ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, who serves on the OC Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors, commented on yesterday’s Regional Transportation Planning Committee meeting where the committee voted to further work on the Coastal Rail Resiliency Study Initial Assessment, secure $12 million of grant funding for the Coastal Rail Corridor Infrastructure Resiliency Project, and accept a combined $30 million on infrastructure and road improvement projects in south Orange County.
Supervisor Foley released the following statements highlighting the votes by the OCTA Regional Transportation Planning Committee from the May 6, 2024 meeting:
Coastal Rail Resiliency Study Updates (Item #7): Directed OCTA to further develop concepts within the Initial Assessment for protecting the LOSSAN Rail Corridor in south Orange County and return to OCTA’s Board of Directors with a comprehensive plan to integrate both engineering and sand nourishment solutions to help protect the rail corridor in the immediate timeframe. Learn more here.
“Since 2022, my message to OCTA has been clear: sand nourishment is a proven strategy to protect and buffer the rail corridor,” said Supervisor Foley. “We know that wide, sandy beaches protect the rail line, our environment, our coastal communities, and our economy. I thank OCTA for working with my office to amend their Initial Assessment to include sand nourishment. I look forward to continuing to work with the regulatory agencies to save our beaches and see this vision expedited in preparation for future weather events.”
Coastal Rail Infrastructure Corridor Resiliency Project Funding (Item #4): Secured $12 million of grant funding from the California Transportation Commission for the Coastal Rail Corridor Infrastructure Resiliency Project. These projects are intended to stabilize and protect the LOSSAN Rail Corridor in south Orange County for the next thirty years. This grant funds the project approval and environmental documentation – the first step in the project delivery process.
“Protecting the LOSSAN Rail Corridor through the next 30 years and beyond is a massive undertaking for our region that requires unprecedented coordination with state and federal partners,” said Supervisor Foley. “I thank the California Transportation Commission for providing $12 million in funding for projects that protect the LOSSAN corridor over the next 30 years.”
Fifth District Regional Capacity and Traffic Synchronization Projects (Item #5): Approved awards for OCTA’s Regional Capacity Program (Project O) and Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program (Project P), which collectively disburse over $30 million to jurisdictions in Orange County. Several projects in the Fifth District received funding through these programs, including $330,000 for the Stonehill Drive Improvement Project in Dana Point, $9,452,528 for the Crown Valley Parkway Westbound Improvement Project in Laguna Niguel, $1,348,106 for the Paseo De Valencia - Moulton Parkway Confluence Bypass Corridor in Laguna Hills, and $990,619 for the Alicia Parkway RSSP Project in Laguna Niguel.
“Investment in the transportation infrastructure of south Orange County benefits residents and businesses,” said Supervisor Foley. “I look forward to continuing our work with local partners to explore ways to improve mobility to ensure that everyone in the Fifth District can travel throughout our region seamlessly.”
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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), Chair – OCFA Legislation & Public Affairs Committee, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Vice Chair – OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Capital Improvements and Projects Committee, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, Ocean Institute, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel, Co-Chair – Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition, Chair – Orange County Housing Finance Trust, and the Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council.
