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OCTA’s innovative Environmental Mitigation Program serves as an example for transportation agencies around the country

ORANGE – As the Orange County Transportation Authority advances programs and services to enhance the county’s transportation network, it’s also working with the environmental community to protect what makes Orange County such a great place to live.

That commitment was recently affirmed by a Federal Highway Administration case study that demonstrates how transportation improvements and environmental goals can be mutually accomplished through strong partnerships.

Since 2006, when Orange County voters overwhelmingly approved the renewal of a 30-year, half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, the Measure M funds have helped implement OCTA’s comprehensive Environmental Mitigation Program.

With funds for that program, OCTA has improved freeway project coordination and approval, has sped up the permitting process, and has helped preserve more than 1,300 acres of high-value undeveloped wildlands and restored approximately 350 acres of native habitat in Orange County.

“The recognition of OCTA’s environmental efforts in this case study further demonstrates that OCTA is keeping its commitments made to taxpayers through Measure M, and it shows that transportation and environmental goals can be achieved simultaneously,” said OCTA Chairman Andrew Do, also Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

In simple terms, in coordination with state and federal agencies, the program takes a comprehensive approach to mitigate the environmental impacts from the 13 freeway projects approved by voters in Measure M. Rather than the traditional piecemeal method of mitigating near each project, OCTA was able to provide a greater environmental benefit through the purchase of large swaths of connected land around the county.

These properties contain high-value, threatened and endangered habitat and wildlife and were eligible for development. OCTA bought the land from willing sellers, ensuring their preservation in perpetuity.

The Federal Highway Administration’s case study, released earlier this year, indicates that OCTA’s program has developed mechanisms that allow for advanced compensatory mitigation, a specific type of environmental mitigation required by the Clean Water Act.

OCTA performed compensatory mitigation in advance of its freeway projects even before it was required. The agency’s Environmental Mitigation Program is one case study in a series conducted by the Federal Highway Administration that highlights how transportation agencies around the country are implementing a system called Eco-Logical. It’s a novel approach to mitigation planning that’s designed to help transportation, resource, and regulatory agencies work together to develop infrastructure and conservation processes and determine a joint set of environmental priorities.

OCTA partnered with resource and regulatory agencies to develop mitigation planning resources like the Measure M Conservation Plan and Preserve-specific Resource Management Plans, which prioritize sensitive habitats and species in Southern California.

At the same time, OCTA’s program has also greatly reduced the time it takes to process a freeway project permit and has improved the overall efficiency of project coordination and approval, allowing for project’s to be built sooner to keep Orange County moving. Expedited project delivery helps to manage costs and allows residents to realize tangible benefits of their tax dollars more quickly.

One of the first steps OCTA took toward utilizing the Eco-Logical approach was establishing the Environmental Oversight Committee in 2007. The 12-member committee evaluates and makes recommendations on the allocation of environmental mitigation funds related to resource protection and regulatory requirements.

Through its strong partnerships, OCTA continues to follow the Eco-Logical approach to accelerate project delivery and improve environmental outcomes.

For more information, please visit www.octa.net/environmental.

OCTA will distribute federal funds to local cities for pavement reconstruction and upkeep, offsetting effects of sales tax drops during COVID-19 pandemic

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority earlier this month awarded nearly $11 million in federal funds for paving and upkeep of streets across Orange County, helping maintain the county’s high-quality pavement conditions for the safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

The funds totaling $10.9 million, from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), are intended to offset revenue losses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“These funds will help continue Orange County’s commitment for high-quality pavement conditions that make it possible for our residents, workers, and visitors to travel safely and efficiently,” said OCTA Chairman Andrew Do, also the Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

The funds will be distributed to Orange County cities and the county using a formula based on population, with each receiving a minimum of $200,000. Anaheim, with more than 350,000 residents, is set to receive more than $1 million, while a city such as Villa Park, with fewer than 6,000 residents, still gets $200,000. The population-based formula is consistent with how funds are being distributed statewide through the California Transportation Commission.

