Members of the Board of Directors. Laurena Weinert, Clerk of the Board

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1 COMMITTEE TRANSMITTAL July, 06 To: From: Subject: Members of the Board of Directors Laurena Weinert, Clerk of the Board Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Regional Planning and Highways Committee Meeting of July 7, 06 Present: Absent: Directors Bartlett, Do, and Miller Directors Donchak, Lalloway, Nelson, Spitzer, and Ury Committee Vote Due to lack of quorum, no action was taken on this item. Staff Recommendations A. Direct staff to incorporate a modified Alternative in the State Route Improvement Project between Interstate 0 and Interstate. The modified alternative includes the addition of one high-occupancy vehicle lane in each direction and exceptions to design standards to minimize additional right-of-way impacts and cost increases to Alternative. B. Authorize staff to process all necessary amendments to the Federal Transportation Improvement Program, and execute or amend all necessary agreements to accommodate the California Department of Transportation s modified Alternative. C. Direct staff to work with the California Department of Transportation to expedite the update of traffic, air quality, and other technical studies necessary to meet the dates required to amend the Federal Transportation Improvement Program to accommodate modified Alternative. D. Direct staff to return to the Board of Directors with updated project cost estimates and schedules, potential cost-sharing arrangements, funding options, and budget and contract amendments. Orange County Transportation Authority 0 South Main Street / P.O. Box 8 / Orange / California / (7) 60-OCTA (68)

2 ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Staff Report

July 7, 06 To: From: Subject: Regional Planning and Highways Committee Darrell Johnson, Chief Executive Officer Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate

The project scope proposes to add new lanes in each direction, generally within the existing right-of-way, including merging lanes between interchanges to smooth traffic flow.

3 July 7, 06 To: From: Subject: Regional Planning and Highways Committee Darrell Johnson, Chief Executive Officer Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Overview The State Route Improvement Project between Interstate 0 and Interstate is included in the Measure M Transportation Investment Plan approved by Orange County voters in 006. The project scope proposes to add new lanes in each direction, generally within the existing right-of-way, including merging lanes between interchanges to smooth traffic flow. In November 0, the draft initial study with proposed mitigated negative declaration/ environmental assessment was approved and released by the California Department of Transportation for public review, which included a no-build and four build alternatives. The California Department of Transportation is proposing to modify one of the build alternatives by adding one high-occupancy vehicle lane in each direction to the Measure M project scope of improvements. To accommodate this additional high-occupancy vehicle lane, the proposal includes exceptions to design standards, including reduced freeway lane and shoulder widths. The exceptions to design standards would minimize additional right-of-way impacts and cost increases to implement the modified alternative. This report provides an overview of the modified alternative, identifies Board of Directors policy issues and tradeoffs, and recommends actions to keep the project moving forward. Recommendations A. Direct staff to incorporate a modified Alternative in the State Route Improvement Project between Interstate 0 and Interstate. The modified alternative includes the addition of one high-occupancy vehicle lane in each direction and exceptions to design standards to minimize additional right-of-way impacts and cost increases to Alternative. Orange County Transportation Authority 0 South Main Street / P.O. Box 8 / Orange / California / (7) 60-OCTA (68)

4 Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Page B. Authorize staff to process all necessary amendments to the Federal Transportation Improvement Program, and execute or amend all necessary agreements to accommodate the California Department of Transportation s modified Alternative. C. Direct staff to work with the California Department of Transportation to expedite the update of traffic, air quality, and other technical studies necessary to meet the dates required to amend the Federal Transportation Improvement Program to accommodate modified Alternative. D. Direct staff to return to the Board of Directors with updated project cost estimates and schedules, potential cost-sharing arrangements, funding options, and budget and contract amendments. Background The Measure M (M) Transportation Investment Plan approved by Orange County voters in 006 includes Project F, State Route improvements. The project proposes to add new lanes to State Route (SR-) between Interstate 0 (I-0) and Interstate (I-), generally within the existing right-of-way (ROW), including merging lanes between interchanges to smooth traffic flow. The proposed project is included in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) financially constrained Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), which was found to be conforming by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on April 8, 06. The project is also in the 0 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP), which was found to be conforming by FHWA/FTA on December, 0. The project description in these plans is noted as add one mixed-flow lane in each direction and fix choke points from I-0 to I-; add aux lane in each direction between select on-/off-ramps through project limits. This description is consistent with how the project is characterized in the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). A project study report (PSR) was initiated to identify various improvement alternatives to reduce congestion and improve operational efficiency on SR- between I-0 and I-. The PSR studied six alternatives, including a no-build alternative and recommended four viable alternatives to be evaluated for environmental impacts. The PSR was approved by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on November 6, 008.

