Fund projects on the regional bike network
Orange County projects received a total of $18.7 million from the first round of the state’s new Active Transportation Program funded by Cap & Trade funds. These grants, when combined with local agency matching funds and OCTA’s commitment of federal funds, provided more than $21 million for 28 projects throughout the county.
The combined state and OCTA funds will support projects that will improve bicycle and pedestrian connections throughout Orange County including grants to further the completion of the Orange County (OC) Bike Loop, develop bicycle and pedestrian safety education and outreach programs, implement Safe Route to Schools programs and develop future active transportation plans.
Continue regional bikeways planning
● To date, 30 regional bikeway corridors comprised of more than 350 miles have been identified; half have already been implemented locally.
● OCTA facilitated collaboration with south Orange County jurisdictions to identify nine regional bikeway corridors and encourage stakeholders to help develop a more bike-friendly community at two roundtable discussions.
● OCTA selected a consultant to develop a bikeways strategy and to prepare a feasibility study for the OC Foothills area. Bikeways strategies for all of Orange County are scheduled for completion in 2015.
Raise awareness of the Orange County Bike Loop
● A dedicated webpage was created to increase awareness and show progress in building the 66-mile OC Bike Loop, which is 70 percent complete. Approximately 650,000 people live within one mile of the OC Loop, which provides commuters and residents with connections to bus stops, Metrolink stations and major employment centers.
● In September, OCTA and other regional transportation officials opened a two-mile segment of the OC Loop along the Coyote Creek trail that runs near Beach Boulevard between Buena Park and La Mirada.
Promote active transportation
● In April, OCTA collaborated with local officials, law enforcement and bicycle advocates on an Orange County Bike Safety Workshop with approximately 60 participants. The goal was to raise awareness and discuss actions to improve bicycle safety.
● OCTA unveiled “Be Bike Smart”—an active transportation safety campaign to educate bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians.
● Be Bike Smart has garnered more than 12,000 views and received nearly 1,300 bike safety pledges through a dedicated website, social media, local television and radio public service announcements, bus ads, videos and regional meetings.
● OCTA created a “Three Feet for Safety” video public service announcement supporting California’s new motor vehicle law/code that received more than 311,000 views on Facebook and YouTube.