Frequently Asked Questions
WHO IS OCTA?
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is the county’s primary transportation agency. OCTA’s responsibilities extend to all forms of transportation, including bus and paratransit service, Metrolink commuter rail service, freeway and street improvements, the 91 Express Lanes, motorist services, taxi operations and administration Measure M and Renewed Measure M. OCTA is governed by an 18-member Board of Directors. The Board consists of 5 county supervisors, 10 city members, 2 public members and the Director of the Department of Transportation District 12 (Caltrans) as a non-voting member.
WHAT IS A MAJOR INVESTMENT STUDY?
A Major Investment Study (MIS) is required when a transportation agency is considering developing major transportation projects, such as freeway expansions, corridor enhancements and large-scale transit system improvements. To begin, an MIS establishes a specific study area. Secondly, a transportation need and purpose is defined. Third, conceptual transportation alternatives are identified, analyzed, evaluated and refined. As part of this process, potential benefits and impacts are identified. Ultimately, an MIS is intended to produce a recommended locally preferred strategy (LPS), which can be considered a package of transportation alternatives intended to help meet travel demand and improve mobility in the study area.
WHAT IS A LOCALLY PREFERRED STRATEGY?
An LPS is a transportation strategy, usually a “package” of short, mid and long-term multi-modal transportation projects intended to address some or all of the travel demands in a given study area. A policy advisory committee is responsible for crafting and submitting a recommended LPS to the OCTA Board of Directors for review and action. As part of this policy-making process, staff presents technical reviews and recommendations as well as stakeholder and public feedback to the policy advisory committee for consideration. If approved by the OCTA Board, the LPS serves as a guide for short, mid and long-term multi-modal transportation planning for the study area. However, it is important to note that while projects may be included in an LPS, it is not a guarantee that they will be constructed. All potential projects must still proceed through the project development process, including rigorous environmental and other feasibility studies, and funding for projects must be identified and secured.
WHY A MAJOR INVESTMENT STUDY FOR CENTRAL ORANGE COUNTY?
Traffic congestion and a lack of north/south mobility options is a growing problem in Central Orange County. By 2035, travel demand is projected to exceed capacity by at least 150,000 vehicles per day. In order for Central Orange County to remain a vibrant, robust and mobile community, this projected transportation need must be addressed. The CCCMIS will be a vehicle for policy-makers to identify and evaluate a range of transportation alternatives.
WHAT ARE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CENTRAL ORANGE COUNTY MAJOR INVESTMENT STUDY?
The CCCMIS study area is bounded by Ball Road on the north, Pacific Coast Highway on the south, Beach Boulevard on the west and the Costa Mesa Freeway (State Route 55) on the east. A map of the study area is provided below. Click here for a list of study area’s cities, county supervisorial districts and agencies of jurisdiction.
WHAT IS THE STUDY SCHEDULE?
Phase 2 of the study began in September 2008 and is currently expected to be completed by late 2009 or early 2010. During this time, staff will provide technical reviews and recommendations and feedback will be received from stakeholders and the pubic. The Policy Advisory Committee will consider this information and will ultimately make policy recommendations to the OCTA Board of Directors.
WHAT DOES THE STUDY PROCESS INVOLVE?
The MIS will take an estimated 18-months to complete. In addition to defining a purpose and need, the process will produce a range of reasonable transportation alternatives that will be rigorously analyzed, evaluated and refined for inclusion - or exclusion - in the locally preferred strategy as decided and recommended by the policy advisory committee. Below is a graphic that provides a general representation of the MIS process.
WHO WILL APPROVE A RECOMMENDED LOCALLY PREFERRED STRATEGY?
As the county’s transportation planning agency, the OCTA Board of Directors is responsible for approving a locally preferred strategy for Central Orange County. Click www.octa.net to link to the OCTA Board of Directors roster.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS AFTER THE MIS?
As required by law and done on other transportation projects, several steps must be taken before construction of a project can begin. The MIS is the first step in a multi-year project development process. The figure below illustrates the development phases, and estimated time-frames, that a project must successfully complete before being approved for construction. After an MIS is completed, a number of studies are conducted, including environmental, to measure the potential benefits, impacts and costs of a project. Beyond the studies, a project must go through the design review and approval process. Lastly, funding must be identified and secured before a project can be constructed.
HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THIS STUDY?
You can visit this website to view project updates and sign-up to be on the project mailing list by filling-out the in-take form. We will also post dates, times and locations of public open houses. These open houses will provide the public an opportunity to learn how the study is progressing, ask questions and provide feedback. Click here to be included on the project mailing list.