5 Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Page Viable Alternatives: PSR Alternative - Add auxiliary (aux) lanes between interchanges PSR Alternative - Add one general purpose (GP) lane in each direction PSR Alternative - Add aux lanes between interchanges and one GP lane in each direction PSR Alternative - Add aux lanes between interchanges and one high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction Non-Viable Alternative: PSR Alternative - Add aux lanes between interchanges, one GP lane in each direction, and one HOV lane in each direction PSR Alternative was documented and removed from further consideration during the project approval and environmental document phase due to extensive ROW impacts. The adjacent properties, mainly commercial, would be significantly impacted on both sides of the corridor, which would not be a feasible solution to address the traffic demand. On May, 0, Agreement No. C-0-87 with HDR Engineering, Inc., to provide project report and environmental document (PR/ED) services, was executed. On June, 0, Agreement No. C-0-98 with Caltrans, to provide oversight for the preparation of the PR/ED at no cost, was executed. For continuity of technical studies, PSR Alternative was renamed to Alternative in the environmental study phase. Each of the four viable build alternatives was included in technical studies and the draft initial study with proposed mitigated negative declaration/environmental assessment (IS/EA), approved by Caltrans and circulated for public review and comment from November, 0 to January, 06. On January, 06, the OCTA Board of Directors (Board) directed staff to submit a comment letter to Caltrans during public circulation of the draft IS/EA identifying the scope and funding intent of M Project F. On May 6, 06, Caltrans proposed to delay selection of a project preferred alternative and requested modifications to Alternative that would provide additional capacity and address HOV lane degradation to meet Caltrans goals and objectives through the addition of a second HOV lane in each direction. Alternative is consistent with the planning documents discussed above, and modification would require changes to the OCTA LRTP, SCAG RTP/SCS, and

6 Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Page FTIP. Modifications to Alternative will require project technical studies to be updated and the draft IS/EA recirculated for public review, resulting in project delivery schedule delays. Discussion Caltrans May 6, 06 letter requesting consideration of a modified alternative and OCTA s response letter dated May 9, 06 are included as Attachment A. Following OCTA and Caltrans staff discussions, Caltrans revised its proposed concept to add a second HOV lane in each direction to stay within the current Alternative ROW footprint. The additional two HOV lanes would be accommodated by reducing the standard shoulder and lane widths where necessary. Caltrans final proposed concepts are included as Attachments B and C. The Caltrans concept requires some additional roadway and structures construction, which appears to fit within the current Alternative (M scope) ROW requirements when exceptions to design standards are implemented. The proposed modification to Alternative is consistent with project goals and objectives, is expected to result in further operational improvements, and increases capacity and throughput beyond those studied and included in the draft IS/EA. The concept is operationally similar to the PSR Alternative that was dropped from further study due to extensive ROW impacts. Caltrans concept of using exceptions to design standards for shoulder and lane widths could be considered a game changer, and could result in significant mobility improvements beyond those currently studied, and within the same physical ROW footprint. Of the remaining freeway projects progressing through the environmental phase, this segment of the SR- corridor is the most congested and has the highest minutes of delay per mile than any other freeway corridor. Implementing the modified Alternative would provide double the additional lanes of capacity as originally planned, and would avoid impacting the travelling public, cities, and local communities twice, if an additional lane of capacity was constructed at a later date. Policy Issues Proceeding with the modified Alternative would require the OCTA Board to address policy issues related to the use of funds for the M Freeway Program. Current programming policy/practice requires staff to utilize all available funding to advance the M projects. Project elements beyond the M project scope are funded externally. The HOV improvements proposed by Caltrans are beyond the M project scope, so non-m funding would need to be identified for the additional scope. Caltrans has programmed $6.8 million in State Highway Operation and Protection Program funds for improvements within this corridor.

