Magnolia, and De Anza Avenues. Additionally, Merrill Avenue on the east and west side of Magnolia will be converted to a right turn in/out at Magnolia Avenue to facilitate traffic flow.

The project requires relocation of water and electric facilities maintained by the Riverside Public Utilities Department, communication lines owned by AT&T and Charter, gas lines, and relocation of over 6300 feet of sewer line to redirect sewer flows around the grade separation.

Also a storm water pumping station will be constructed. A temporary two-lane detour road on the on the east side of Magnolia Avenue will accommodate traffic while the railroad bridge is under construction.

Construction Schedule

Construction is expected to start in Fall 2009 and take approximately 18 months to complete.

Project Benefits

• Eliminates 2.3 hours per day of gate down time which stops traffic on Magnolia
• Eliminates over 3 minutes of average delay for each emergency responder that encounters a train
• Eliminates over 16.8 tons per year of green house gases generated by idling vehicles delayed by trains (2030)

Project Facts

• Magnolia Avenue currently carries a total of about 25,000 vehicles per day
• Four bus routes with a total of 178 buses traverse the Magnolia Avenue at-grade crossing each day
• This segment of the Union Pacific rail line is used by 47 freight trains and 12 passenger trains daily
• The rail traffic causes approximately 137 minutes of traffic delay per day on Magnolia Avenue
• Between January 1, 2003 and May 2007, Riverside Fire Department emergency response vehicles and American Medical Response ambulances were delayed 44 times with an average delay of 3.25 minutes by trains blocking traffic at this crossing.

Project Cost and Funding:

The total estimated project cost is approximately $51.2 million. Project funding includes: