PHASE 2: Initial Transportation Strategies Reduced

The South Orange County Major Investment Study is developing transportation solutions to address the challenges facing south Orange County. The study team is currently reviewing stakeholder feedback on the proposed transportation elements that comprise the Reduced Set of Alternatives and combining it with the technical evaluation of the benefits, impacts and costs in order to develop a Locally Preferred Strategy that will be the basis for proposed transportation improvements in South Orange County for the next 20 years. The Locally Preferred Strategy can be one of the six alternatives or more likely will be a mix and match of the improvement concepts contained in the six alternatives. The following provides an overview of the transportation elements under consideration.

Transportation Problems, Needs, and Opportunities

Future Year Transportation Baseline Improvements

The study assumes what the transportation system will look like in 2030, if we do nothing beyond what is currently committed, this is known as the 2030 Baseline. Proposed improvements will be compared to the 2030 Baseline to determine what is needed on top of, or in addition to, the 2030 Baseline. The 2030 Baseline includes: completion of the Foothill South Toll Road, construction of committed arterial roadways (La Pata Rd., Alton Pkwy., Tustin Ranch Rd. and Cow Camp Rd. among others), 30-minute Metrolink service, etc.

Even with the anticipated completion of improvements already planned, additional capacity on south Orange County freeways and arterials is needed. In November 2006, this need was recognized by Orange County voters through the reauthorization of Measure M, the 1/2 cent sales tax for transportation improvements that proposed widening I-5 and I-405 and making improvements to interchanges and arterials.

Key Transportation Features:

• Complete the Foothill South Toll Road.
• Widen existing Toll Roads by one lane in each direction.
• Increase Metrolink Service to provide 30-minute frequency.
• Construct Committed Arterial Roadways including: La Pata Rd., Alton Pkwy., Tustin Ranch Rd., and Cow Camp Rd., among others.

 Future Year Transportation Baseline Improvements 

Future Year Transportation Baseline / Transportation System Management Improvements

Improve Transportation System Operations

Improves the roadway system’s performance by investing in lower-cost operational improvements and enhances the efficient use of transportation resources.

Key Transportation Features:

• Transit Operations – Improve transit service and accessibility.
• Alternative Modes/Intermodal Facilities – Improve the attractiveness of alternative modes of travel.
• Transportation Demand Management (TDM) – Reduce demand of auto trips.
• Freeway System Operations – Operational improvements on I-5 and I-405.
• Arterial Roadway System Operations – Improvements on major arterials.
• Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) – Monitors and controls both freeway and arterial traffic systems.
• Advanced Traveler Information Systems – Provides reliable, accurate and timely information on current traffic conditions to travelers.

Improve Transportation System Operations #1 

Improve Transportation System Operations #2 

Arterial System Improvements

Completion of the Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH)

Objective:     Close major gaps and relieve congestion on the regional arterial system throughout the study area. Provide roadway access and connectivity and facilitate traffic flow to south Orange County freeways and roads.

Proposed Transportation Features:

• Construct new arterial roadways.
• Widen existing arterial roadways that are currently below their MPAH classification.
• Provide new interchanges in selected locations to connect new arterials to the freeways and/or toll roads.

Completion of the Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH) 

Added East-West Arterial Capacity

Objective:     Supplement the Master Plan of Arterial Highway (MPAH) improvements by providing east-west roadway capacity needed to keep pace with growing travel demand, addressing rapidly developing areas of southeast Orange County.

Proposed Transportation Features:

• Construct a new four-lane arterial road between I-5 and Antonio Parkway. Provide direct ramp connections to SR-73 and I-5.Widen Oso Parkway by one lane in each direction. Total width of Oso Parkway becomes eight lanes between I-5 and Antonio Parkway. Widen Ortega Highway further by one lane in each direction. Total width of Ortega Highway becomes six lanes between I-5 and Antonio Parkway. Includes MPAH improvements.

Added East-West Arterial Capacity 

Focus Area - Added East-West Arterial Capacity 

Freeway / Toll Road System Improvements

Widen I-5 and I-405 by One Lane in Each Direction in Some Sections

Objective:     Add more lanes to the freeway system in locations that currently experience the most severe levels of freeway congestion. Correct interchange (on- and off-ramp) deficiencies in selected locations.

