WHO CAN I CONTACT ABOUT THE
SR-79 REALIGNMENT PROJECT?
If you have comments or questions about the SR-79 Realignment Project
contact us through our website at www.sr79project.info/contact or call (951)
824-8706. You may also write to:
Cathy Bechtel—Project Development Director
Riverside County Transportation Commission
P.O. Box 12008 • Riverside, CA 92502-2208
PROJECT MILESTONES
2004
Public scoping meetings held
Formal start of environmental process
2005
Evaluate and redefine alternatives
2008
Conduct required field surveys and prepare technical
reports
Prepare Draft Environmental Impact Report/
Environmental Impact Statement
Circulate Draft Environmental Impact Report/
Environmental Impact Statement for public review and
comment, conduct open house hearings and review
comments, identify Preferred Alternative for Project
Publish Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental
Impact Statement, prepare and publish Record Of
Decision
2009-2012
2013
2014
2015 and
beyond
WHERE CAN I SEE THE DRAFT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT/ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT?
Online at www.sr79project.info
Hard copies at:
Riverside County Transportation Commission
4080 Lemon Street, 3rd Floor
Riverside, CA 92501
California Department of Transportation, District 8 Office
464 West 4th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401
Hemet Public Library
300 E. Latham Avenue
Hemet, CA 92543
San Jacinto Public Library
500 Idyllwild Drive
San Jacinto, CA 92583
WHO ARE THE PROJECT PARTNERS?
The Riverside County Transportation Commission is working in
partnership with:
• California Department of Transportation
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Florida Avenue (near Warren Road)
• Federal Highway Administration
• County of Riverside
• City of Hemet
• City of San Jacinto
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE
SR-79 REALIGNMENT PROJECT?
Ramona Expressway (near Sanderson Avenue)
Esplanade Avenue/Trailwood Road
Final design, Right Of Way acquisition, begin construction*
* All contingent on available funding
A Project of the Riverside County Transportation Commission
Florida Avenue (near California Avenue)
WHAT IS THE
SR-79 REALIGNMENT
PROJECT?
The SR-79 Realignment Project
(Project) proposes to realign SR-79
between Domenigoni Parkway and
Gilman Springs Road. Currently, the
highway follows a circuitous route
through the downtown areas of Hemet
and San Jacinto. The Project would realign
the highway to provide a more direct
north-south route through the San
Jacinto Valley.
RCTC and Caltrans have prepared and released a Draft Environmental Impact Report/
Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIR/EIS) for public review and comment. The
Draft EIR/EIS describes the four proposed Build alternatives and two design options
to realign SR-79 to the western area of the San Jacinto Valley (see pages 2 and 3). The
Build alternatives propose to construct a limited access expressway with two lanes
in each direction, divided in the center, with on and off ramps for access. In addition,
two of the Build alternatives were revised in response to agency and public input to
include a variation (design option) with a lowered roadway profile to reduce visual
impacts to surrounding communities, mainly in the area south of Florida Avenue.
RCTC and Caltrans will be accepting comments on the Draft EIR/EIS for 45 days
after the release of the document. Comments are due by March 25, 2013. Two
open house hearings will be held to give the public an opportunity to ask questions
and comment on the proposed project. Comments may also be made online at
www.sr79project.info and by mail during the comment period. Following the comment
period, a Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Final
EIR/EIS) will be prepared that includes responses to the comments and identify the
Preferred Alternative for the project.
WHY IS THE PROJECT NEEDED?
Today, SR-79 traverses heavily populated areas in Winchester, Hemet, and San Jacinto. Regional
traffic competes with local traffic for the limited SR-79 roadway capacity. There are numerous
at-grade intersections, driveways, and traffic signals that affect traffic and efficiency. Finally,
SR-79 and SR-74 are collocated along Florida Avenue, combining north-south and east-west
traffic in one roadway.
The realignment of SR-79 would allow regional motorists to use a safer, more efficient, more
direct, north-south route while residents of Hemet and San Jacinto will enjoy better mobility
on local streets.
Domenigoni Parkway/SR-79
Riverside County Transportation Commission
www.rctc.org
www.sr79project.info
(951) 824-8706
Q&A Sheet #7
February 2013
WHAT ARE THE PROJECT ALTERNATIVES?
WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS?
