Applauding the reduced truck traffic, new jobs, and economic boost provided by Liberty Quarry, the Moreno Valley City Council voted unanimously at a meeting the evening of May 10 to endorse the project.

“This project is going to benefit the region, and put people back to work, and create an economic tax base that we so desperately need,” said Council Member Bill Batey. “I like what they are doing.”

The latest endorsement comes as the project is currently undergoing review by the Riverside County Planning Commission who will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors regarding approval of the project and certification of its environmental documents.

The County’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and the Planning Commission’s staff report both conclude that Riverside County will be better off with Liberty Quarry than without it.

The report states that the project will provide a needed source of building material while ultimately reducing truck traffic in the region by 16.5 million miles each year, eliminating 35,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and removing 216 tons of pollutants annually.

“I would think that Temecula would like to see less traffic, less diesel trucks going through their city as much as Moreno Valley,” said Council Member Robin Hastings. “I just can’t see where we wouldn’t support this.”

Additionally, the project would provide a much-needed boost to the local economy by providing 99 high-paying local jobs, 178 indirect jobs, and $300 million in new sales tax revenue for Riverside County.

The project has received support from numerous cities, chambers of commerce, and civic organizations that praise the benefits of Liberty Quarry to the region’s economy, traffic, and air quality.