Bus Rapid Transit on Freeways Study

Overview

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), in partnership with the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 12, studied the development of two Freeway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes on Interstate 5 (I-5) and State Route 55 (SR-55). The Freeway Bus Rapid Transit Concept Study identified improvements to infrastructure and transportation solutions for potential Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes and identified stops along each corridor. The I-5 route is approximately 30 miles from the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station to the Fullerton Park and Ride, while the north-south route is 12 miles along the SR-55 from the Santa Ana Regional Transit Center to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach.

The study built upon prior studies conducted by Caltrans and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and developed solutions which can benefit transit, high-occupancy vehicles, and toll users.

Key study objectives included:

• Identify best practices for Freeway BRT
• Develop recommendations for route alignment and station locations
• Determine need for freeway transit stations, access ramps, and parking required to maximize transit and ridesharing in the corridors
• Improve freeway traffic flow
• Identify long-term solutions to connect underserved and emerging populations

Background

The OC Transit Vision (Transit Master Plan) was completed in 2018, establishing a 20-year plan for the future of Orange County’s public transit system. The Transit Master Plan identified the I-5 and SR-55 as high-priority corridors, which became the focus of the OCTA Freeway BRT Concept Study.

This study will develop alternatives for the Freeway BRT corridors including identification of operating lanes, station locations, access ramps, and needed parking facilities. The alternatives will use existing and planned high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.