During a 45-day public review period now underway, community members have the opportunity to review a supplemental traffic study for the planned San Diego Freeway (I-405) Improvement Project and share their comments through Aug. 12.
OCTA team members provided a presentation to the Los Alamitos City Council Monday, July 15 as part of the agency's ongoing efforts to provide information about the public review process for the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Impact Statement (EIR / EIS).
Project team members briefed city councilmembers on the three improvement options included in the draft environmental document that Caltrans released in May 2012, and also shared two newly proposed options for improving the I-405 freeway.
OCTA board members had proposed project planners screen these two options, Concept A and B, for further consideration at their April 22 meeting.
The project team will present findings from the concept analyses and will further discuss the existing alternatives at the OCTA Board of Directors meeting in September 2013.
Several Los Alamitos councilmembers expressed concern about the Concept A and B screening, particularly regarding Concept A’s inclusion of a high occupancy toll (HOT) lane.
Councilmembers reiterated their support of Alternative 1, the alternative OCTA board members selected October 2012 and had recommended Caltrans move forward with design and construction.
The Los Alamitos City Council then unanimously voted to support a resolution that opposed any alternative within the I-405 Improvement Project that would include a HOT lane.
The next day, OCTA team members shared similar information regarding the Supplemental Draft EIR /EIS with the Long Beach City Council at its meeting Tuesday, July 16.
Long Beach city officials expressed concerns regarding the State of California’s “fair share” formula. This formula calculates compensation for local jurisdictions for proposed improvements that would mitigate potential impacts of the I-405 improvement project.
OCTA and Caltrans have encouraged city officials to share their concerns by email or mail during the 45-day public review and comment period now underway.
Project officials will continue to coordinate with Long Beach city officials as the I-405 project progresses.
For more information, please visit the project website.