Riverside County Voters To Decide Whether To Renew Transportation Funding Measure

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The Riverside County Transportation Commission voted last week to place a transportation funding measure on the November 2026 ballot.

The measure, which has yet to have a letter designation, will ask county voters whether they want to renew a half-cent sales tax to fund further investments in transportation infrastructure and services.

"Today’s action is about providing revenues for important projects our residents have said are important, which includes the SR-91, I-15, I-10, I-215, local streets and roads, and public transportation throughout the county,” said RCTC Chair Raymond Gregory. “Voters will have the opportunity to decide whether to maintain long-term funding for transportation improvements without increasing the sales tax rate."

The current half-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation improvements, known as Measure A, was first approved by Riverside County voters in 1988. The tax was then renewed by voters in 2002.

The tax has generated more than $3.1 billion for transportation projects and services, according to the RCTC, but the 2002 renewal expires in 2039.

If another half-cent sales tax renewal is approved by voters in November, the local revenue would continue to fund transportation projects throughout the county beyond 2039.

It is estimated the renewed measure would generate approximately $280 million annually for transportation improvements and continue until ended by voters, according to RCTC.

"For 37 years, local sales tax transportation funding has helped improve local roads, rebuild interchanges, expand freeway capacity, and invest in public transportation throughout Riverside County,” said RCTC Executive Director Aaron Hake. “Local funding matters because it stays in Riverside County, allowing our communities to address local transportation priorities, bring additional state and federal transportation dollars into Riverside County, and deliver projects for the public.”

The Riverside County Registrar of Voters is responsible for assigning the letter designation that will appear on the ballot for the proposed transportation funding renewal measure.