A Message from the City Manager

Greetings -


The City of Temecula is proud to announce we are breaking ground on Phase 2 of the I-15/French Valley Parkway project. I will be the first to admit, we love this project enough to host its ground-breaking ceremony on Valentine's Day, and the public is cordially invited to join us on February 14th at 11am. Details are below. 

 

The French Valley Parkway Phase 2 project will construct two northbound collector distributor lanes spanning over three miles along Interstate 15, and partially along Junction 215, with a flyover bridge to better distribute traffic at the confluence of the I‑15/215 Junction. These lanes will alleviate the chokepoint of congestion that occurs every afternoon on northbound Interstate 15 at Winchester Road where weaving begins, causing daily traffic that backs up northbound travelers from that point all the way into San Diego County, at times up to 20+ miles long. 

 

Thus far from concept, design, to funding and now construction, the planning of this project has spanned 5 Public Works Directors when it was conceptually considered in 2000. The City's Civil Engineering Manager, Amer Attar, was its original Oversite Engineer and is still working at the City. "It is very common for large federal highway and interstate projects like this to be phased and to take 20 years, and I'm pleased to see this come to fruition from start to finish in my career. The planning, design, funding, environmental, land acquisition and collaboration with Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration among other agencies has caused the project to be redesigned, phased, and improved several times which is typical. In this case, the project grew substantially along with our region's population." To get an understanding of the process and timeline, this workflow detailing the resource and regulatory agencies involved provides a glimpse of the environmental process. "It's a cumbersome process but we're at the finish-line now for Phase 2. The final Phase 3 is next," Attar added.

 

What exactly does this mean you may ask? We've produced a few videos over the years.  To help explain the project visually, this video was created just after the City secured the final $50 million of funding for the $137 million project. In recent months, utility poles were replaced to prepare the project for construction and updated videos were produced. As we navigate approximately 22 months of construction, look for more information from the City on our social media platforms, the City YouTube, and on our website. You may also contact Avlin Odviar, Principal Civil Engineer, at Avlin.Odviar@TemeculaCA.gov if you have any questions about this project.

 

On a final note, it is not typical for a City to be the lead on a large federal highway and interstate project. Nor do cities have hundreds of millions of dollars to pay for such infrastructure projects. Interstate 15 is not the jurisdiction of the City of Temecula and projects like the I-15/French Valley Parkway are typically led by State or regional transportation agencies. Additionally, a traffic survey conducted in 2018 by Western Riverside Council of Governments determined that approximately 66-71% of the traffic on Interstate 15 through Temecula is not attributable to the City of Temecula and that the majority of vehicles on Interstate 15 through Temecula do not originate, stop, or end in Temecula. Instead, drivers are traveling on Interstate 15 as the direct connection between areas south of Temecula (San Diego County) and areas north of Temecula (Murrieta, Lake Elsinore and/or destinations farther including Nevada, Utah and beyond to Montana). Nonetheless, the region continues to grow and heavy traffic on Interstate 15 through Temecula Valley affects Temecula citizens' quality of life. I am extremely proud of our City, its visionary Council, and staff for helping to solve a problem that impacts hundreds of thousands of people daily.


-Aaron Adams, City Manager

Traffic Alert - Tierra Vista Rd

Full Closure


Tierra Vista Rd at Ynez Road will be closed for approximately one month as improvements are made to the roadway. During this time, there will be no access (in or out) at this location. Patrons of the Temecula Duck Pond and Oscar's Brewing Company must enter and exit at Rancho California Road. Tierra Vista will remain open on the other side of Ynez Road. Access in and out of the BelVista and Rancho Highlands communities will not be affected. 

Did you know that we routinely post current and upcoming capital improvement projects on our website at Traffic Restrictions in Progress (TRIP) Report? Below are just a few of such projects going on in February.

Concrete Repairs


The City is performing concrete repairs on City sidewalks, access ramps, drive approaches, cross gutters, and curbs in various locations throughout the City. Also, additions to access ramps will be constructed around Vail Elementary School, Pauba Elementary School, and Helen Hunt Jackson Elementary School.


Single lane and shoulder closures expected through the end of February during normal work hours M-F, 7am-4:30pm. School zone work hours are 9am-2:00pm.

Pavement Rehabilitation


The Meadowview/ Paloma Del Sol Project is a three-part pavement overlay process for streets in the following residential tracts: Meadowview (interior streets), Paloma Del Sol - Amarita Way, Montelegro Way, Santiago Road, and Via Rami.


Work is expected through the end of February during normal work hours M-F, 7am-4:30pm.

Traffic Signal Installation


Construction of the traffic signal installation at the intersection of Rancho California Road and Tee Drive will involve installing conduit, a service cabinet, and traffic signal foundations.


Intermittent lane closures going east and west bound between Meadows Parkway and Margarita Road are expected during normal work hours M-F, 7am-4:30pm through the end of March.