7 Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Page Additional funding would be necessary for the addition of the second HOV lane in each direction. Uncertainty in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and declining sales tax forecasts create challenges to identify potential funding for the HOV lanes. If the concept of adding a modified Alternative is approved, OCTA staff would explore the potential of future STIP funding to fill the funding need, along with other state and federal sources of funding. The Board may also consider policy decisions related to management and operational responsibilities for priced managed lanes on SR- should Caltrans elect to implement priced managed lanes in the future, after the project is constructed. A managed lanes concept is not included in the scope or technical studies of this project. Future environmental impact analysis would be necessary to determine the feasibility of priced managed lanes on SR-. OCTA may consider a first right of refusal to design, build, and operate any future managed lanes facility on SR-. Project Implementation Caltrans has proposed and committed to a streamlined review schedule and estimates a -month delay to the project if the modified Alternative is included in the environmental studies and public review process. The critical path to incorporate the proposal into the project includes contract amendments, revised traffic studies, air quality analysis, SCAG conformity determination, and recirculation of the draft IS/EA for public comment. Other revised work includes roadway geometrics, pavement design, structures design, noise studies, and design exception fact sheets. Air quality conformity and introduction of new design exception fact sheets are the highest risk items associated with the proposed changes. These two items require extensive support and cooperation from external agencies. SCAG is responsible for the RTP and air quality conformity, and Caltrans District has delegated authority to approve design exception fact sheets. Staff will return to the Board with a schedule to complete the environmental review process as well as implement the modified Alternative. In addition, M and non-m cost shares of the proposed improvements, funding options, and any necessary agreement and budget amendments to implement the modified alternative will be provided.

Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Page 6 Summary The draft IS/EA for M Project F, SR- from I-0 to I-, was circulated for public review, and the project

8 Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Page 6 Summary The draft IS/EA for M Project F, SR- from I-0 to I-, was circulated for public review, and the project is pending selection of a project preferred alternative. The project remains on hold pending resolution of Caltrans recent request to incorporate a modified Alternative. Caltrans proposal is to add an HOV lane in each direction to provide additional capacity, throughput and traffic operational benefits between I-0 and I-, and address HOV lane degradation. Implementation of the proposed changes requires consideration of certain OCTA Board policies and impacts to project cost, funding, and schedule. Attachments A. Correspondence Between Caltrans and OCTA, dated May 6, 06 and May 9, 06 respectively B. SR- Alternatives (Caltrans document) C. Summary Alternative Modified (Caltrans document) Prepared by: Approved by: Steven L. King, P.E. Project Manager (7) Jim Beil, P.E. Executive Director, Capital Programs (7) 60-66

9 ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Attachment A

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16 ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Attachment B

I-0 Paularino Ave. On Paularino Ave. On I-0 SB Conn. NB Conn. Paularino Ave. On I-0 I-0 SB Conn. I-0 SB Conn. I-0 SB Conn. I-0 NB Conn. I-0 NB Conn. I-0 SB Conn. I-0 SB Conn. Paularino Ave. On I-0 SB Conn. NB Conn. Paularino I-0 Ave.

On Dyer Rd. On Rail Road McFadden On I- SB Conn. Warner Ave. Edinger Ave. Off Ave.

Off Dyer Rd. Off Dyer Rd. On Dyer Rd. Off I- NB Conn. Blvd. Off Dyer Rd. On Edinger Ave. On Edinger Ave. Off Rail Road McFadden Ave. On I- SB Conn. I- NB Conn. Dyer Rd. Off Warner Ave.

17 I-0 Paularino Ave. On Paularino Ave. On I-0 SB Conn. NB Conn. Paularino Ave. On I-0 I-0 SB Conn. I-0 SB Conn. I-0 SB Conn. I-0 NB Conn. I-0 NB Conn. I-0 SB Conn. I-0 SB Conn. Paularino Ave. On I-0 SB Conn. NB Conn. Paularino I-0 Ave. On I-0 SB Conn. I-0 NB Conn. NB Conn. Paularino I-0 I-0 I-0 I-0 I-0 I-0 SB Conn. Ave. On I-0 Paularino Ave. Off Paularino Ave. Off Paularino Ave. Off R Dyer Rd. Off I- NB Conn. Blvd. Off Dyer Rd. On Dyer Rd. On Rail Road McFadden On I- SB Conn. Warner Ave. Edinger Ave. Off Ave. On McFadden Off Edinger SR- ALTERTIVES Aux ALTERTIVE AUX AUX Aux AUX AUX ALTERTIVE ALTERTIVE M AUX Aux AUX AUX AUX AUX AUX AUX AUX AUX I-0 NB I-0 SB I-0 SB I- NB I-0 NB Dyer Rd. On Dyer Rd. Off Dyer Rd. Off Dyer Rd. On Dyer Rd. Off I- NB Conn. Blvd. Off Dyer Rd. On Edinger Ave. On Edinger Ave. Off Rail Road McFadden Ave. On I- SB Conn. I- NB Conn. Dyer Rd. Off Warner Ave. Rail Road McFadden On I- SB Conn. Edinger Ave. Off Off Edinger Ave. On McFadden I- NB Conn. Blvd. Off Dyer Rd. On Dyer Rd. On Rail Road Dyer Rd. On Edinger Ave. On McFadden On I- SB Conn. Warner Ave. Ave. Off McFadden Off Edinger Edinger Ave. On I-0 NB I-0 SB I-0 SB I-0 NB Blvd. Off Blvd. Off I- NB McFadden McFadden Ave. Ave. I- SB I- SB McFadden Ave. Off Aux Aux Proposed Alton OC Dyer Rd. Off Warner Ave. Edinger Ave. Off Rail Road McFadden Ave. On Dyer Rd. Off McFadden Ave. Off I- SB Conn. I- NB Conn. AUX AUX Proposed Auxiliary (Aux) Lane Proposed General Pupose (GP) Lane Proposed HOV Lane Proposed Alton OC Warner Ave. I-0 NB I-0 SB I- NB I-0 SB I-0 NB McFadden Ave. I- SB Blvd. Off Proposed Alton OC Dyer Rd. On Rd. Off Dyer Rd. Off Warner Ave. Edinger Ave. On Edinger Ave. Off Rail Road McFadden Ave. On Dyer McFadden Ave. Off I- SB Conn. I- NB Conn. I- I- I- I- I- I- Irvine Blvd. Off th St. On Irvine Blvd. Off th St. On Irvine Blvd. Off th St. On I- NB Conn. I- SB Conn. I- NB Conn. I- SB Conn. I- NB Conn. I- SB Conn. Irvine th St. Off Irvine th St. Off Irvine th St. Off

