Measure I: I-10 Carpool Lanes - Ontario to Redlands

Project Overview & Significance

Plans call for adding a carpool lane in each direction along a 25-mile segment of Interstate 10 from Haven Avenue in Ontario to Ford Street in Redlands. Interstate 10 currently has carpool lanes west of Haven Avenue; this project will allow the extension of these lanes east through the San Bernardino Valley, including the cities of Ontario, Fontana, Rialto, Colton, San Bernardino, Loma Linda and Redlands, as well as San Bernardino County unincorporated areas along the I-10 corridor. See the project map...

In addition to the new carpool lanes, the project proposes to:

• Widen existing under-crossings,
• Reconstruct several freeway over-crossings,
• Construct a concrete median barrier,
• Add auxiliary lanes, and
• Improve drainage conditions

The section of Interstate 10 through the San Bernardino Valley is one of the most congested freeway segments in San Bernardino County. This is a heavily-used commuting route, and carpool lanes will help encourage ridesharing in this area.

I-10 also is designated as a Trade Corridor of National Significance and is a principal truck route from Los Angeles to Arizona, Texas and the Gulf Coast states. A number of interchange improvement projects also are planned along I-10 in this region. These improvements along the I-10 corridor will improve traffic flow, interchange operations and access to critical destinations, including logistics centers in the Fontana/Rialto area, hospitals in Colton and Loma Linda, and the San Bernardino International Airport, the former Norton Air Force Base. 

SANBAG advanced funds from its Measure I 2010-2040 program to begin this early project development work. Funding for future phases of this project, including design and construction, will be provided in part by future Measure I revenue.

Commuting and Traffic Data (2006-2007)

Source: Caltrans and Southern California Association of Governments

• 80% of San Bernardino County commuters drive to work alone each day.

• San Bernardino County commuters spend an average of 43 minutes each way, traveling an average of 23.3 miles in each direction.

• Up to 24,000 trucks move freight through this area each day.
• Forecasts show that between 25 0,000 and 30 0,000 vehicles are expected to use this section of freeway each day by 2030.
• Up to 24,000 trucks move freight through this area each day.
• Between 13,000 and 15,000 of these trucks are considered to be “big rigs” with five axles or more.
• Lengthy traffic queues occur daily for both eastbound and westbound motorists. Delays are much greater on Friday evenings and holiday weekends.

Engineering & Environmental Work

As part of the preparation of the project report and environmental document, studies related to engineering and environmental disciplines will be completed. These studies, combined with input from local jurisdictions and the public, will lead to the recommendation of a preferred project alternative.

Engineering studies to be conducted during this phase include land surveying and mapping, traffic , railroad operations, public utilities, right of way needs, drainage, design alternatives and cost estimates.  Environmental studies to analyze how the project may affect the area also are being conducted, including studies of air quality, community impacts, cultural and historic properties, hazardous materials, noise, sensitive plants/wildlife, water quality, and visual impacts.

Noise studies will help determine the possible placement of sound walls along the I-10 corridor. Residents near proposed sound walls locations will be contacted about these walls and asked to participate in the process. Landscaping plans will be developed for this section of freeway, in consultation with local jurisdictions.

In addition, project engineers will develop and refine project alternatives, create geometric drawings for the alternatives, establish the methods that will be used to evaluate the alternatives, perform the alternatives analysis, and establish the project purpose and need. Preliminary cost estimates also will be developed for future project phases, including final design, right of way acquisition and construction.
Several alternatives will be considered during this phase of the project. The alternatives are as follows:

• Full Standard Build Alternative: This alternative would provide a carpool lane in each direction of the freeway with a standard 10-foot inside shoulder and a carpool lane buffer. This alternative includes construction of a concrete median barrier and reconstruction of some over-crossings to accommodate the carpool lane widening. Auxiliary lanes also are proposed at selected locations to facilitate movement of traffic entering and exiting the carpool and general purpose lanes.
• Reduced Standard Build Alternative: This alternative is similar to the Full Standard Build Alternative, but proposes non-standard shoulder widths where constraints, such as existing bridge columns, do not allow a full standard shoulder.  In addition, the reduced standard alternative would provide non-standard shoulder widths at locations where the reduced widths would result in minimized impacts to local streets and freeway noise walls. These non-standard shoulder widths would vary between 1 foot and 9 feet.
• No Build Alternative: This alternative would maintain the project segment of the freeway in its current condition – without the proposed carpool and auxiliary lanes.

The project report and the environmental document are scheduled to be approved by late 2010. Final design and right of way acquisition may be approved and certified by 2014. Pending the availability of funds, construction could begin by 2015, and portions could be constructed by 2020 . These dates are approximate and are subject to change. 

The project report and the environmental document are scheduled to be completed by late 2010. Final design and right of way acquisitions may be approved and certified by 2014. Pending the availability of funds, construction could begin by 2015 and be complete by 2018. These dates are approximate and are subject to change. 

Estimated Project Cost

The total estimated project cost is up to $1.2 billion in 2008 dollars. This cost estimate is based on the project’s latest design and is still subject to revisions, based on future cost escalations

SANBAG will explore funding sources for final design, right of way acquisition and construction of this project. Potential funding sources include federal and state allocations, Proposition 1B bond revenue and Measure I , the half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in San Bernardino County.

Contact Us

Call Us at:	909-884-8276
Write to Us:	San Bernardino Associated Governments Attention: I-10 Carpool Lanes 1170 West 3rd St, 2nd Floor San Bernardino, CA 92410

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