Although local cities and the county may have received state and federal stimulus funds for a variety of needs, the use of CRRSAA funds ensures that the money goes directly to transportation needs.

Based on pavement management plan reports submitted by local agencies, there is a backlog in current and projected Orange County pavement needs.

The use of the federal CRRSAA funds will help make up for decreases in transportation funding from both local and state sales tax, which declined during the pandemic and impacted agencies abilities to maintain roadways.

The funds will be used specifically for pavement preservation, preventative maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

OCTA, County of Orange and City of San Clemente reaffirm commitment to transportation solutions that minimize community impacts

ORANGE COUNTY, CA – The Orange County Transportation Authority, County of Orange and City of San Clemente all recently approved a Cooperative Agreement to support a trio of south Orange County transportation projects that will meet near-term congestion relief needs while minimizing impacts on local communities.

This Cooperative Agreement follows more than two decades of discussions regarding the proposed toll road extension through protected open space in both San Mateo State Park, near San Onofre State Beach and the City of San Clemente. Significant efforts to finally resolve the issue emerged in the past two years with the involvement and leadership of Senator Pat Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, OCTA, City of San Clemente and County of Orange.

“Being able to bring key players to the table and create a blueprint for addressing community concerns and developing local solutions to improve mobility in South County, is a win-win for everyone involved,” said Orange County Supervisor and OCTA Director, Lisa Bartlett, who led the collaborative effort to find an agreement. “Residents can rest easy knowing what the future holds for transportation projects and planning efforts in the City of San Clemente’s backyard and throughout the region.”

“For decades, residents in San Clemente have spoken loud and clear about the importance of preserving our open space and protecting the character of our community,” said San Clemente Mayor Kathy Ward. “Thanks to this agreement, we can finally focus on common-sense traffic solutions to ensure our City and our neighboring cities remain desirable places to live, work and visit.”

“I am heartened to see the spirit of cooperation in Orange County that has allowed transportation leaders to come together to address the environmental concerns of residents and local businesses, and create an agreement for the future of mobility in South Orange County,” said Senator Pat Bates. “Therefore, I am happy to withdraw Senate Bills 760 and 761, which were the impetus for regional leaders to come together to author this cooperative agreement.”

As previously approved, the near-term projects spelled out in the Cooperative Agreement to improve South County mobility include:

• Construction of the Los Patrones Parkway Extension as a non-tolled county arterial from its current terminus at Cow Camp Road to Avenida La Pata in San Clemente
• OCTA’s and Caltrans’ efforts to complete high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane improvements on Interstate 5 between Avenida Pico and the San Diego County Line
• The Ortega Highway (SR-74) widening in San Juan Capistrano from two lanes to four lanes between Calle Entradero and the city/county border

OCTA, Transportation Corridor Agencies, and Caltrans agreed on those three projects in March 2020, in lieu of extending the SR-241 Toll Road. The approach supports protection of previously approved conservation easements and protected lands within San Clemente, is consistent with OCTA’s commitment to follow a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive planning process that provides all partner agencies and stakeholders opportunities to engage and provide input.

Reaffirming the commitment to those projects, the Cooperative Agreement was approved by OCTA on Oct. 11 and by the County and City at their meetings on Oct. 5. In part, the agreement states the County of Orange and OCTA “will not build, support or authorize a new major thoroughfare in the City in an area that is subject to a conservation easement or is protected as open space under a local initiative.”

Additionally, the agencies agreed that OCTA, as the state-designated County Transportation Commission, will work with stakeholders to plan any necessary long-term improvements.

OCTA is currently underway on its South Orange County Multimodal Transportation Study that is looking at a wide range of transportation needs and solutions over the next 25 years, including improvements to streets, bus and other transit options, highways and bikeways. This study, expected to be finished in spring 2022, includes participation of key stakeholders and follows on a similar study that was done in 2008, which resulted in a more than $1.5 billion investment in south county transportation projects and services. In addition, OCTA is working on the 2022 Long Range Transportation Plan, developed every four years and expected to be complete fall 2022, which serves as the vision for Orange County’s future transportation needs.