HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem IAGENDA REPORT
DATE: April 22, 2002
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: John B. Bahorski, City Manager
FROM: Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT — WEST ORANGE COUNTY
PROJECT DEFINITION STUDY
SUMMARY OF REOUEST:
Instruct staff to continue to monitor the planning process for the "West Orange County
Project Definition Study ". Receive and File Staff Report.
BACKGROUND:
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has instituted a transportation
program planning process for the "West Orange County Project Definition Study"
("Project Definition Study "). The project study area is generally all of Orange County
northwest of the Santa Ana River. The purpose of the study is to define transit project
alternatives that provide better connections with existing transportation systems while
expanding and/or adding new transit services that will meet the needs of study area over
the next 20 -25 years.
Three alternatives have been defined and are summarized on Attachment 1, Technology
Comparison Matrix, as
❑ "Bus Rapid Transit (Lite) ",
❑ "Bus Rapid Transit (Deluxe(Ultra) ", and
❑ "Light Rail'
All of the alternatives indicate a "Bus Rapid Transit (Lite)" line on Westminster Avenue
through Seal Beach connecting to the Blue Line in Long Beach and with the Santa Ana
Transportation Center, along with the proposed "Center Line" alignment from Santa Ana
to Costa Mesa and Irvine. A "Bus Rapid Transit (Lite)" line is proposed on Katella
Avenue between Valley View and the Orange Transportation Center. This line then goes
north on Valley View and eventually terminates at the Green Line Station in Norwalk.
An additional "Bus Rapid Transit (Lite)" line is proposed on Edinger Avenue from Bolsa
Agenda Item
C:Ny Domme \City Council \Wert OC Definition Smdy CC Staff Rep doc \LW\03 -2"2
Status Report re: West Orange County Project Definition Study
City Council Staff Report
April 22, 2001
Chica Street to the Irvine Transportation Center. No other transit improvements are
proposed that would impact Seal Beach.
The `Bus Rapid Transit (Lite)" concept consists of a typical transit bus with the
capability to have priority at congested intersections and having stops approximately % to
1 mile apart.
The Project Definition Study recommendations are scheduled for release in June 2002,
with a preferred plan scheduled for presentation to impacted cities and the OCTA Board
in August 2002. After determination of a preferred plan the environmental review
process will be initiated.
At this stage, any potential impacts to Seal Beach appear to be limited. Staff will
continue to monitor the progress of this transportation planning effort and will provide
additional status reports as appropriate. When the Notice of Preparation (NOP) and the
Draft EIR/EIS me available, formal comment letters will be prepared on those documents
for consideration by the Environmental Quality Control Board and the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
RECOMMENDATION:
Instruct staff to continue to monitor the planning process for the "West Orange County
Project Definition Study ". Receive and File Staff Report.
Whittenberg
Director of Development Servi
Attachments: (3)
Attachment 1: "West Orange County Project Definition Study" —
Technology Comparison Matrix
Attachment 2: Route Maps — Alternatives A, B, and C.
Attachment 3: "West Orange County Project Definition Study ": Handout
Pages on "Project Overview ". and Frequently Asked
Questions"
Wm OC Definition Stady.CC SWtTR,ort
Status Report re: West Orange County Project Definition Study
City Council Staff Report
April 22, 2002
ATTACHMENT 1
"WEST ORANGE COUNTY PROJECT
DEFINITION STUDY" - TECHNOLOGY
COMPARISON MATRIX
West OC Definition Study CC Staff Reyort
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Status Report re: Wes( Orange County Project Definition Study
City Council Staff Report
April 22, 1002
ATTACHMENT 2
ROUTE MAPS -
ALTERNATIVES A, B, AND C
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Status Report re: West Orange County Project Definition Study
City Council Staff Report
April 22, 2002
ATTACHMENT 3
"WEST ORANGE COUNTY PROJECT
DEFINITION STUDY ": HANDOUT PAGES
ON "PROJECT OVERVIEW" AND
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS"
WestO Nfinilion Study CC Stab Report
PROJECT OVERVIEW
WHAT IS THE PROJECT DEFINITION STUDY (PDS)?
The PDS is a detailed evaluation of possible transit technologies and travel corridors in west Orange
County. Potential corridor alternatives will be evaluated using performance, cost and environmental
factors, resulting in a reduced set of alternatives. Further technical evaluation will then be done to
help decision makers select a preferred alternative..
During the study, technical, steering and policy committees comprised of elected officials, city
managers, and key technical staff from the cities will work with OCTA to identify local issues. In
addition, an extensive public outreach effort will keep the residents and businesses informed
through a series of public workshops and Individual briefings.
WHY IS THE PDS BEING CONDUCTED?
Population and travel demand continue to grow in all areas of Orange County, including regions
with more established communities. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has
partnered with 10 west Orange County cities to study high - capacity transit options to improve
access to Long Beach, Los Angeles and central Orange County. The 10 cities include: Buena Park,
Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach,
Stanton, and Westminster. The cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana are also participating in the
technical review.
STUDY BACKGROUND
The cities in west Orange County are established communities. Employment, cultural and
recreational resources are dispersed throughout the area, Including Little Saigon, Knott's Berry
Farm and the beach /tourist destinations in Huntington Beach and Seal Beach. Travel in the study
area is also dispersed across a wide array of streets and highways. However, desirable connections
to Los Angeles County, employment centers in central Orange County and local trips within the
10 -city area dominate motorist demand. Two of the freeways serving the area (1 -5 and 1 -405) cut
diagonally across the and of local streets and are congested during peak periods making local access
difficult. The SR -22 Freeway travels east/west parallel to Westminster Boulevard and Is currently
one of OCTA's top priority projects for widening.
