Reflecting on a Productive 2024 

December 23, 2024

The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) has been hard at work this year planning, building and completing several much-needed projects. We know that roadway construction can impact people’s lives in different ways. So, while we build our way to a better tomorrow, we appreciate your patience and understanding throughout that process.  

Working with Caltrans and our regional partners, SBCTA’s projects are improving a variety of aspects along major highways, improving or restoring vital neighborhood connections and offering new, clean air transit options.   

Helping these projects come to fruition is an investment of more than  
$550 million in voter-approved Measure I funds, the half-cent sales tax collected through San Bernardino County for transportation improvements. Voters first approved the measure in 1989, and overwhelmingly its extension in 2004 with more than 80 percent voting to extend the measure through 2040. SBCTA administers Measure I revenue and determines which projects receive Measure I funding. 

Here are a few highlights from 2024. 

Projects on Interstate 10 

• SB Express Lanes: the first 10 miles from the Los Angeles/San Bernardino County Line to Interstate 15 opened in August. The next phase to extend the SB Express Lanes by 11.1 miles to Colton is currently going through the design and right-of-way processes. 
   

• Truck climbing lanes: construction began in March to add lanes for large trucks and slower vehicles from Live Oak Canyon Road in the city of Yucaipa to just east of the County Line Road Bridge at the San Bernardino County and Riverside County line. 
   

• Interchange improvements are underway at Cedar Avenue and more are planned at Mount Vernon Avenue. 

Express Lanes on Interstate 15 

• Throughout 2024, significant progress was made to finalize construction plans for the addition of express lanes and auxiliary lanes between Cantu-Galleano Ranch Road in Riverside County and Foothill Boulevard in San Bernardino County. Construction is expected to begin in early 2025. Learn more at goSBCTA.com/i15corridor.  

Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridge 

• In September, the rebuilding of this critical bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Intermodal Facility in the city of San Bernardino saw the placement of large concrete girders to create the support portion of the bridge’s driving surface. The quarter-mile long bridge is expected to reopen in 2025. Learn more at goSBCTA.com/mtvernonbridge  

ZEMU  

• In June, SBCTA and Metrolink welcomed the arrival of North America’s first federally compliant, self-powered, zero-emission hybrid hydrogen and battery passenger train. The train is undergoing testing to ensure a safe and successful entry into public service on Metrolink’s Arrow Service in early 2025. Learn more at goSBCTA.com/ZEMU. 

 
West Valley Connector 

• Construction on San Bernardino County’s Zero-emission Bus Initiative began in January. Phase I of the project is 19 miles and will upgrade a portion of existing Route 61 which runs along Holt Boulevard, adding approximately 3.5 miles as center running, dedicated bus-only lanes. There will be 21 stations in Phase I that will provide a much improved transit connection to Ontario International Airport (ONT) and help build transit connectivity by linking ONT, two Metrolink lines (San Bernardino and Riverside) and multiple major activity centers along the route including Ontario Mills and Victoria Gardens. Learn more at goSBCTA.com/WestValleyConnector. 

Thanks to a productive 2024, SBCTA is excited for the year ahead that’s filled with project beginnings and continued progress toward improving the movement of people and goods throughout San Bernardino County. Learn more at goSBCTA.com/projects.