18 ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate Attachment C

19 AdditionalAlternative Impacts/Mitigationsof Modified Alternative M with respect to Alternative Summary (Caltrans document) Exist - NB NB Direction HOV I-0 - GP Alt. - NB Aux HOV GP Alt. M - NB Aux HOV GP Aux 0 Traffic Volume 00 Traffic Volume Changes / Additional Impacts of Nonstandard Alternative M (Low Impacts) AM PM AM PM NB 0/NB Conn. 67 NB 0/NB Conn. 08 NB 0/NB Conn. 86 NB 0/NB Conn. 0 ATTACHMENT C Auxiliary Lane Retained Matching ALT footprint by providing nonstandard ' inside shoulder instead of 0' No Additional Bridge widening at UC Yes off-ramp 77 off-ramp 980 off-ramp 8 on-ramps 790(L)+(T) = 00 on-ramps 90(L)+08(T) = 9 on-ramps 80(L)+(T) = off-ramp 00 Matching ALT footprint by providing: ' SHLD - x' HOV - x' GP - 8' SHLD - Dyer Dyer - Warner Warner - Edinger Edinger - McFadden McFadden- I HOV McFadden - Edinger Edinger - Warner Warner - Dyer Dyer - - I GP Exist - SB SB Direction I- - McFadden 0 Alt. - SB Aux HOV GP 0 0 HOV GP * 0 Dyer off-ramp 0 Dyer off-ramp 8 Dyer off-ramp Dyer on-ramps 0(L)+8(T) = 9 Dyer on-ramps 8(L)+(T) = 08 Dyer on-ramps 670(L)+0(T) = 80 Edinger off-ramp 0 Edinger off-ramp 8 Edinger off-ramp 660 Edinger off-ramp Edinger on-ramp 98 Edinger on-ramp 689 Edinger on-ramp 0 Edinger on-ramp 88 McFadden off-ramp McFadden off-ramp 7 McFadden off-ramp 0 McFadden off-ramp 6 McFadden on-ramp 6 McFadden on-ramp 8 McFadden on-ramp 0 McFadden on-ramp 770 Same footprint as ALT : No additional impact Current and Future Volumes do not warrant Aux. Lane Additional widening within State RW Additional bridge widening at Edinger UC and Tustin Rail UC Avoid R/W impact to parcel # 0--0 & 0-- by providing nonstandard ' shoulder instead of 8' at McFadden off-ramp No Yes Same footprint as ALT : No additional impact NB /NB CONN. 66 NB /NB CONN Traffic Volume NB /NB CONN. 80 NB /NB CONN Traffic Volume Changes / Additional Impacts of Nonstandard Alternative M (Low Impacts) AM PM AM PM SB/SB Conn. 80 McFadden off-ramp 7 SB/SB Conn. 90 McFadden off-ramp 90 SB/SB Conn. 90 McFadden off-ramp 9 Same footprint as ALT : No additional impact 0 SB/SB Conn. McFadden off-ramp McFadden on-ramp 80 McFadden on-ramp 87 McFadden on-ramp 80 McFadden on-ramp 0 Same footprint as ALT : No additional impact Edinger off-ramp 9 Edinger off-ramp 6 Edinger off-ramp 90 Edinger off-ramp 70 Edinger on-ramp 69 Edinger on-ramp 7 Edinger on-ramp 78 Edinger on-ramp Acceleration Lane Yes Dyer off-ramps 7(T)+66(L) = 0 Dyer off-ramps 9(T)+9(L) = 88 Dyer off-ramps 86(T)+70(L) = 6 Dyer off-ramps 60(T)+90(L) = 0 Dyer on-ramp 76 Dyer on-ramp Dyer on-ramp 7 Dyer on-ramp 9 off-ramp 6 off-ramp 006 off-ramp 6 off-ramp 0 on-ramps 6(L)+77(T) = 90 on-ramps 70(L)+07(T) = 776 on-ramps 00(L)+79(T) = 99 Auxiliary Lane Retained N/A Yes Same footprint as ALT : No additional impact Note: ALT and ALT M have to address relocation of the existing box culvert during Design phase Current and Future Volumes do not warrant Aux. Lane Matching ALT footprint by providing: ' SHLD - x' HOV - x' GP - 8' SHLD No Additional R/W take in landscape areas of parcel # 06-- and 06-- No Additional bridge widening at Dyer UC No Deceleration Lane Matching ALT footprint by providing: ' SHLD - x' HOV - x' GP - 8' SHLD No Additional bridge widening at UC Yes on-ramps Same footprint as ALT : No additional impact 80(L)+080(T) = 890 Note: ALT and ALT M have to address safety comments during Design phase 0 N/A SB /SB 0 Conn. 8 Legend: Matching ALT footprint by providing: ' SHLD - x' HOV - x' GP - 8' SHLD Dyer on-ramps 89(L)+(T) = 0 No Additional R/W take in landscape areas of parcel #0-0-0, , Aux Yes Dyer off-ramp 0 ** No Utilities Relocation No Additional Bridge widening at Dyer UC Alt. M - SB Aux on-ramps No Additional R/W take 90(L)+0(T) = 00 SB /SB 0 Conn. SB /SB 0 Conn. 900 SB /SB 0 Conn. 0 * Acceleration Lane ** Deceleration Lane 6/9/06

