The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is taking the next steps to improve traffic flow along State Route 62 in Yucca Valley after the Board approved funding and a cooperative agreement with Caltrans. The project focuses on the busy commercial section between Sage Avenue and Airway Avenue, where recurring congestion affects local residents, visitors, and businesses. The planned improvements include adding a new outside lane in each direction and upgrading four key intersections to help reduce delays and improve safety.
To move the project forward, the Board allocated $600,000 in Measure I Morongo Basin Project Development & Traffic Management Systems (PDTMS) funds. These funds will support early project development work, including completion of the Project Initiation Document. As part of this action, the Board also approved of a Cooperative Agreement with Caltrans, which outlines oversight responsibilities during this phase. Caltrans’ estimated cost for these reviews is $185,000 and will be funded with the same Measure I source.
The Board also approved a budget amendment to align the project with the updated funding strategy. Staff recommended shifting to PDTMS funding for this early phase because these dollars cannot be used for construction, helping preserve other Measure I funds for future capital needs in the Morongo Basin. With these approvals in place, SBCTA and Caltrans can now continue developing the project and preparing for the next steps in the delivery process.