In June 2000, the West Orange County Cities Association (WOCCA) completed a Rail Feasibility
and Alignment Study. The study concluded that improving the existing transportation system while
providing better connections to other transportation systems and central Orange County is critical
for future mobility. Beach Boulevard, the Pacific Electric Railroad right -of -way, the 1 -405 and
others were listed as potential transit corridors. A set of primary and secondary corridors were also
established, consistent with the 87 -mile Rail Master Plan and other OCTA studies.
STUDY SCHEDULE
The Project Definition Study recommendations are scheduled for release in June 2002. A
preferred final plan will be presented to the OCTA Board and cities in August 2002.
1 of 2
Buena Park ® Cypress IN Fountain Valley N Garden Grove ® Huntington Beach
La Palma a Los Alamitos 0 Seal Beach 0 Stanton a Westminster
PUBLIC COMMENTS
OCTA needs your Input to help develop a project that will increase the person- carrying capacity of
West Orange County's transportation system. If you have questions or comments about the
project, please call Paul Rodriguez, OCTA Community Relations Manager, at (714) 560 -5762.
Project information can also be obtained at www.octa.net.
2of2
Buena Park 2 Cypress ® Fountain Valley lig Garden Grove IN Huntington
La Palma ® Los Alamitos 12 Seal Beach ® Stanton ® Westminster
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Study Related Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the West Orange County (WOC) Project Definition Study?
A: The WOC Project Definition Study will identify opportunities to increase the
person- carrying capacity of west Orange County's transportation system. The study
will focus on defining transit project alternatives that provide better connections
with existing transportation systems while expanding and /or adding new transit
services. These improvements will enhance social and economic opportunities in the
west county area, while protecting and maintaining the environment and quality of
life.
Q: What is the expected outcome of this study?
A: This study will narrow the proposed alternatives into either a single project or an
integrated set of specific short- and long -term projects through an evaluation
process. The evaluation criteria include performance measurements, environmental
benefits /impacts, cost- effectiveness and land use and policy support. The OCTA
Board will use this analysis to adopt a preferred alternative, which is a first step for
federal funding purposes.
Q: What is the next step after this Project Definition Study?
A: After the evaluation process and adoption of a preferred alternative, OCTA will
begin the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS process will be
coordinated with conceptual engineering and provide more detailed project
information Including the layout and design, land use impacts, construction and
operation costs, and ridership. Preliminary study recommendations are scheduled
for release in June 2002 and a preferred final plan will be presented to the OCTA
Board and cities in August 2002.
Q: Is this study a part of the CenterLine Light Rail Project?
A: No. The initial West Orange County Cities Association's (WOCCA) Rail Feasibility
and Alignment Study focused on how to address growing transportation needs,
enhance existing transit systems and provide a possible future connection with the
CenterLine. In this study, OCTA is working with the 10 west Orange County cities
and their respective communities to better define what alternatives should move
forward for further study on a regional basis. Connection to existing and future
systems remains a priority.
1 of 2
Buena Park 0 Cypress IN Fountain Valley IN Garden Grove I& Huntington Beach
La Palma ® Los Alamitos 0 Seal Beach 10 Stanton Ba Westminster
Technical Related Questions
Q: Why are rapid transit options being considered?
A: West Orange County is an established set of cities and communities that are near
"build- out." Adding additional roads or highways to the existing transportation grid
will be very difficult and disruptive to the communities. In addition, mass transit
alternatives can carry a greater number of people more efficiently over the existing
transportation grid. Currently, west Orange County possesses strong bus ridership
with continued growth expected over the next 20 years.
Q: What travel corridors are under consideration and why?
A: The travel corridors with the highest travel demand combined with those of
untapped potential are under consideration. These include: 1) corridors that travel
east/west between central Orange County and Los Angeles County (e.g., Katella
and Westminster), 2) corridors that travel north /south linking Huntington and Seal
Beaches with northwest Orange County (i.e., Beach Boulevard), and 3) travel
corridors that cut diagonally across the existing roadway grid, including the 1 -405
and Pacific Electric right -of -way.
Q: What level of noise can 1 expect from the options?
A: Noise is a complex and subjective issue which depends on a multitude of variables
such as location of the source, weather conditions, time of the day, sound barriers,
surrounding ambient noise, etc. Noise will be evaluated as part of the study process.
Q: How is OCTA proposing to pay for the options being considered?
A: Developing a transit system to effectively service a densely populated area such as
west county could be a relatively expensive proposition and funding these
improvements is not guaranteed. Funding for such a system could include a
combination of local, state and federal monies that are available for mass transit
projects. In addition, OCTA previously purchased Pacific Electric right -of -way in
west county and can use this capital expenditure to count towards federal match
required to receive federal funding.
The preferred transit system emerging at the end of the study process will be
evaluated for future funding through OCTA's long -range financial planning process.
The study's final alternatives will need to compete with other countywide
transportation priorities.
2of2
Buena Park 11 Cypress ® Fountain Valley IQ Garden Grove 11 Huntington Beach
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