BEAUMONT
G
I
CALIFORNIA
R
AC
IN
INT
OR
GS
IVE
R
SO
BO
R
IVER AQUEDUCT
O
AM
N
EX
A
PY
N
SAN JACINTO
Draft EIS
Public and Agency Review
EPA Filing; Federal Register
State Clearinghouse Review
Public Hearing and Review Period
Final EIR
Final EIS
Review of Responses by Commenting Agencies
Public and Agency review; EPA Filing;
Federal Register Notice
SOUTH SAN JACINTO ST
STATE ST
LYON AVE
AC
NJ
79
INE
HEMET
SA
Y
W
PK
Agency Decision
Not to Scale
Agency Decision
CALIFORNIA
WARREN RD
ODELL AVE
A CANAL
WARREN RD
ALABASTER DR
WINCHESTER RD
LYON AVE
CAWSTON AVE
LYON AVE
SANDERSON AVE
A CANAL
SANDERSON AVE
CAWSTON AVE
AL
CAN
GO
DIE
SAN
WINCHESTER RD
AL
ODELL AVE
ALABASTER DR
MAZE STONE CT
STATE ST
LYON AVE
SANDERSON AVE
CAWSTON AVE
SOUTH SAN JACINTO ST
WHITTIER AVE
WARREN RD
WARREN RD
A CANAL
ALABASTER DR
SOUTH SAN JACINTO ST
LYON AVE
MAZE STONE CT
AL
CAN
GO
DIE
SAN
CALIFORNIA AVE
ODELL AVE
WARREN RD
A CANAL
SANDERSON AVE
CAWSTON AVE
STATE ST
WINCHESTER RD
WHITTIER AVE
WARREN RD
CALIFORNIA AVE
ODELL AVE
WARREN RD
ALABASTER DR
MAZE STONE CT
AL
CAN
DIE
GO
SAN
CALIFORNIA AVE
WINCHESTER RD
WHITTIER AVE
Build Alternative 1a:
Starts in the south on Winchester Road, proceeds north on the west side of the
West Hemet Hills, then joins the alignment from Florida to Cottonwood. In the
north, Alternative 1a is closer to Warren.
TEMECULA
WHITTIER AVE
K
DOMENIGO N I P
OAKLAND AVE
SR 74/FLORIDA AVE
LT CR E E
SA
NNE
HA
KC
AC
NJ
SA
R
OB
INT
CH
E
LIN
CALIFORNIA
79
HEMET
L
Y
W
Not to Scale
CALIFORNIA
79
CALIFORNIA
Southern Limit
of Project
PM R15.78
79
EXISTING ROUTE
E NEWPORT RD
PROJECT BUILD ALTERNATIVE
VD
BL
DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE
A
Southern Limit
of Project
PM R15.78
OLIVE AVE
PY
TEMECULA
EXISTING ROUTE
E NEWPORT RD
N
79
RD
79
EL
NN
HA
MAIN
ST
MENLO RD
AN
SIMPSON RD
Not to Scale
CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA
O
Y
W
SAN JACINTO
STETSON AVE
TC
ME
HE
EX
WINCHESTER
M
ESPLANADE AVE
HEMET-RYAN
AIRPORT
RD
A
Not to Scale
AM
L
NNE
HA
KC
N
K
DOMENIGO N I P
R
STOWE RD
MILAN RD
E GRAND AVE
HADDOCK ST
OLIVE AVE
WEST
HEMET
HILLS
BA
O
SR 74/FLORIDA AVE
HEMET
LO
SEVENTH ST
TRES
CERRITOS
HILLS
CALIFORNIA
RANCHLAND RD
LT CR E E
SA
N
AC
NJ
SA
R
OB
INT
AM
HIDDEN SPRINGS RD
TRES CERRITOS AVE
79
BO
R
VD
BL
CH
AN
SIMPSON RD
Lower roadway profile and changes to local access
from Newport Road to Florida Avenue.
Roadway alignment would not vary
significantly from Build Alternative 2b.
