By Warrior's Society Public Policy Consultant Mike Boeck
The Riverside County to Orange County Major Investment Study
(RC to OC MIS) has just completed the second round of public workshops to
gather comments from the public concerning this major effort to decrease
congestion along the State Route 91 corridor.
Forty eight "strategic options" for improvements in two
existing and two new transportation corridors were evaluated. The result at
this time is twelve combinations of options and a "no build alternative".
Proposed corridors B and C could have a seriously negative effect on the
Cleveland National Forest and the canyon communities.
Four of the twelve alternatives will be chosen as
preferable, probably by the end of this summer, then a cost-to-benefit analysis
of each of the four alternatives will be conducted and presented to the public
for more comments. At that time there will be another round of public
workshops.
For those people who were unable to attend any public
workshops, I am presenting the following information compiled by the OCTA and
the RCTC. After you examine the alternatives, please take the time to fill out
a short questionnaire which will be used to select the four preferable
alternatives. Your input is important! The questionnaire can be accessed using
the following internet link:
http://www.octa.net/freeway/ocrmis/question.pdf
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the Riverside County
Transportation Commission (RCTC) are now in the second phase of a Major
Investment Study which will assess multi-modal alternatives for improving
mobility between Orange and Riverside Counties.
As a result of numerous technical studies, it has been determined that based on
traffic projections for the year 2030, improvements to State Route 91 (SR-91)
alone cannot sufficiently improve the required capacity needs. SR-91 cannot be
widened to accommodate all future demand. Future demand, however, can be
accommodated by a combination of SR-91 and SR-74 improvements, new corridor(s),
public transportation, and other strategies.
Based on these findings the technical team has determined five conceptual corridors
and a variety of modal options that will help address mobility issues between
Orange and Riverside Counties.
These corridors include:
• State Route 91
• Corridor A-Santa Ana Canyon, North of the SR-91, primarily railroad right-of-way
• Corridor B-Cajalco Road/I-15 in Corona to SR-241/SR-133 in Irvine
• Corridor C-Lake St./Nichols Rd./I-15 area in Lake Elsinore to SR-241/SR-133 in Irvine
• Corridor D-Ortega Highway (SR-74)
Please note that the following Transportation Systems Management/Transportation Demand
Management (TSM/TDM) improvements exist in all build alternatives: variable
message signage, enhanced transit transfer centers, additional park-and-ride
spaces, and retaining peak period toll congestion pricing options.
The No Build Alternative shows improvements to the SR-91 that will occur regardless of the result of this study. Improvements included in the No Build Alternative are shown for your information. The traffic analysis showing future capacity needs in the year 2030 assume the following improvements are made. These improvements include:
• Improvements to the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC)
• MAGLEV*
• Addition of an eastbound auxiliary lane from SR-241 to SR-71
• One additional lane in each direction from SR-71 to I-15
• The Extension of SR-241 from Oso Parkway to I-5
• A new Interchange at Fairmont Boulevard and SR-91
• The extension of Jeffrey Road to the SR-241
* The MAGLEV project is outside of RCTC's and OCTA's
purview. Care is being taken during this project to preserve the necessary
Right of Way.
Alternative 1 increases capacity between Riverside and Orange County by 220,000 ADT by
including transit, highway and TSM/TDM improvements to SR-91 and Corridor A
(Santa Ana Canyon, North of the SR-91, primarily railroad right-of-way.) This
alternative would make all its improvements in Santa Ana Canyon and would not
build any new corridors South of SR-91.
Improvements suggested under Alternative 1 include:
• Commuter Bus Service on SR-91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Two additional general purpose lanes in each direction of SR-91 between SR-71 to I-15
• One additional auxiliary lane in each direction of the SR-91 between SR-71 to I-15
• Two additional general purpose lanes in each direction of SR-91 between SR-55 to SR-241
• An elevated six lane, grade-separated facility which directly links SR-241
to I-15 and SR-91. The only interchange would be located at SR-71. (Corridor A)
• A new interchange to be located at Fairmont Boulevard and SR-91
• SR-91 improvements for two HOV lanes and Six Mixed flow lanes in each direction from SR-71 to I-15
Alternative 2 provides an increased capacity by 240,000 ADT between Riverside and Orange
County. Improvements include transit, highway and TSM/TDM improvements to
SR-91, Corridor A (Santa Ana Canyon) and Corridor B (Cajalco Road/1-15 to
SR-241/SR-133 Vicinity).
