The Cabazon Connector – Banning to Cabazon project is located east of the City of Banning, in unincorporated Riverside County. The Riverside County Transportation Department (County) proposes to construct a new road which will provide a missing link between the City of Banning and the unincorporated community of Cabazon. The proposed project is located in close proximity to Morongo Indian Tribal Land, Smith Creek and the San Gorgonio River. The purpose of the project is to provide a local roadway connecting Banning and Cabazon that would:

• Accommodate local trips on a local roadway
• Provide an alternate route between Banning and Cabazon in the event of a closure on the I-10
• Improve public safety and emergency response access
• Provide a safe route for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Provide a connection from Cabazon to Banning that does not require an at-grade crossing of the RR tracks.

The project has completed the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Document Phase, ensuring that the proposed improvements meet the requirements of both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  Compliance with both CEQA and NEPA makes the project's future phases eligible for state and federal funds.  The County has now begun the Final Design and Right-of-Way Phases.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) was circulated for public and agency review from December 29, 2017 to April 30, 2018. A public meeting was held on January 25, 2018. Meetings at the Banning City Council were held on February 13, 2018 and April 11, 2018.

The Recirculated Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) was available for public and agency review and comment from August 12, 2019 to September 25, 2019 and included the identification of a Locally Preferred Alternative. Upon completion of the public comment period, the Project Development Team reviewed comments received, compared and weighed the benefits of the two Build Alternatives and identified Alternative 12 as the Preferred Alternative. Responses to comments received during the Recirculation of the EIR/EA have been responded to in the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA). Caltrans has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for Preferred Alternative 12 on October 6, 2021.

Certification by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on December 7, 2021 of the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Preferred Alternative 12 will facilitate the Project moving forward to seek funding for final design, right of way (including an easement from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians), utility relocation and construction.

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