I am pleased to announce there is good news when it comes to South County traffic relief! On Wednesday, March 12, the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) Board of Directors will vote to approve the advancement of Alternative 22, which is a NON-TOLLED extension of Los Patrones Parkway from Cow Camp to Avenida La Pata, and end further study and efforts to build additional toll roads in South County.
Finding a solution to traffic congestion in South County that does not impact homes, businesses or resident views has indeed been a challenge, as I heard local residents' concerns about the alternatives initially presented as part of the South County Traffic Relief Effort Project.
To that end, in 2017, I tasked our OC Public Works Director, Shane Silsby, to assist me creating a new alignment that the community could support, as well as improve regional mobility and enhance public safety. As a result, we created what is now termed Alternative 22 and worked with all stakeholders, including community leaders and local residents, to gather support.
It was reassuring to learn the community supports this Alternative, which does not impact built-out communities, stays out of environmentally sensitive areas and will be constructed below the ridge-line. Additionally, the community especially is supportive of the fact that this new road will be built as, and will remain, a non-tolled County arterial.
So how will Alternative 22 move forward? The County of Orange will take the lead on Alternative 22 and work with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), TCA, and regional stakeholders to create a project development plan. Upon completion, this plan will come back to the F/ETCA Board for approval.
I very much look forward to moving this project forward and seeing it through to fruition. Regional stakeholders and local residents alike can now rest assured that they will know what transportation infrastructure will be built-out in South County, and what will not. It certainly has been a long and winding "road" to get to this point, but well worth the effort!