Improvements suggested under Alternative 2 include:
• Commuter Bus Service on SR-91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Mixed Traffic Commuter Bus Service (Corridor B)
• One additional general purpose lane in each direction of SR-91 between SR-55 to I-15
• One additional auxiliary lane on the SR-91 in each direction between SR-71 to I-15
• An elevated four lane grade-separated facility (adjacent to BNSF tracks)
directly linking SR-241 to 1-15 and SR-91 with the only interchange being located at SR-71 (Corridor A)
• Construction of a new four lane corridor either with or without full length tunnels (Corridor B)
• New interchange to be located at Fairmont Boulevard/SR-91
• Two HOV lanes, five mixed flow lanes and one auxiliary lane on SR-91 in each direction between SR-71 and I-15
Alternative 3 increases capacity between Riverside and Orange County by 260,000 ADT by
incorporating transit, highway and TSM/TDM improvements to SR-91, Corridor A
(Santa Ana Canyon, North of the SR-91, primarily railroad right-of-way) and
Corridor C (Lake Elsinore/I-15 to SR 241/SR133 Vicinity).
Improvements suggested under Alternative 3 include:
• Commuter Bus Service on SR 91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Mixed Traffic Commuter Bus Service (Corridor C)
• One additional general purpose lane in each direction on SR-91 between (SR-241 to SR-71)
• Two additional general purpose lanes in each direction on SR-91 between (SR-71 to I-15
• Two additional general purpose lanes in each direction on SR-91 between (SR-55 to SR-241
• An elevated four lane, grade-separated facility (adjacent to BNSF tracks) directly linking
SR-241 to I-15 and SR-91 with the only interchange located at SR-71 (Corridor A)
• A new four lane freeway facility, either with or without full length tunnels (Corridor C)
• New interchange at Fairmont Boulevard/SR-91
• Improvements for two HOV lanes and six mixed flow lanes in each direction on SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
Alternative
4 increases capacity between Riverside and Orange Counties by 240,000 ADT by
incorporating transit, highway and TSM/TDM improvements to SR-91, Corridor A
(Santa Ana Canyon) and Corridor D (Lake Elsinore/I-15 to SR-241/SR-74).
Improvements suggested under Alternative 4 include:
• Commuter bus service on SR-91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Mixed Traffic Commuter Bus Service (Corridor D)
• One additional general purpose lane in each direction of SR-91 between SR-241 to SR-71
• Two additional general purpose lanes in each direction of SR-91 between SR-71 to I-15
• Two additional general purpose lanes in each direction of SR-91 between SR-55 to SR-241
• An elevated four lane, grade-separated facility (adjacent to BNSF tracks)
directly linking SR-241 to I-15 and SR-91 with the only interchange at SR-71 (Corridor A)
• Alternate route Four lane arterial either with or without tunnel segments (Corridor D)
• New interchange to be located at Fairmont Boulevard/SR-91
• Improvements for two HOV lanes and six mixed flow lanes in each direction on SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
Alternative
5 increases capacity between Riverside and Orange Counties by 220,000 ADT by
incorporating transit, highway and TSM/TDM improvements to SR-91, Corridor A
(Santa Ana Canyon) and Corridor B (Cajalco Road/I-15 to SR-241/SR-133
Vicinity).
Improvements suggested under Alternative 5 include:
• Commuter bus service on SR-91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Mixed Traffic Commuter Bus Service (Corridor B)
• One additional general purpose lane in each direction of SR-91 between SR-55 to SR-71
• Two additional general purpose lanes in each direction of SR-91 between SR-71 to I-15
• Six lane freeway either with or without a full length tunnels (Corridor B)
• New interchange to be located at Fairmont Boulevard/SR-91
• Improvements for two HOV lanes and six mixed flow lanes in each direction on SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
Alternative 6 provides an estimated capacity increase of 220,000 ADT between Riverside and
Orange Counties by incorporating a suite of transit, highway, and TDM/TSM
improvements to SR-91, Corridor A (Santa Ana Canyon), Corridor B (Cajalco
Road/I-15 to SR-241/SR-133 Vicinity), and Corridor D (Lake Elsinore/I-15 to
SR-241/SR-74).
