91 Freeway MIS Policy Keeps Tunnel Alive

Kudos to the Orange/Riverside Major Investment Study Policy Committee for a sensible and statesman-like vote yesterday. The MIS Policy Committee voted to move forward on widening the 91 Freeway, studying the Santa Ana Mountains tunnel, and evaluating an elevated companion freeway to the 91. The unanimous decision is a victory for commuters and a setback for The Irvine Company and supervisor candidate Cassie DeYoung's hysteria campaign.

And kudos to Congressmen Gary Miller and Ken Calvert to weighing in directly with the Authority on this matter.

Here is the OCR story and here is the OCTA press release on the decision:

Orange, Riverside County Officials Select Strategy To Tackle Traffic Troubles Along 91 Freeway

Options include expansion of SR-91, new highway parallel to SR-91,expanded transit service and highway tunnel linking counties

ORANGE – A joint committee of Orange and Riverside county transportation officials voted unanimously today (Nov. 18) to move forward with a series of alternatives aimed at improving traffic flow along the notoriously congested Riverside Freeway (SR-91).

Today’s decision marks the culmination of an 18-month Major Investment Study (MIS) looking at a wide variety of alternatives for improving the drive between Orange and Riverside counties.  The $3.3-million study was jointly funded by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) and the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA).

The “locally preferred strategy” approved today by the Riverside County – Orange County Major Investment Study Policy Committee will act as a roadmap for future transportation improvements between the two counties.

“The 91 Freeway currently handles more than 300,000 cars per day and is in desperate need of improvement,” said OCTA Chairman Bill Campbell.  “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Riverside County as we try to improve the commute for residents on both sides of the county line.”

The transportation projects recommended for further study and consideration include:

* Make improvements to SR-91 the immediate priority.  The committee recommends adding one new lane in each direction to SR-91, starting with improvements between the Corona Freeway (I-15) and the Foothill Toll Road (SR-241), followed by improvements between SR-241 and the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55).

* Encourage more drivers to use the Foothill Toll Road (SR-241) by lowering tolls and adding new lanes as an alternative to widening SR-55. Drop the proposal to widen SR-55 included in some of the options.

Improving Transportation Between Riverside, Orange Counties

* Continue evaluating the costs and impacts of adding a new four- or six-lane elevated highway parallel to SR-91 between I-15 and SR-241 with a condition of not acquiring business and residential property.

* Continue studying the technical feasibility of building a new four- or six-lane highway, which could include a tunnel between I-15 at Cajalco Road in Riverside County and the intersection of SR-241 and SR-133 in Orange County.

* Balance highway improvements with expanded transit service, including additional Metrolink trains, express buses and high-speed or Maglev train service

* Eliminate a proposal to connect the new elevated highway referenced above to SR-91 and SR-55 due to high residential right-of-way impacts that would be necessary to widen SR-55 in order to accommodate the increased traffic flow.

* Eliminate proposed widening and realignment of Ortega Highway (SR-74) due to high costs and environmental impacts, but expedite studying operational and safety improvements.

The package of transportation projects recommended by the committee is expected to cost more than $9 billion to build.

In December, the full OCTA and RCTC boards are scheduled to make a final recommendation on which alternatives should be advanced for further study and project development.  The two counties will then work together to prioritize the projects, seek funding sources and begin environmental studies.

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Comments

[Logical]

If multi-reversible lanes on the 91 is not considered, the obvious resolution IMO, then it's a wasted study.

7 or so reversible lanes would likely cut the commute in half and would be much more cost effective than any other alternative; if the express lanes have to be eliminated to achieve this configuration then so be it; relieving congestion should be the goal, not the cash flow generated by the tolls.