The agency behind Southern California's regional rail network Metrolink has secured new state funding to upgrade service on the 91/Perris Valley Line.

Map of 91/Perris Valley LineRCTC

The $25-million grant, which comes from the California's State Transportation Agency's (CAlSTA) Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), will be paired with $32 million in existing federal funding secured by the Riverside County Transportation Commission, covering the full construction cost of 2.7 miles of double track, a second passenger platform at the Moreno Valley/March Field Station, and an expansion of the Perris-South terminus.

“We are incredibly thankful to CalSTA for this generous grant award,” said Metrolink Board Chair Ara Najarian. “CalSTA and our state partners consistently support Metrolink rail projects to ensure we operate the safest railroad in America. These 91/Perris Valley Line enhancements are another step toward making Metrolink a world-class transportation provider in time for the 2028 Olympics.”

The roughly $57 million project is on track for completion in 2027.

Perris South Metrolink stationWikimedia Commons

“Metrolink’s efforts to improve the 91/Perris Valley Line for Riverside County residents are outstanding and appreciated,” said Riverside County 2nd District Supervisor Karen Spiegel, who is also a member of the Metrolink Board of Directors and Riverside County Transportation Commission. “Since Metrolink extended the 91/PVL by 24 miles in 2016, residents of Moreno Valley, Perris and other Riverside County communities have been able to avoid I-215 traffic and travel where they need to in comfort.”

The upgrades to the 91/Perris Valley Line are one aspect of a roughly $10-billion capital improvement program for the more than 500-mile Metrolink network called the Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (or "SCORE"), which aims to enable 15-to-30-minute headways on all regional rail lines by 2028. That timeline is tied to the coming 2028 Olympic Games, when Lake Perris will host canoe sprint and rowing events.