Central County MIS

EDIT June 24, 2010: I got this email from Tamara Warren, project manager for corridor studies at OCTA, to clarify some of my errors in my original post. I've asked her for permission to post:

I would like to correct two points in the note.  The note mentions that the SR-22 connectors are part of the City of Santa Ana’s Go Local project.  This is not true.  Although the ramps are of interest to the City of Santa Ana and they would like to pursue further study, they are not part of their Go Local project.  The concept of ramps from the SR-22 connecting motorists to downtown Santa Ana utilizing the PEROW is part of the City of Santa Ana’s long term vision for the area. 

The note also mentions that Santa Ana’s Go Local project would prevent SCAG’s Pacific Electric corridor project.  OCTA owns the PEROW and along with all of the cities on the PEROW we are working in partnership with SCAG on their corridor study.  SCAG is coordinating with the City of Santa Ana with the intent to ensure whatever proposals come out of the SCAG study, they will complement each other and work in tandem and not prevent either effort.  I would appreciate it if you would correct the wording below to ensure the information being shared is accurate.  

Again, I really appreciate your interest in our CCCMIS study and for helping us get the word out on our study effort. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

OCTA staff are finalizing a set of options to present to the OCTA board and local governments on how to relieve congestion in central Orange County, based on a projected 15%-20% increase in population and congestion.

OCTA's staff are proposing the following ideas and this week have been soliciting feedback in workshops in the community. I went to their Fountain Valley meeting and a handful of people showed up, but from what I heard from other community members, improving transit service was a concern. Below is a comprehensive map of their proposals. Note that right now the team's survey will very likely gauge public support for these proposals; my guess is that OCTA's Board will cherry-pick from this list based on what people in Orange County vote on.

In other words, take OCTA's survey now!!

read more→

I (the Steve) helped Ted Nguyen at OCTA out with some photographs from the California High Speed Rail Los Angeles-Anaheim segment meeting, a packed auditorium well-attended by 150 or so folks whom, I noticed, were at least 40 years of age and above. Anyways, I'll write tomorrow more on it.

Below is pasted a copy of OCTA's latest Weekly Update newsletter. The most interesting part of the newsletter is this:

Policy Committee to Meet about Major Investment Study

Thursday, Jan. 28 –  The Central County Corridor Major Investment Policy Advisory Committee meeting will take place at OCTA headquarters in conference room 103 / 104 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Contact Fernando Chavarria at (714) 560-5306 or fchavarria@octa.net.

If you recall, this is the proposal to extend the 57 freeway underneath the Santa Ana River, or even operate light rail/buses near the river. I think anyone interested in future of Orange County's transit should attend this meeting. read more→

OCTA asks, "How would you improve central O.C's Future Transportation System? Have your say right now here" in a posting last week to the Santa Ana Community Development Resource Network.

Take the two minute survey and share your "transportation tips." If you think transit is the way of the future, register your opinion with a click of the mouse. Or maybe you think it's better to increase and improve connections to Metrolink? Or perhaps you believe its best to enhance our streets and/or expand or extend freeways. Whether you think some of these, all of these, or none of these, are good ideas, click your mouse on http://www.surveymonkey.com /s.aspx? sm=PvOkciehFgboK QRKyM8saw_3d_3d now and have your say today!"

Fernando Chavarria
Orange County Transportation Authority External Affairs Division
(714) 560-5306 fchavarria@octa.net

Some of the survey's proposals make sense — including bus rapid transit with dedicated lanes, and traffic signal synchronization — while others are pretty crazy (or creative, depending on how you look at it). On the left, OCTA proposes to run an expressway at the bottom of the Santa Ana River, during the dry season. And below, OCTA is proposing running a freeway in a tunnel underneath the river.

What do you think? Should we promote healthier transit alternatives, or keep on building freeways in Orange County? Vote now. read more→