Improvements suggested under Alternative 6 include:
• Commuter Bus Service on SR-91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Mixed Traffic Commuter Bus Service (Corridors B & D)
• One Additional General Purpose Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-55 to I-15
• One Additional Auxiliary Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• New Four-Lane Arterial facility either with or without Full-Length Tunnels (Corridor B)
• Alternate Route Four-Lane Arterial either with or without Tunnel Sections (Corridor D)
• Interchange to be located at Fairmont Boulevard/SR-91
• SR-91 Improvements for Two HOV Lanes , five Mixed Flow Lanes, and one Auxiliary Lane in Each Direction on SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
Alternative 7 provides an estimated capacity increase of 240,000 ADT between Riverside and
Orange Counties by incorporating a suite of transit, highway, and TDM/TSM
improvements to SR-91, Corridor A (Santa Ana Canyon), and Corridor B (Cajalco Road/I-15
to SR-241/SR-133 Vicinity).
Improvements suggested under Alternative 7 include:
• Commuter Bus Service on SR-91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Mixed Traffic Commuter Bus Service (Corridor B)
• One Additional General Purpose Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-55 to SR-241
• One Additional Auxiliary Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• SR-241/SR-91 Toll-to-Toll Direct Connectors
• Elevated Six-Lane Grade-Separated Facility, Directly Linking SR-241 to
I-15 and SR-91, with the only interchange being located at SR-71 (Corridor A)
• New Four-Lane Arterial facility either with or without Full-Length Tunnels (Corridor B)
• Interchange to be located at Fairmont Boulevard/SR-91
• SR-91 Improvements for Two HOV Lanes, Four Mixed Flow Lanes, and One
Auxiliary Lane in Each Direction on SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• SR-91 Improvements for an Additional General Purpose Lane in Each
Direction in Riverside County and Continuation of Direct Connector Lanes as General
Purpose
Alternative 8 provides an estimated capacity increase of 240,000 ADT between Riverside and
Orange Counties by incorporating a suite of transit, highway, and TDM/TSM
improvements to SR-91, Corridor A (Santa Ana Canyon), and Corridor C (Lake
Elsinore/I-15 to SR-241/SR-133 Vicinity).
Improvements suggested under Alternative 8 include:
• Commuter Bus Service on SR-91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Mixed Traffic Commuter Bus Service (Corridor C)
• One Additional General Purpose Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-55 to SR-241
• One Additional General Purpose Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• SR-241/SR-91 Toll-to-Toll Direct Connectors
• Elevated Six-Lane Grade-Separated Facility Directly Linking SR-241 to I-15
and SR-91, with the only interchange being located at SR-71 (Corridor A)
• New Four-Lane Arterial facility either with or without Full-Length Tunnels (Corridor C)
• Interchange to be located at Fairmont Boulevard/SR-91
• SR-91 Improvements for Two HOV Lanes and Five Mixed Flow Lanes in Each
Direction of SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• SR-91 Improvements for an Additional General Purpose Lane in Each Direction
in Riverside County and continuation of Direct Connector Lanes as General Purpose
Alternative 9 provides an estimated capacity increase of 230,000 ADT between Riverside and
Orange Counties by incorporating a suite of transit, highway, and TDM/TSM
improvements to SR-91, Corridor A (Santa Ana Canyon), and Corridor B (Cajalco
Road/I-15 to SR-241/SR-133 Vicinity).
Improvements suggested under Alternative 9 include:
• Commuter Bus Service on SR-91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Mixed Traffic Commuter Bus Service (Corridor B)
• New Metrolink Line from Ramona to Irvine Station (Corridor B)
• One Additional General Purpose Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-55 to SR-241
• One Additional General Purpose Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• Elevated Four-Lane Grade-Separated Facility Directly Linking SR-241 to
I-15 and SR-91, with the only interchange being located at SR-71 (Corridor A)
• New Six-Lane Freeway facility either with or without Full-Length Tunnels
(Corridor B) Potential Arterial Improvements
• Interchange to be located at Fairmont Boulevard/SR-91
• SR-91 Improvements for Two HOV Lanes and Five Mixed Flow Lanes on SR-91 in Each Direction from SR-71 to I-15
Alternative 10 provides an estimated capacity increase of 210,000 ADT between Riverside and
Orange Counties by incorporating a suite of transit, highway, and TDM/TSM
improvements to SR-91, Corridor A (Santa Ana Canyon), Corridor B (Cajalco
Road/I-15 to SR-241/SR-133 Vicinity), and Corridor D (Lake Elsinore/I-15 to
SR-241/SR-74).
