Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Riverside public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
39 issues in roads
Measure Z street repair funding
Measure Z dollars fix aging park facilities, but the allocation is being cut from $3.5 million to $2 million a year, pausing planned repairs.
USPS carrier parking zone on Bogart Avenue
The new affordable housing complex's cluster mailboxes sit on Bogart Avenue, and the mail carrier needs a place to park. A 5-minute zone keeps the spot free for deliveries while preserving overnight neighborhood parking.
Poplar Avenue parking near Main Street project
Commissioners flagged dangerous speeding on Main Street where the tap room sits. A grant-funded 'safe streets' project would cut lanes from four to two, add median parking, crosswalks and bike lanes — construction expected summer 2027.
Speed humps requested on Muirfield Road
Residents say speeders, construction trucks, and a hillside curve make the road dangerous for walkers, cyclists, and a resident in a wheelchair. The board overrode staff's denial and sent the humps to Council.
Santa Ana River Trail car wash driveway conflict
A driveway crossing the trail near Hicap Avenue injured a cyclist. The board asked staff to look at signage and lower fencing so drivers can see cyclists and pedestrians.
Rail Crossing Improvements at Palm and Brockton
Nearly $912,000 in gas tax and Measure A money was slated for street improvements at the Palm and Brockton avenue rail crossings in Ward 3.
HAWK Signal at Madison & Emerald
Casa Blanca residents say the pedestrian-activated HAWK signal confuses drivers and has caused near-misses near a church, library, and senior community. The council chose to repay Caltrans and revert to a four-way stop.
Arterial and minor street maintenance paving contract
The council awarded a $7.677 million contract to repave major corridors including Day Street, Brockton Avenue, Wood Road, La Sierra Avenue and Washington Street, plus 2.7 miles of neighborhood streets and 132 bollards to keep vehicles off Main Street pedestrian areas.
Smart traffic signals and Vision Zero
Riverside landed $2.5 million in no-match federal-style money to make traffic signals talk to each other with AI-based controllers, plus new controllers citywide. The Vision Zero plan to eliminate traffic deaths is in community outreach now.
Redwood Drive Northbound Lane Closure and Pedestrian/Bicycle Zone
Fairmount Park's Redwood Drive northbound lane could close long-term and convert to a pedestrian and bicycle zone, changing how visitors access the park. The Board was scheduled to review traffic studies, survey results, and community feedback on the proposal.
Redwood Drive/University Avenue cut-through traffic
A pilot project cut cut-through traffic on Redwood Drive by about 95%, but drivers shifted to Cedar and other streets. Now neighbors are fighting over which access to restrict next, and the board sent staff back for more analysis.
Timed Bus Zone Revision on Myers Street
A disabled student's bus needs reserved curb space at set hours; with the student moving up to Arlington High, the pickup and drop-off windows need updating.
Two-Way Traffic Circulation on Redwood Drive and University Avenue
The Redwood Drive two-way circulation pilot between University Avenue and Ninth Street is moving forward, and the Board was scheduled to weigh interim traffic options — including making part of University Avenue one-way eastbound or temporarily closing a section at Redwood Drive.
Linden Street Restriping Pilot
The city wants to convert Linden Street near John W. North High School from four lanes to two, with a center turn lane, bike lanes, and a striped school loading zone. It matches the general plan, cuts crash points, and the road still grades out at the best congestion level even with fewer lanes.
Citywide Street Preservation Program
About 11.6 miles of Riverside streets were slated for slurry and cape seal treatment plus new pavement markings under a $1.9 million contract. This is the annual pavement maintenance that keeps roads from deteriorating into costlier repairs.
Third Street Grade Separation funding
The council accepted $40 million in federal, state, and earmark grants to build the Third Street grade separation, a major rail-safety and traffic project affecting Wards 1 and 2.
Jobs and commute patterns
New data shows Riverside is a regional leader in people living and working in the same city — 60% of a million daily trips stay internal. The takeaway: adding jobs alone won't cut traffic; housing variety and transit matter more.
Pedestrian safety HAWK signal at Third and Anderson
A new high-intensity activated crosswalk (HAWK) signal was approved for the Third Street/Anderson Avenue intersection for about $318,670.
Third Street and Anderson Avenue pedestrian signal
A new HAWK pedestrian crossing signal at Third Street and Anderson Avenue was on the agenda for about $318,670, aimed at making that intersection safer to cross.
Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines (VMT) update
New thresholds mean far fewer projects need detailed traffic analysis under CEQA — single-family jumps from 11 to 79 units, industrial to over 300,000 square feet. Supporters say it speeds housing; a Sierra Club critic says it conflicts with state greenhouse gas goals.
Street paving program for 2026-27
Public Works was scheduled to present an overview of the Pavement Management Program and propose which streets get paved in the coming fiscal year — a direct quality-of-life issue for drivers.
Traffic safety at Mary Street and Frances Street
Multiple residents described drivers routinely running the four-way stop near the proposed project, including parents walking kids to school, and asked the city to act. Commissioner Mooney suggested traffic calming such as a signal be studied as new homes are built.
Pedestrian crossing and median break at La Sierra and Alhambra
The commission added a high-visibility crosswalk condition and a median break at the project entry, but a full traffic signal wasn't legally warranted — the intersection goes on the city's signal priority list instead. Residents warned about middle schoolers crossing busy La Sierra.
Mission Boulevard bicycle safety concerns
A resident says the new 2-foot center divider on Mission Boulevard leaves no safe route for cyclists coming from Moreno Valley, and a removed left-turn lane is jamming traffic.
School Zone Pedestrian Safety Grant
The city planned to apply for a $9.9 million state grant to build safer crossings, audible push buttons, speed feedback signs, and AI video detection near five schools, plus a separate trail plan grant.
Free senior and disability transportation program (Access for All)
Butterfly Technologies is offering subsidized rides for seniors and people with disabilities in Riverside, Corona, and Moreno Valley under a state grant. Rides are normally $2 but free in June and July with a promo code, covering a 12-mile radius with same-day scheduling and free caregiver rides.
Butterfly $2 rides for deaf and disabled residents
A subsidized ride program offers $2 trips within a 12-mile radius for wheelchair users and deaf or disabled residents, funded through December 30.
Aging streets in the Arlington area
A Ward 3-area... actually Ward 1/adjacent resident described years of pothole complaints on Phoenix Avenue and cracks on Adams Street; staff said both are scheduled for repaving next fiscal year.
Citywide Speed Limit Reduction
The council adopted a citywide speed limit reduction ordinance in May — about 20% of speed limits will drop by 5 or 10 mph in safety corridors, and 36 new speed limits are being set. Look for new signs, a public awareness campaign, and targeted police enforcement.
South Main Complete Streets Project
Main Street from Third Street to the 60 freeway will go from four lanes to two with parking, bike lanes, sidewalks, and curb ramps. Design wraps up at the end of this year; construction could start mid-next year.
Overlook Parkway Cut-Through Traffic
A board member flagged increasingly dangerous cut-through traffic on Overlook Parkway, with near-misses involving pedestrians and strollers. The board will look at traffic data when school is back in session.
Senior Transportation Awareness
Commissioner Clarke noticed huge demand for transit flyers at a senior conference and proposed a commission-on-aging transportation workshop at a park or senior center to close the gap between seniors and transit info.
Transportation Board 2026 Work Plan
The board was scheduled to discuss its 2026 work plan — the roadmap for what traffic projects and policies it will tackle this year.
Brockton Avenue Railroad Quiet Zone eminent domain
The city was scheduled to consider using eminent domain to secure easements on private property for a railroad quiet zone project between Brockton Avenue and Palm Avenue. A quiet zone would reduce train horn noise at crossings, but the property owner refused the city's statutory offer, setting up possible court proceedings.
New 25 MPH Speed Limits
An ordinance was set for introduction to lower speed limits to 25 mph on First Street downtown and on the Victoria Avenue frontage road.
Timed 2-Hour Preferential Parking Zone on Larkin Court
A proposal to establish a timed two-hour preferential parking zone on Larkin Court was up for discussion. Timed parking zones can change where residents and their visitors can park.
Federal grant for airport-area road improvements
The city was poised to apply for a $7.5 million federal BUILD grant for parking, road, and safety improvements around Riverside Airport — but it would come with about $1.5 million in required local matching funds.
Madison Street traffic pilot opposition
Casa Blanca neighbors lined up against the proposed no-left-turn pilot at Madison/Emerald, saying the diagonal HAWK signal already confuses drivers. Council sent the pilot back to staff to rework with the community.
Mission Boulevard Bridge improvements funding
An amendment would add nearly $4 million from Measure A funds to the bridge replacement project at the Santa Ana River, bringing the total to about $5.2 million shared with the County and Jurupa Valley.