What is the San Diego Freeway (I-405) Major Investment Study?
The I-405 Major Investment Study is an effort by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to examine the transportation needs of western Orange County and is part of OCTA's strategic effort to keep Orange County moving over the next 20 years.
Today, I-405 is one of the most congested freeways in Orange County, carrying more than 300,000 vehicle trips in some sections each day. Traffic volumes on I-405 are expected to increase 25 percent and the population is expected to grow 13 percent by 2025. This challenge, and what should be done about it, has been the subject of the 18-month I-405 Major Investment study.
Click here for study area.
Alternatives for Improvement
An initial 13 alternatives were narrowed down to two: a minimal widening option (alternative 4) and a moderate widening option (alternative 8b). These alternatives were the result of an extensive collaboration between the OCTA study team, traffic engineers, local public officials, business and community leaders, and commuters and local residents, all of whom gave of their time, ideas, and comments to the study effort. The alternatives for improvement represent a community consensus about what is feasible to do to improve I-405 in the years ahead.
After reviewing both alternatives, the project's policy group, consisting of elected officials, city managers and technical staff from each affected city, made a decision to recommend to the OCTA Board of Directors that only the minimal widening alternative (alt. 4) be moved forward into the environmental study phase. The Board's Regional Planning & Highways Committee confirmed this decision on September 19. The OCTA Board ratified this approach by choosing alternative 4 as the Locally Preferred Alternative on October 14, 2005.
Alternative 4 adds a general purpose lane in each direction between Brookhurst Street and I-605. It adds auxiliary lanes, linking an on-ramp to the next off-ramp, in many locations. Alternative 4 generally stays within the existing right-of-way, but there are some property acquisitions in the vicinity of two interchanges requiring improvement. Those interchanges are at Springdale Street/Westminster Avenue and at Magnolia Street/Warner Avenue.
Next Steps
Now that the Board has elected to further study the minimal widening alternative, state and federal regulations require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Funding is not currently available to begin the EIR process. The process of producing those reports will further refine the project(s) ultimately to be constructed. Once funding is identified it will take two to three years to complete the EIR.
Get Involved
If you would like to obtain material by mail, or request a presentation to your organization or homeowners association, please e-mail Ted Nguyen at ctnguyen@octa.net.
I-405 Major Investment Study Policy Direction
January 28, 2004
Draft purpose and need presented to Policy Working Group (PWG). Committee agreed to move forward.
March 13, 2004
OCTA Board of Directors (Board) approved Purpose and Need Statement. Directed staff to return with conceptual alternatives.
April 7, 2004
Initial list of 12 alternatives presented to PWG. Committee discussion led to removal of maximum at-grade widening alternative (20 lanes total) and "double-deck freeway" option due to concerns regarding cost, right-of-way impacts, and safety.
June 14, 2004
Board approved 12 conceptual alternatives. Directed staff to return in Fall 2004 with reduced number of alternatives (three build alternatives).
September 7, 2004
Three conceptual alternatives presented to PWG. Group agreed that staff should move forward with further study of these three alternatives, considering elevated viaducts where possible to help lessen the number of right-of-way takes.
November 8, 2004
Board approved reduced number of alternatives (three build alternatives). Directed staff to conduct engineering and environmental analysis on these alternatives.
February 22, 2005
PWG/MIS Committee asked staff to come back in 30 days outlining process used to get to three conceptual alternatives. Committee also requested that presentations be made to each City Council affected prior to choosing the Locally Preferred Strategy and presenting it to the public and OCTA Board of Directors.
June 22, 2005
PWG/MIS Committee recommended minimal widening alternative and further analysis of moderate widening alternative to reduce right-of-way impacts.
August 10, 2005
PWG/MIS Committee recommended minimal widening alternative.
September 19, 2005
Regional Planning & Highways Committee recommended minimal widening alternative.
October 14, 2005
Board selects minimal widening alternative (4) as the Locally Preferred Alternative.