Proposed Transportation Features:

• Add general purpose lanes in some sections of I-5 and I-405.
• Add a northbound truck climbing lane to I-5 in the vicinity of Avenida Pico.
• Extend the existing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-5.
• Add direct HOV ramps in key locations.
• Provide interchange improvements in key locations.
• Saddleback Connector: Extend the freeway ramp system on I-5 between Avery and Crown Valley Parkways and add new freeway ramps to provide direct access to Saddleback College.

Widen I-5 and I-405 by One Lane in Each Direction in Some Sections

Widen I-5 and I-405 in All Sections – Emphasizing General Purpose Lanes

Objective:     Add mores lanes to the full length of the freeway system to relieve existing and future freeway congestion. Address interchange deficiencies throughout the study area.

Proposed Transportation Features:

• Add general purpose lanes to I-5 and I-405 needed to accommodate all types of traffic.
• Complete the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) system in south Orange County by extending the I-5 HOV lanes to the San Diego County line.
• Add direct HOV ramps in key locations.
• Provide interchange improvements in most locations.
• Includes Saddleback Connector and Truck Climbing Lane.

Widen I-5 and I-405 in All Sections – Emphasizing General Purpose Lanes 

Widen I-5 and I-405 in All Sections – Emphasizing High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes

Objective:     Add more lanes to the freeway system in order to relieve existing and future freeway congestion. Allow single-occupant vehicles to buy their way in to the new lanes through the use of a toll. Address interchange deficiencies throughout the study area.

Proposed Transportation Features:

• Add additional lanes and convert the existing HOV lanes to provide a system of two HOT lanes in each direction on I-5 and I-405 (similar to the SR-91 Express Lanes).
• Provide ingress and egress to the HOT lanes at selected locations.
• Allow high occupancy vehicles to travel for free or at a lesser price.
• In addition, add general purpose lanes to some sections of I-5 and I-405.
• Provide interchange improvements in most locations.
• Include a northbound Truck Climbing Lane in the vicinity of Avenida Pico.

Widen I-5 and I-405 in All Sections – Emphasizing High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes 

Widen Toll Roads by One Lane in Each Direction in Some Sections

Objective:     Encourage greater use of the existing toll road system by widening the toll roads in the study area and by reducing the price of the tolls for users. Includes only key freeway improvements.

Proposed Transportation Features:

• Widen SR-73, SR-241, SR-133 by one lane in each direction.
• Reduce price for toll road users by employing a “shadow toll”.
• Widen some sections of I-5 and I-405.
• Includes: Saddleback Connector, Truck Climbing Lane, Direct HOV Ramps, and Selected Interchange Improvements.

Widen Toll Roads by One Lane in Each Direction in Some Sections 

Transit System Improvements

Transit Investment in Bus and Rail

Objective:     Enhance existing bus and rail service and introduce new types of transit services to address a variety of travel markets within the study area.

Proposed Transportation Features:

• Increase local and express bus services by improving frequency and geographic coverage.
• Substantial investment in community based shuttles.
• Introduce beach buses and special event shuttles.
• Increase the number of weekend trains between Orange and San Diego Counties.Add a new rail station in Lake Forest. Increase the amount and quality of transit services connecting to and from rail stations. Increase station parking capacity and station access.

Transit Investment in Bus and Rail 

High Transit Investment in Bus and Rail

Objective:     Improve transit travel times and trip reliability in order to attract discretionary riders. Address capacity constraints on the Los Angeles – San Diego (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor within the study area. Improve access to passenger rail stations.

Proposed Transportation Features:

• Provide Bus Rapid Transit Route from Tustin Station to downtown San Juan Capistrano, serving transit centers and major activity centers along the route.
• Double-track LOSSAN Rail Corridor via tunnel, addressing areas that are currently single-track.
• Increase passenger rail service by adding more round-trip trains.
• Provide direct ramps from Jamboree Road to Tustin Station and from I-5 to Laguna Niguel Station.
• Add high-capacity rubber tire trolley service to high activity rail stations.
• Includes new rail station in Lake Forest.

High Transit Investment in Bus and Rail 

Summary of Key Transit Elements for Each Alternative