Riverside Local Headlines for March 5, 2026
Riverside, CA – March 5, 2026 – Sales tax heads to June ballot, RTA weighs service cuts, UCR adopts a climate plan, and City Hall adds a wellness space.
Top local headlines
- Sales tax measure advances to June ballot
- Bus service adjustments proposed for 2026–27
- UC Riverside adopts a new climate action plan
- City Hall rolls out a new employee wellness space
1) Sales tax measure headed to voters
Riverside’s City Council voted unanimously on March 3 to put a proposal before voters on June 2 that would extend and increase the city’s existing Measure Z sales tax. If approved, the rate would rise from 1.00 cent to 1.25 cents.
City leaders say the additional revenue would support everyday services and address growing public-safety demands, including rising emergency call volume and facility needs at the Fire Department. Because it’s structured as a general tax, it would need a simple majority to pass.
2) Transit changes under review
The Riverside Transit Agency released a list of proposed service changes for the 2026–27 year, focused on trimming low-ridership trips and reinvesting resources where demand is stronger. Many of the trips flagged for removal are early-morning or late-evening runs.
RTA is taking public comments now and has scheduled a public hearing for May 28 at the county administration center in downtown Riverside.
3) UCR’s new climate roadmap
UC Riverside adopted a new Climate Action & Adaptation Plan that sets a campus roadmap for cutting greenhouse-gas emissions and expanding sustainability work. The plan aligns with a UC-wide goal to reduce total emissions at least 90% from 2019 levels by 2045.
Near-term priorities include guidance for all-electric new buildings, more composting options, and upgrades to monitoring and transportation infrastructure. Longer-term concepts include major energy-system changes over the coming decades.
4) A small but telling City Hall upgrade
Separately, the City marked a workplace wellness milestone by becoming Riverside’s first Blue Zones Project Approved Worksite. The latest change is a new ‘downshift space’ at City Hall designed as a calmer break area, alongside other tweaks meant to make healthy choices easier during the workday.
Sources
https://riversideca.gov/press/riverside-city-council-votes-place-sales-tax-measure-ballot
https://www.riversidetransit.com/index.php/news-a-publications/latest-news/1013-a-guide-to-rtas-2026-2027-proposed-changes
https://insideucr.ucr.edu/stories/2026/03/04/ucr-adopts-new-climate-action-plan
https://riversideca.gov/press/city-riverside-celebrates-being-blue-zones-project-approved-worksite