Temecula Playgrounds


The City of Temecula has been replacing older playgrounds over recent years with creatively themed new playgrounds. The next playgrounds on the list to be replaced are located at Redhawk Community Park, Temecula Creek Trail Park, Long Canyon Creek Park and Calle Aragon Park. Stay tuned for information as plans roll out! In the meantime, you can use our map and take your kids all around Temecula to many themed playgrounds:

  • Butterfield Stage Park Treehouses
  • John Magee Park Temecula General Store
  • Friendship Park Celebrate Diversity and Inclusion
  • Nicolas Road Park Pirates
  • Riverton Park Cabin in the Woods
  • Rotary Park Caboose and Railroad
  • Sam Hicks Monument Park Vineyards and Hot Air Balloons
  • Stephen Linen Park First Responders
  • Sunset Park Music
  • Veterans Park Fighter Jets
  • Vail Ranch Park Old West
  • Winchester Creek Park Fun

February is Black History Month. The City of Temecula joins the nation as we recognize and commemorate Black Americans' many achievements and contributions to our great country through focused programming in celebration of American Black History Month. Read information here and also here for more details about the following celebrations.

Emerging Artist Mural:

Featuring Frederick Douglass

Sam Hicks Monument Park

(28314 Mercedes Street)

February 2023

The String Queens

Old Town Temecula Community Theater

(42051 Main Street)

Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, 7:30pm

Sherry Williams:

Then and Now

Old Town Temecula Community Theater

(42051 Main Street)

Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, 7:30pm

Proclamation Celebration:

Council Chambers

(41000 Main Street)

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, 6pm

Second Saturday Cultural Celebration

2nd Saturday Each Month, 11am-1pm

Temecula Valley Museum

(28314 Mercedes Street)


Join us on the second Saturday of each month, as we celebrate a different culture with food, entertainment, crafts, activities, and a free art session with instructors from Bigfoot Art Classes.


On Saturday, February 11, 2023, we celebrate New Zealand, with a scavenger hunt (win a small prize), learn New Zealand slang, Kiwi bird craft, and art class by Bigfoot Art Classes.

For more information, call 951-694-6450 or visit TemeculaValleyMuseum.org.

Roller Hockey Rink Survey

Survey closes TONIGHT at 11:59pm, February 6, 2023


The City of Temecula is planning upcoming improvements to the hockey rink located at Ronald Reagan Sports Park and would like your input! If you use the roller rink, plan to, or just a frequent spectator, we invite you to visit TemeculaCA.gov/RinkSurvey to take a quick survey before closing by the end of February 6, 2023.

Public Workshop:

Permit Ready ADUs

Wed., Feb. 22nd - 9am-11:30am

City Conference Center

(41000 Main Street)


Come to a public workshop for the new Permit Ready Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Program presented by the City of Temecula's Community Development Department. The intent of this new ADU program is to streamline the construction of ADUs while also reducing pre-constructions costs. The workshop will present the process and showcase the various plan options available for architects, contractors, real estate agents, and homeowners.

For more information on ADUs, please visit TemeculaCA.gov/ADU

Volunteers & Athletes Needed for

Temecula Special Games

Saturday, March 18, 2023, 9am-11am

Great Oak High School

(32555 Deer Hollow Way)


Join us for a morning of fun and inclusive activities! Special Games is an event designed for athletes of all ages with developmental disabilities to participate in non-competitive games and an awards ceremony. Volunteer and athlete forms for Temecula Special Games are online! Sign up today at TemeculaCA.gov/SpecialGames.

community partners

Blood Drive

Wednesday, February 8*

(other dates available too)

10am-4pm

City Conference Center

(41000 Main Street)

 

The City of Temecula has partnered with the American Red Cross to host this blood drive. 

Participants must make an appointment before donating. Click here to schedule your blood donation.


*Other dates are available.

Local Students Win Rancho Water Poster Contest


The winners have been announced for Rancho Water’s annual Poster Contest. Hundreds of Temecula and Murrieta elementary students participated in the “Water is Life” art contest creating beautiful drawings and paintings which represented how they interpreted the theme.


The winners were voted on by members of the community and by staff and Board members from Inland Empire water districts. Congratulations to the winners listed below!


*Indicates art piece will be moving on to final consideration for the 2023 Metropolitan Water District of Southern California calendar. 

Kindergarten

·      Elizabeth J.

·      Penny V.*

First Grade

·      Mia B.

·      Preslee M.* (save water)

·      Savannah F.

Second Grade

·      Daslynn O.

·      James L.

·      Norah E.*

Third Grade

·      Bianca P.

·      Kara B.*

·      Riya C.

Fourth Grade

·      Aarna D.

·      Audrey H.

·      Meadow M.* (stop the drip)

Fifth Grade

·      Amy Y.* (water is life)

·      Julia S.

·      Cate N.

These e-blasts are provided by the Temecula City Manager’s Department to share current news and information from Temecula City Hall. We encourage you to forward these to your Temecula friends and neighbors. They can sign-up at TemeculaCA.gov/SignUp to receive City e-blasts directly.

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