20 ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate PowerPoint

21 Update on the State Route Improvement Project Between Interstate 0 and Interstate

congested in peak hours Traffic growth of about ten percent expected by 00 Draft Initial Study with Proposed

22 Background State Route Improvement Project from Interstate 0 to Interstate Partial Project F in Measure M plan Adds new lanes, generally within existing ROW Includes merging lanes between interchanges Regular and HOV lanes congested in peak hours Traffic growth of about ten percent expected by 00 Draft Initial Study with Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration/Environmental Assessment released November 0 ROW = Right-of-Way HOV = High-Occupancy Vehicle

23 Comparison of Alternatives (Alt) and Modified GP = general purpose lane AUX = auxiliary lane

24 California Department of Transportation Proposal: Modified Alt Includes Measure M improvements of one GP lane and aux lanes each direction Adds one additional HOV lane each direction Stays within Alt ROW footprint through the use of exceptions to design standards

Benefits Adds lanes of additional capacity in highly congested corridor Minimized additional cost due to exceptions to design standards and

25 Benefits Adds lanes of additional capacity in highly congested corridor Minimized additional cost due to exceptions to design standards and avoidance of ROW Addresses HOV lane degradation, supports carpooling and transit Minimizes construction impacts to public by constructing once

26 Considerations Additional environmental studies Delay costs/escalation Requires SHOPP* contribution - $6.8 million pledged Additional external funding needed State Transportation Improvement Program constrained Priorities for funding (other corridors/improvements) * SHOPP = State Highway Operation and Protection Program 6

27 Next Steps Update traffic, air quality, and other studies Incorporate modified Alt in environmental document Revise the Federal Transportation Improvement Program Return to the Board of Directors with updated costs, schedule, cost-sharing arrangements, funding options, and budget and contract amendments 7

Vicinity Map. Interstate 605 (I-605) and State Route 91 (SR-91) in Los Angeles County

Vicinity Map. Interstate 605 (I-605) and State Route 91 (SR-91) in Los Angeles County 07 - LA - 605 - PM 2.87/PM 6.36 07 - LA - 91 - PM 14.10/PM 19.81 Vicinity Map N On Routes Interstate 605 (I-605) and State Route 91 (SR-91) in Los Angeles County I-605 between Excelsior Dr UC (PM 6.36)