At the beginning of February, CEO Darrell Johnson presented OCTA’s Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) at its hearing for the 2020 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The STIP is a major source of funding for transportation improvements throughout the State of California.
His comments focused on reinforcing the fact that OCTA is a balanced and forward-thinking organization that supports the diverse travel needs of Orange County. In addition, he highlighted OCTA’s proven history as an excellent steward of both voter-approved sales tax measure funds and external funding with a successful track record of delivering projects.
The STIP is critical to providing a balanced transportation system in Orange County and it complements improvements in all modes with multiple funding sources to meet local, regional and state goals.
OCTA proposed $203.645 million in STIP funding for the following 2020 STIP program of projects:
- I-5 Improvement from I-405 to Yale Avenue
- SR-55 Improvements from I-405 to I-5
- SR-74 State Ortega Highway Improvements
- Replacement Planting for the I-5 Improvement Project from SR-73 to El Toro
- I-5 Managed Lane(s) from Avenida Pico to San Diego County Line
- Planning, Programming, and Monitoring
- I-605 - Katella Avenue Interchange
The CTC is scheduled to approve their staff recommendations in the March, which may include changes to OCTA’s proposal. Johnson also presented an overview of numerous projects currently underway in Orange County. The CTC expressed interest in the OC Flex on-demand microtransit program as well as OCTA’s purchase of 10 hydrogen fuel-cell electric buses and completion of the hydrogen fueling station.