DEVONSHIRE AVE
E
LIN
SO
COTTONWOOD AVE
OAKLAND AVE
SR 74/FLORIDA AVE
P
A
PY
N
MENLO RD
AC
RAMONA EXPY
SA
Build Alternative 2b
Design Option 2b1
R
IN
GS
INT
OR
IVE
R
NJ
IVER AQUEDUC
T
CA
MAIN
ST
SA
S
AN
LM
RD
O
EX
Y
W
A
Not to Scale
AM
WINCHESTER
L
NE
AN
RD
SAN JACINTO
ESPLANADE AVE
HEMET-RYAN
AIRPORT
LO
RA
DO
R
M
STETSON AVE
H
TC
ME
HE
N
K
DOMENIGO N I P
R
STOWE RD
MILAN RD
E GRAND AVE
HADDOCK ST
OLIVE AVE
WEST
HEMET
HILLS
BA
O
SR 74/FLORIDA AVE
HEMET
L
NNE
HA
KC
LO
SEVENTH ST
TRES
CERRITOS
HILLS
CALIFORNIA
RANCHLAND RD
LT CR E E
SA
N
HIDDEN SPRINGS RD
TRES CERRITOS AVE
79
AM
SIMPSON RD
AC
NJ
SA
R
L
NE
AN
CH
AN
R
OB
INT
CO
BO
COTTONWOOD AVE
DEVONSHIRE AVE
E
LIN
AC
SO
Build Alternative 2a
OAKLAND AVE
SR 74/FLORIDA AVE
Northern Limit
of Project
PM R33.80
P
VD
BL
MENLO RD
S
AN
LM
A
PY
N
Y
W
RD
O
WINCHESTER
ME
HE
EX
L
NNE
HA
KC
SA
MAIN
ST
79
R
IN
GS
INT
OR
IVE
R
NJ
G
I
CALIFORNIA
RAMONA EXPY
CA
SAN JACINTO
STETSON AVE
H
TC
RD
SA
IVER AQUEDUC
T
M
ESPLANADE AVE
HEMET-RYAN
AIRPORT
LO
RA
DO
R
A
AM
STOWE RD
MILAN RD
N
K
DOMENIGO N I P
WEST
HEMET
HILLS
E GRAND AVE
HADDOCK ST
OLIVE AVE
R
SR 74/FLORIDA AVE
HEMET
BA
O
AC
NJ
SA
R
OB
INT
LO
SEVENTH ST
TRES
CERRITOS
HILLS
CALIFORNIA
RANCHLAND RD
LT CR E E
SA
N
CH
AN
SIMPSON RD
HIDDEN SPRINGS RD
TRES CERRITOS AVE
79
AM
VD
BL
L
NE
AN
Lower roadway profile and changes to local access
from Newport Road to Florida Avenue.
Roadway alignment would not vary
significantly from Build Alternative 1b.
DEVONSHIRE AVE
E
LIN
BO
COTTONWOOD AVE
OAKLAND AVE
SR 74/FLORIDA AVE
CO
SO
R
A
PY
N
O
EX
HADDOCK ST
A
AM
WINCHESTER
MENLO RD
Build Alternative 1b
Design Option 1b1
AC
RAMONA EXPY
SA
MAIN
ST
R
IN
GS
INT
OR
IVE
R
NJ
IVER AQUEDUC
T
CA
ESPLANADE AVE
HEMET-RYAN
AIRPORT
RD
SAN JACINTO
STETSON AVE
H
TC
ME
HE
N
R
SR 74/FLORIDA AVE
LO
RA
DO
R
M
SEVENTH ST
TRES
CERRITOS
HILLS
DEVONSHIRE AVE
E GRAND AVE
O
N
HIDDEN SPRINGS RD
STOWE RD
BA
COTTONWOOD AVE
TRES CERRITOS AVE
MILAN RD
AM
LO
Build Alternative 1a
RANCHLAND RD
BO
R
SA
CO
SO
SA
P
RAMONA EXPY
IVER AQUEDUC
T
CA
WEST
HEMET
HILLS
AC
79
Northern Limit
of Project
PM R33.80
BEAUMONT
G
I
CALIFORNIA
S
AN
LM
NJ
RD
LO
RA
DO
R
Northern Limit
of Project
PM R33.80
R
IN
GS
INT
OR
IVE
R
P
CO
SA
79
Record of Decision
BEAUMONT
G
I
CALIFORNIA
S
AN
LM
Northern Limit
of Project
PM R33.80
BEAUMONT
G
I
79
SOUTH SAN JACINTO ST
BEAUMONT
CALIFORNIA
PROJECT BUILD ALTERNATIVES
DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE
Southern Limit
of Project
PM R15.78
TEMECULA
Findings; Statement of Overriding Consideration;
Mitigation Monitoring Program
EXISTING ROUTE
E NEWPORT RD
STATE ST
79
MAZE STONE CT
LT CR E E
SA
L
NNE
HA
KC
CAN
DOMENIGO N I
Draft EIR
CALIFORNIA
GO
SIMPSON RD
OLIVE AVE
Scoping
DIE
WHITTIER AVE
HADDOCK ST
EL
NN
HA
TC
ME
HE
Scoping
HL
NC
RA
OB
INT
STETSON AVE
WARREN RD
MILAN RD
RANCHLAND RD
E GRAND AVE
Notice of Preparation
OAKLAND AVE
SR 74/FLORIDA AVE
HEMET-RYAN
AIRPORT
SAN
CALIFORNIA AVE
E
DIE
G
WINCHESTER RD
WEST
ET
HEMET
S
HILLS
STOWE RD
WINCHESTER
MENLO RD
O
SR 74/FLORIDA AVE
Notice of Preparation
WARREN RD
CAN
AL
DEVONSHIRE AVE
SANDERSON AVE
TRES
CERRITOS
HILLS
TRES CERRITOS AVE
