CenterLine Light-Rail Project Put On Hold
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors votes to pause work on the CenterLine light-rail project and directs staff to explore conversion of CenterLine to another mode, including a possible bus rapid transit project starting on Bristol Street in Santa Ana.
Due in part to the absence of federal funding this year for the CenterLine light-rail project, the OCTA Board of Directors voted unanimously to pause work on CenterLine and begin exploring alternatives for other rapid-transit projects. OCTA has approximately $340 million in Measure M funds set aside for "high-technology advanced rail transit" which could be used on substitute projects. During the coming months, OCTA staff will begin studying a variety of alternatives to CenterLine, including:
- Launching a new bus rapid transit (BRT) system in a dedicated lane on all or part of the existing CenterLine route starting on Bristol Street in Santa Ana, extending as far as John Wayne Airport
- Accelerating planned expansion of Metrolink commuter-rail service to provide service every 30 minutes, seven days a week
- Widening Bristol Street in Santa Ana between Civic Center Drive and Warner Avenue; the center median could be reserved for future transit use
- Implementing a new street-running BRT system that would use existing traffic lanes with buses operating on a comprehensive network, serving key destinations in Orange and Los Angeles counties, including several Metrolink stations
- Exploring other rapid-transit options, including a light-rail system on the former Pacific Electric right of way in west Orange County, a people mover in Irvine and/or a magnetic-levitation (Maglev) train between Anaheim and Las Vegas
- Reallocating Measure M funds to approved freeway and/or local street projects, which would require voter approval
OCTA staff plans to return to the Board of Directors in June with more detailed analysis and cost estimates for the alternatives presented.
Placentia Receives $3 Million To Upgrade Railroad Crossings
The Board of Directors agrees to give the city of Placentia up to
$3 million to complete safety enhancements at eight railroad grade crossings.
The city of Placentia will use the funding to complete an $8.7 million project that is adding supplemental safety equipment to eight Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway crossings in Placentia, Anaheim and the county of Orange. Improvements include adding four-quadrant gates, raised and extended medians, relocated traffic signals and other devices that will help limit conflicts between vehicles and trains. This funding is in addition to
$3.4 million OCTA provided for the project in 2002.
Evaluation Criteria Set For Potential 91 Express Lanes Operator
The board approves possible refinements to OCTA's 91 Express Lanes operating procedures and revises the scope of work for the upcoming request for proposals (RFP) for 91 Express Lanes contracted services.
Since purchasing the 91 Express Lanes in January 2003, OCTA has contracted with Cofiroute Global Mobility to oversee day-to-day operations of the toll road. Later this month, OCTA expects to release an RFP to solicit competitive offers for a toll road operator. The board directed staff to make the RFP as flexible as possible so respondents can propose innovative approaches for meeting the performance criteria established by OCTA. OCTA expects the proposals to be submitted by early June 2005.
OCTA Employees Honored For Years Of Exceptional Service
The Board of Directors presents resolutions of appreciation to OCTA's three employees of the year for 2004.
Each year, OCTA honors three outstanding employees from maintenance, operations and administration who incorporate OCTA's core values into their daily work lives. Senior service analyst Edmund Buckley heads OCTA's scheduling unit and is responsible for the paperwork needed to operate more than 550 buses each day. Coach operator Jeffrey Mellinger acts as a liaison between coach operators and the scheduling department and boasts an astounding 26-year safe driving record. Certified mechanic Quy Nguyen helps keep OCTA's buses running day in and day out by quickly spotting problems and repairing bus defects.