CenterLine-related proposals approved The Orange County Transportation...

CenterLine-related proposals approved

The Orange County Transportation Authority approved two proposals

Monday related to the CenterLine light-rail project, slated to run

9.3 miles from Santa Ana to John Wayne Airport, through Costa Mesa.

The board narrowly approved extending preliminary engineering work

on the project at a cost of $2.2 million. The engineering includes

development of precise rail-alignment plans and station-location

details. Continued engineering support would help keep the project on

schedule as the authority prepares its request to the Federal Transit

Administration to start the final design phase.

If the transit administration approves the request, it will

trigger the authority’s application for a grant to get full funding

for construction of the project.

The board also approved spending $900,000 on consultant services

for four months. Staff members had originally asked for $1.1 million

for six months, but the board requested a smaller price tag. The

consultant will help keep the project on schedule and demonstrate the

authority’s project management and technical capability during the

transit administration’s evaluation of the project.

OCTA seeks public comments for freeway

The Orange County Transportation Authority will host two open

houses to seek the public’s input on three options for improving the

San Diego Freeway corridor.

The San Diego Freeway carries more than 300,000 vehicle trips per

day, a total expected to increase about 25%.

“The freeway does not have the capacity to accommodate this type

of increase unless improvements are made,” said transportation

authority chairman Gregory T. Winterbottom. “Public feedback will

help us toward our goal of easing congestion.”

The transportation authority is asking commuters, local residents,

community, environmental and business leaders to review the effects

and benefits of the alternatives and present additional comments and

suggestions at the open house. Options developed based on comments

received in November will also be shared with the public. Public

input will be collected, and the transportation authority will assess

the three alternatives to identify a preferred one based on cost,

effects on adjacent residents and businesses and environmental

concerns.

Open houses will be Wednesday at the Costa Mesa Community Center,

Victoria Room, at 1845 Park Ave., and Thursday at the Rossmoor

Community Center, 3021 Blume Drive at Rush Park. The public is

invited to attend from 5 to 7 p.m.

In addition, the transportation authority will present aerial maps

of the “footprints” for each alternative and explain the concepts. A

preferred alternative for improving the San Diego Freeway will be

presented to the public in early 2005.

For more information and project updates, call (714) 560-5378,

e-mail [email protected], or visit https://www.octa.net.