RCTC approves PID consultant and Caltrans coop for I‑10/SR‑79 interchange in Beaumont

The Western Riverside County Programs and Projects Committee voted to award a Project Initiation Document (PID) consultant contract to Kimley‑Horn and Associates and to enter a cooperative agreement with Caltrans to support early planning for the Interstate 10/State Route 79 interchange in Beaumont.

Joy Edelis Yanez, senior capital projects manager, told commissioners the interchange serves as a critical hub for commuter and freight traffic to Western Riverside County, Orange County and Los Angeles County and has long‑identified operational deficiencies because of close adjacent interchanges and nearby frontage roads.

Yanez said the commission’s evaluation committee — including RCTC, Bechtel, City of Beaumont and Caltrans staff — received eight RFQ responses, shortlisted four firms and recommended Kimley‑Horn and Associates. The negotiated PID consultant price is $1,192,860; staff assumed a 10% contingency leaving a “not to exceed” amount just over $1.3 million. ‘‘With your approvals, we can advance this project to the next step, the PID phase,’’ Yanez said.

The cooperative agreement with Caltrans is intended to provide technical review, coordination and required approvals during the PID phase. Staff described the Caltrans role as oversight and review while RCTC implements the PID; the cooperative agreement was presented at $300,000 with a 10% contingency for a total not to exceed $330,000.

Commissioners and members of the public raised questions about the scope of the PID and the project schedule. Yanez and RCTC staff explained that the PID defines purpose and need and analyzes alternatives but does not produce final design. She said PID completion is anticipated late next year and, if the city secures funding for later phases, environmental review could begin in 2028; staff estimated construction might not begin for roughly four to five years, depending on funding.

Local constraints discussed during the presentation included proximity to the SR‑60/I‑10 merge, close frontage roads, existing right‑of‑way and nearby railroad infrastructure; staff said they will evaluate alternatives with an eye to minimizing impacts and coordination complexities.

After discussion, Unidentified Speaker 7 moved to approve the staff recommendation, Unidentified Speaker 5 seconded, and the commission passed the item by roll‑call vote.

The PID award and Caltrans cooperative agreement advance preliminary planning but do not commit funding for environmental design or construction. RCTC staff said the City of Beaumont is responsible for pursuing and securing funding for subsequent phases.