Abstract
The Mira Loma Park & Ride (P&R), owned, operated and maintained by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is located at the northeast corner of the Interstate 15 (I-15) and Limonite Avenue Interchange, in the City of Jurupa Valley, CA, near the city boundary with Eastvale, CA. The rapid growth of the two cities justified the construction of the Mira Loma P&R facility in 1983 in conjunction with the mentioned interchange. The facility has been open to the public since 1989. Due to major improvements proposed to the I-15/Limonite Avenue Interchange, the existing Mira Loma P&R was encroached by the embankment from the relocated I-15 northbound on-ramp and the widening of Limonite Avenue from four lanes to six lanes. As a result, the Mira Loma P&R capacity and right-of-way were reduced by about 50% and 25% respectively. The Mira Loma P&R had to be reconstructed and reconfigured to accommodate the improvements of the adjacent interchange while staying within existing right of way, maintaining the capacity of the existing facility, complying with American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards, and maintaining an existing frontage road for access to adjacent properties and utilities. Four design alternatives were developed and presented to the stakeholders: Caltrans, Riverside County, City of Jurupa Valley, and adjacent property owners and developers, before a preferred alternative was selected. Alternative 3 was selected as the preferred alternative complying with capacity and ADA Standards, and was included as part of the I-15/Limonite Avenue Interchange Project plans that went to bid. After the project was awarded, easement negotiations that would allow the facility grading slope to rest on adjacent property fell through reducing the project area. Additionally, a 24ft wide, 2-lane frontage road separated from the parking area needed to be included as requested by adjacent property owners to access their parcels. In order to mitigate these issues, Alternative 4 was developed. Alternative 4 consisted of lower capacity, no right of way acquisition, a separated frontage road and compliance with ADA, resulting in a safer and more functional facility than before. After approval, this alternative formed part of the I-15/Limonite Avenue Interchange Project plans and was constructed in 2019. The constraints and limitations of this project constantly changed from the development phase to awarding the project. This led to a challenging environment of working under pressure in time sensitive tasks, while learning to prioritize objectives in order to produce a safe, compliant, and feasible design that fulfilled stakeholders needs to the maximum extent possible.