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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.