It was a big year for drivers in the Inland Empire who will benefit from many new infrastructure projects as well as some big policy changes at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Here’s a wrap-up of 2024 in On the Road. In a major policy shift, the DMV announced Sept. 30 that drivers 70 and older with a good driving record no longer have to take the knowledge test to renew their license. The alternative eLearning course also is no longer required. An office visit is still required for a vision exam and an updated photo for those 70-plus who are renewing a driver’s license. Those with poor driving records still have to take the test. Amy Bentley writes the On the Road column, answering driving and commuting questions about the Inland Empire. (Courtesy of Amy Bentley) In June, the DMV announced other big changes to reduce office wait times and improve customer service. The DMV moved many simple services like vehicle registration renewals and replacing lost or stolen licenses and ID cards to online, kiosk, phone, mail, or business partners only. RELATED: Murrieta’s unique ‘Express’ DMV office is now open, first of its kind in California On the Road had some fun writing about license plates this past year, to address several reader complaints that many Tesla drivers refuse to install a front license plate as required by law (no, Teslas are not exempt from the law). And we reported that prisoners in California make license plates. All California license plates are made by inmates at Folsom State Prison through a partnership between the DMV and the Prison Industry Authority, which provides work assignments to more than 100 inmates daily at the prison factory. This started in 1947. The Riverside County Transportation Commission spent several months in 2024 conducting an outreach program and evaluating transportation needs across the county with the idea of maybe asking Riverside County voters to approve a one-cent sales tax measure to fund transportation projects outlined in the agency’s 2024 Traffic Relief Plan. The plan identified over $30 billion in transportation improvements — from road upgrades to expanding public transportation — that RCTC said would help relieve congestion and improve mobility throughout the county. In the end, the RCTC decided not to seek a new sales tax measure at this time. On the Road reported many major infrastructure and road improvements completed in 2024 around the region. They include the new six-lane Mayor Berwin Hanna Bridge over the Santa Ana River in the Norco area, which opened in 2024, and the Hamner Avenue Widening Project. The original bridge, built in 1939, linked Norco, Eastvale, and the surrounding unincorporated areas in Riverside County. The county began building a new 1,200-foot-long bridge in January 2021. Hamner Avenue was widened from two to six traffic lanes to enhance traffic flow. The project also created a new 12-foot-wide separated multipurpose trail on the bridge’s east side so equestrians, pedestrians, and cyclists can safely cross the bridge and access the Santa Ana River Trail. In Menifee, the new four-lane Holland Road overpass over the 215 Freeway opened in fall 2024. The new bridge extends Holland Road as another much-needed east-west route over the 215. Also in 2024, work began to fix and smooth out the deteriorating pavement on 6.2 miles of the northbound and southbound 215 in Perris – a concern of many readers. Caltrans anticipates the work should be completed in 2026. Related Articles Local News | Will Route 66 ever reopen in parts of San Bernardino County? Local News | What do the new lane markings on Towne Avenue in Claremont mean? Local News | Here are 10 tips for driving safely in the rain Local News | Is it ever legal to make a left turn on a red light? Local News | Does the DMV issue disabled license plates for motorcycles? Drivers in San Bernardino also will see traffic safety improvements at five high-risk areas with high collision rates, thanks to a $5,279,592 grant from the federal Department of Transportation. The locations are: the intersection of Highland Avenue and Eucalyptus Drive; 9th Street from Waterman Avenue and Del Rosa Avenue; 30th Street from San Gabriel Street to Cedar Street; Meridian Avenue from Etiwanda Street to Rialto Avenue; and Kendall Drive from University Parkway to H Street. New traffic-calming measures could include new traffic signals, high-visibility crosswalks, curb extensions, improved sidewalk connections, pedestrian refuge islands, buffered bike lanes, and speed limit reductions. Do you commute to work in the Inland Empire? Spend a lot of time in your vehicle? Have questions about driving, freeways, toll roads or parking? If so, write or call On the Road and we’ll try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write [email protected] or call us at our new phone number, 951-368-9995.