• Northbound SR-57 Improvements Advance with Consultant Selection
• Board Takes Step Toward Free Bus Rides for Youth
• Board Receives Strategic Initiatives Mid-Year Report

The Orange County Transportation Authority’s board of directors approved the selection of Parsons Transportation Group as the firm to prepare plans, specifications and estimates for improvements to northbound SR-57 in Anaheim and Orange.

The SR-57 Northbound Improvement Project will add one regular lane in the northbound direction of SR-57 between Orangewood and Katella avenues to improve traffic.

It will also extend the auxiliary lane from the Orangewood Avenue off-ramp to the Katella Avenue off-ramp to create more space to merge, along with expanding the Katella Avenue off-ramp to allow more vehicles to exit the freeway at the same time.

The project is part of Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, also known as OC Go.

The OCTA board took the first step toward initiating a pilot program for youth between the ages of 6 and 18 years to ride OC Bus for free.

The Youth Ride Free pass would allow passengers up to age 18 to ride any OCTA fixed-route bus in Orange County for free during the pilot program, scheduled to begin in September. The pilot program had originally been intended for youth up to 13 years old, but OCTA board members expressed interest in expanding the program to reach more teens.

Funds to cover the cost of the Youth Ride Free pass would come from the state, so approvals are still needed from Caltrans and the California Air Resources Board. If those approvals are granted, the pilot program would begin in September and run for six months through the end of February 2021. At that point, ridership would be evaluated and the OCTA board would decide whether to extend the program.

The OCTA board received a mid-year update on the 2021 board and CEO initiatives and action plan.

The action plan, which focuses on accessibility, sustainability and collaboration, consists of three board initiatives broken down into nine CEO initiatives to be monitored through 96 milestones throughout the year.

Accomplishments in the first half of 2021 include:

• Adopting the fiscal year 2020-21 Comprehensive Business Plan, ensuring the financial feasibility of OCTA’s programs and services
• Adopting a $1.3 billion budget for fiscal year 2021-22, which encompasses all services, projects and programs that are administered by OCTA
• Updating the Measure M Next 10 Plan, ensuring promises to voters will be kept
• Beginning construction on the Anaheim Canyon Metrolink Station to improve train service and accommodate planned future train service
• Launching a diversity, equity and inclusion webpage to further strengthen OCTA’s commitment to providing equitable public transportation and engaging with diverse and disadvantaged communities
• Expanding the College Pass Program to Cypress College, allowing enrolled students to travel on any OC Bus free of charge