03.33 Support Analysis of Toll Road and Express Lanes1. SUBJECT
Resolution No. 11105 - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Orange in Support of the
Continued Analysis of the 241 Toll Road /91 Express Lanes Connector Project (Project).
2. SUMMARY 7==1
The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) and the California Department of Transportation
Caltrans ( Caltrans), is proposing to add a direct connector linking the northbound 241 Toll Road
to the eastbound 91 Express Lanes and the westbound 91 Express Lanes to the southbound 241
Toll Road. On December 11, 2017, the Orange County Transportation (OCTA) Board voted to
defer any further work on the project. The purpose of Resolution No. 11105 is to express support
from the City of Orange to resume work on the project.
3. RECOMMENDED ACTION 7771
Approve Resolution No. 11105
4. FISCAL IMPACT
None
5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL(S)
1. Provide for a safe community:
b. Provide and maintain infrastructure necessary to ensure the safety of the public.
6. GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Circulation and Mobility Goal 1:0: Provide a safe, efficient, and comprehensive circulation
system that serves local needs, meets forecasted demands, and sustains quality of life in
neighborhoods.
Policy 1.2: Identify key intersections and streets with historical or projected traffic congestions
problems and apply creative traffic management measures to improve overall circulation.
Circulation and Mobility Goal 2:0: Provide an effective regional transportation network.
Policy 2.3: Cooperate with and support local and regional agencies' efforts to improve regional
arterials and transit in order to address increasing traffic congestion.
7. DISCUSSION and BACKGROUND
The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), in coordination with California Department of
Transportation ( Caltrans), is proposing to add a direct connector linking the northbound 241 Toll
Road to the eastbound 91 Express Lanes and the westbound 91 Express Lanes to the southbound
241 Toll Road. The direct, median -to -median tolled connector may reduce traffic congestion in
both directions, enhance safety by reducing weaving across lanes and improve access to toll lanes
in Orange and Riverside Counties. Commuter traffic from the Inland Empire to Orange County is
expected to increase 20% by 2040. Improved access to the toll lanes may reduce congestion and
cut through traffic in and around the City of Orange.
On December 11, 2017, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board voted (10-
3) to direct OCTA staff to defer all work on the 241 Toll Road (SR- 241)/91 Express Lanes (SR-
91) Connector Project, citing concerns regarding project benefits. OCTA's review of the draft
technical environmental studies indicates that the proposed project could increase traffic
congestion for drivers in all lanes on SR -91 during the evening commute period as well as
increase travel time for SR -241 commuters.
Representatives from TCA and Caltrans stated they were opposed to the OCTA staff
recommendation. TCA representatives believe the assumptions used for the basis of the OCTA
action need to be updated, including a draft traffic study and project report, which needed to be
updated now that the 91 Express Lanes extend into Riverside County. Caltrans representatives
believe the OCTA staff report did not include the positive indicators from the traffic analysis
relative to vehicle throughput and vehicle delay reductions, nor did the report address the safety
benefits in reducing weaving across the lanes and improving the queuing from the SR -241 to the
SR -91.
Subsequently, the City of Anaheim has reached out to other cities along the SR -91 corridor
requesting support to complete the study and environmental phase to determine safety
improvements and other benefits that were not previously identified. Such benefits may include
operational and safety improvements that will result from reduced weaving along the SR -91
mainline. Resolution No. 11105 expresses support by the City of Orange to resume work on the
project and not delay future phases.
ITEM 1 7/10/18
8. ATTACHMENTS
• Resolution No. 11105
• 241/91 Express Connector Fact Sheet
CC:JS:tdr
ITEM 1 7/10/18
RESOLUTION NO. 11105
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ORANGE EXPRESSING SUPPORT OF THE
CONTINUED ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT TO
LINK NORTHBOUND 241 TOLL ROAD TO THE
EASTBOUND 91 EXPRESS LANES AND THE
WESTBOUND 91 EXPRESS LANES TO THE
SOUTHBOUND 241 TOLL ROAD.
WHEREAS, the Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), in coordination with the
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is proposing to add a direct connector linking
the northbound 241 Toll Road to the eastbound 91 Express Lanes and the westbound 91 Express
Lanes to the southbound 241 Toll Road (Project); and
WHEREAS, there is currently no direct connection between the 241 Toll Road and the 91
Express Lanes; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this Project is to implement the build out of the Eastern
Transportation Corridor (ETC), as approved in 1994, attain compatibility with the SR -91 mainline
and 91 Express Lanes and is included in Orange County Transportation Authority's (OCTA)
adopted Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and Southern California Association of
Government's 2017 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP); and
WHEREAS, on December 11, 2017, the OCTA Board directed OCTA staff to request the
TCA to defer all work on the Project given the regional mobility impacts described in the OCTA
staff report; and
WHEREAS, prior to the OCTA taking action on December 11, 2017, representatives from
the TCA and Caltrans expressed opposition to the OCTA staff recommendation to defer all work
on the Project and instead recommended that work on the Project continue to complete the
environmental analysis; and
WHEREAS, the proposed project benefits are anticipated to reduce traffic congestion,
increase regional throughput, enhance safety and improve access between the toll lanes in Orange
and Riverside counties.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ORANGE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Orange wishes to express its support of the
continued analysis of the Project and supports not delaying the Project.
Section 2. The City Council of the City of Orange encourages OCTA to study and
revise its toll - pricing model to maximize throughput of the traveling public.