A Preferred Alternative has not been identified for the Project. The Cities of Hemet and
San Jacinto have identified their preference for a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the
Project. The City of Hemet’s LPA was adopted by resolution on May 13, 2008, and is shown
on the Project Location Map in green. The City of San Jacinto LPA was adopted as part of
their general plan in January 2006 and is shown on the Project Location Map in yellow. The
County of Riverside has not selected an LPA.
ESPLANADE AVE
CAWSTON AVE
HIDDEN SPRINGS RD
NEPA—ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
MAIN
ST
SEVENTH ST
ALABASTER DR
HAS A PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED FOR THE PROJECT?
MAZE STONE CT
M
COTTONWOOD AVE
CEQA—ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
SOUTH SAN JACINTO ST
M
SAN
LO
STATE ST
A CANAL
VD
BL
SA
RD
A
O
AM
N
R
CA
BA
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) require agencies to prepare environmental
analyses of proposed projects that could have significant effects on the environment and to circulate these documents to other agencies and the
public before making decisions. The steps for each process are shown in these charts.
CALIFORNIA AVE
RA
DO
R
ODELL AVE
LO
NJ
RAMONA EXPY
WARREN RD
CO
SA
RD
Northern Limit
of Project
PM R33.80
P
The proposed Project Build alternatives are shown on the maps below. All begin south of
Domenigoni Parkway and end south of the San Jacinto River on Sanderson Avenue. As you
review their locations on the maps notice that there are two main choices in the south near
the community of Winchester and two main choices in the north in the city of San Jacinto.
Between Florida Avenue and Cottonwood Avenue, all Build alternatives are similar.
S
AN
LM
79
DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE
PROJECT BUILD ALTERNATIVE
Build Alternative 1b and Design Option 1b1:
Starts in the south on Winchester Road and proceeds east to an interchange with
Domenigoni, then north on the west side of the West Hemet Hills and then joins
the common alignment from Florida to Cottonwood. Design Option 1b1 is on
the same alignment but provides a lower roadway profile from Domenigoni to
California. In the north, Alternative 1b is closer to Sanderson.
TEMECULA
EXISTING ROUTE
E NEWPORT RD
Southern Limit
of Project
PM R15.78
DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE
Build Alternative 2a:
Starts in the south on Winchester Road, proceeds north through the West
Hemet Hills, then joins the alignment from Florida to Cottonwood. In the north,
Alternative 2a is closer to Warren.
EXISTING ROUTE
E NEWPORT RD
PROJECT BUILD ALTERNATIVE
TEMECULA
Southern Limit
of Project
PM R15.78
DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE
PROJECT BUILD ALTERNATIVE
Build Alternative 2b and Design Option 2b1:
Starts in the south on Winchester Road and proceeds east to an interchange
with Domenigoni, then north through the West Hemet Hills and then joins
the alignment from Florida to Cottonwood. Design Option 2b1 is on the same
alignment but provides a lower roadway profile from Domenigoni to California. In
the north, Alternative 2b is closer to Sanderson.