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On August 21, 2000 the Department of Commerce Foreign Trade Zones Board adopted Board Order No. 1104 - Grant of Authority, Establishment of a Foreign Trade Zone, Riverside County, California Area. This designation is FTZ No. 244 and includes the March Inland Port property, and property on West March designated for business, commerce and industry. The March Inland Port FTZ includes the air cargo airport facility and 2000+ acres of vacant land slated for the development of a business and commerce center in Riverside County, at former March Air Force Base.

Our Airport (March Inland Port) page contains more information about the Foreign Trade Zone.

Inclusion of March Inland Port into the Military Airport Program (MAP) was recently decided by the FAA, along with two other former military airfields. The MAP program provides for the funding of airport improvements and needs under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) administered by FAA, which are typically non-eligible projects. Examples of MAP eligible projects not eligible under AIP include parking lots, infrastructure/ utility development, roadways, air cargo buildings, and passenger terminals. Additionally, AIP eligible funded items such as fuel systems and taxiways can also be funded under MAP. To date the projects that have been identified for funding under MAP are a new fueling system, ramp, and security fencing.

The CAT-II system is an instrument approach system. This type of precision approach provides the pilot with vertical and horizontal guidance to the runway. The guidance system gives accuracy, integrity, and availability information during adverse weather conditions, thereby alleviating the number of days runway use may be impacted by inclement weather. Upgrading of the existing navigational aid system at March was a $3.7-million federally funded project through FAA. The project was completed in November of 2002.

Our Reuse - Projects page contains more information about the CAT-II ILS.

The transportation corridor to serve the March Inland Port (MIP) was extended and realigned from Oleander Avenue to Indian Avenue, and across to Heacock Avenue at the San Michele Avenue alignment. Oleander Avenue at Interstate-215 is a fully improved and signalized diamond interchange with two-lanes in each direction. The current alignment and improvement of Oleander Avenue is deficient, as limited improvements exist beyond Patterson Avenue. Oleander Avenue currently aligns east to west, immediately parallel with the Oleander Storm Drain, just south of the runway. Consequently Oleander Avenue and the intersection with Heacock Avenue is located within the south clear zone, in conflict with aviation standards. The new extension to this roadway, in addition to serving March Inland Port, also provides access to approximately 5,000 acres of industrial-designated land in the cities of Perris and Moreno Valley that is currently vacant as well as under-served.

The roadway facility consists of two (2) travel lanes, with a left-hand turn lane, shoulders, and asphalt berm. The roadway cross section provides the initial access route to the March Inland Port, with the ability for the roadway to be expanded as future development and demand of the area warrants. Additional improvements could be completed incrementally.

The project was funded with $7.2 million of Federal funds through the re-authorization of ISTEA, TEA-21, with the requirement for a 20% local match for a total of $9 million in project costs. The project was completed in August of 2002.

• March Joint Powers Commission selected LNR Property Corporation (LNR Riverside, LLC) as the Master Developer through a competitive qualifications-based process in June, 2000
• December, 2001, Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) requires $100 million of investment for project infrastructure by Lennar Partners
• Terms of DDA require minimum employment of 10 persons per acre
• Project Details
  
  • 1,290-acre Business Park located adjacent to Interstate 215
  • Mixed uses including office, research and development, retail, industrial
  • Access to Interstate 215 from 3 freeway ramps
  • 16 million sq. ft. of development
  • Job generation of approximately 12,000-15,000 jobs
  • Project is located within Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ)
  • Rail access to industrial development
  • Metrolink rail transit planned by RCTC
  • 52-acre park
  • Phased development over 20 years
  • 153 lots ranging from 1 acre to 100 acres
  • Traffic Mitigated by TUMF, Measure A, street widening, reverse commute, and Metrolink

The decision was made in March 2002 to work toward the formation of the March Joint Powers Utility Authority (MJPUA). The focus of the MJPUA is to provide electrical service to the West March Business Park at rates substantially lower than the local energy provider, thus making the West March Business Park more attractive to the end user. However, the MJPUA is not limited to providing power to West March: it also has the flexibility to provide all utilities except water and sewer to the entire base. The MJPUA was officially formed in July, 2002, and consists of the Cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Perris. The County, although unable to be a part of a utility by law, passed a resolution supporting the formation of the MJPUA.