Riverside Freeway Major Investment Study/Locally Preferred Strategy
In 2004, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), in partnership with the Foothill Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), began conducting the Riverside County-Orange County Major Investment Study (91 MIS). An 18-month study, the 91 MIS looked at a wide variety of improvements to relieve congestion and improve mobility between Riverside and Orange counties.
When completed in January 2006, the 91 MIS produced a locally preferred strategy (LPS). A result of technical work, policy direction and public input, the LPS was a package of potential multimodal transportation options. One major recommendation of the LPS was for the OCTA, RCTC and TCA to continue studying a potential new four or six-lane corridor from approximately Interstate 15 (I-15) and Cajalco Road in Riverside County to the intersection of State Route 241 (SR-241) and State Route 133 (SR-133) in Orange County, sometimes referred to as the Irvine-Corona Expressway. (Additional recommendations in the LPS include improvements to State Route 91, a new elevated corridor parallel or within the State Route 91 right-of-way and better use of the existing transportation system that would include additional Metrolink and express bus service. Click here for more information on the Riverside County – Orange County MIS.)
As a result of this recommendation, preliminary geotechnical studies must be performed along the potential alignment specified in the LPS. However, in order for geotechnical studies to be conducted within the Cleveland National Forest, the United States Forest Service (USFS) must thoroughly review and evaluate geotechnical study plans, as well as grant a special use permit for the field investigation to be conducted.
Formation and Purpose of the Riverside Orange Corridor Authority
As a result of a cooperative agreement, the OCTA, RCTC and TCA formed the Riverside Orange Corridor Authority (ROCA) in June 2006. The ROCA Board of Directors is comprised of ten directors, with appointed representatives from each member agency. The OCTA and RCTC each appoint three (3) directors and two (2) alternates. The TCA appoints two (2) directors and one (1) alternate. And the California Department of Transportation appoints two ex-officio, non-voting directors representing Caltrans District 8 (Riverside County) and Caltrans District 12 (Orange County).
The purpose of ROCA is to provide the leadership and policy direction that is necessary to perform the required geotechnical study safely, efficiently and effectively. In addition to geotechnical issues, the ROCA Board of Directors provides oversight on related planning, fiscal and inter-agency matters. The United States Congress has authorized more than $15 million for the feasibility study of this project.
United States Forest Service Grants Permit to Conduct Geotechnical Studies
In January 2007, RCTC on behalf of the ROCA Board of Directors submitted a permit application to the USFS to conduct specific and well-defined geotechnical studies along the potential alignment/within the Cleveland National Forest. In preparation for the permit process, best practices were identified and integrated into the permit application.
In April 2008, the USFS granted ROCA a special use permit to evaluate the geology and hydro-geology of the potential route between Riverside and Orange County for the Irvine-Corona Expressway. Anticipated for completion by end of 2009, the purpose of the study is to determine the technical feasibility of the project. As mandated by the USFS, all geotechnical work will comply with all environmental regulations and guidelines.