Improvements suggested under Alternative 10 include:
• Commuter Bus Service on SR-91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Mixed Traffic Commuter Bus Service in Corridors B & D
• One Additional General Purpose Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• SR-241/SR-91 Toll-to-Toll Direct Connectors
• New Six-Lane Freeway facility either with or without Full-Length Tunnels (Corridor B)
• Alternate Route Two-Lane Arterial Widening/Realignment without Tunnels (Corridor D)
• Interchange to be located at Fairmont Boulevard/SR-91
• SR-91 Improvements for Two HOV Lanes and Five Mixed Flow Lanes in Each
Direction on SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• SR-91 Improvements for an Additional General Purpose Lane in Each
Direction in Riverside County and continuation of Direct Connector Lanes as General Purpose
Alternative 11 provides an estimated capacity increase of 260,000 ADT between Riverside and
Orange Counties by incorporating a suite of transit, highway, and TDM/TSM
improvements to SR-91, Corridor A (Santa Ana Canyon) and Corridor B (Cajalco
Road/I-15 to SR-241/SR-133 Vicinity).
Improvements suggested under Alternative 11 include:
• Commuter Bus Service on SR-91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Mixed Traffic Commuter Bus Service (Corridor B)
• One Additional General Purpose Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-55 to SR-241
• Two Additional General Purpose Lanes in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• One Additional Auxiliary Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• SR-241 to SR-71 Four-Lane Direct Connector (Corridor A)
• New Four-Lane Freeway facility either with or without Near Full-Length Tunnels (Corridor B)
• Interchange to be located at Fairmont Boulevard/SR-91
• SR-91 Improvements for Two HOV Lanes, Six Mixed Flow Lanes, and One
Auxiliary Lane in Each Direction on SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• Alternative Locations Considered for the Direct Connector are Northerly,
Southerly, or within the SR-91 Median and Configuration May Also Include a Three-Lane
Reversible Facility or Split Directionality
Alternative 12 provides an estimated capacity increase of 260,000 ADT between Riverside and
Orange Counties by incorporating a suite of transit, highway, and TDM/TSM
improvements to SR-91, Corridor A (Santa Ana Canyon), Corridor B (Cajalco
Road/I-15 to SR-241/SR-133 Vicinity), and Corridor D (Lake Elsinore/I-15 to
SR-241/SR-74).
Improvements suggested under Alternative 12 include:
• Commuter Bus Service on SR-91
• Expanded Metrolink Commuter Rail Service (Corridor A)
• Mixed Traffic Commuter Bus Service within Corridors B & D
• One Additional General Purpose Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-55 to SR-241and SR-71 to I-15
• One Additional Auxiliary Lane in Each Direction of SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• SR-241/SR-91 Toll-to-Toll Direct Connectors
• Eastbound Two to Three-Lane Collector Distributor Road from SR-241 to SR-71 (Corridor A)
• New Four-Lane Arterial facility either with or without Full-Length Tunnels (Corridor B)
• Alternate Route Four-Lane Arterial either with or without Tunnel Sections (Corridor D)
• Interchange to be located at Fairmont Boulevard/SR-91
• SR-91 Improvements for Two HOV Lanes, Five Mixed Flow Lanes, and One
Auxiliary Lane in Each Direction on SR-91 from SR-71 to I-15
• Additional Westbound Auxiliary Lane(s) will be Studied for Lane Balancing
BNSF- Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad
Transit Transfer Center - Transit Center where different modes of transit
meet at the same location providing easy transfers between modes
Variable Message Signing - Electronic Message Boards that are changeable
and provide information to the motorist on the spot
Toll Congestion Pricing Options - Different options for how a toll is set
for a highway depending on time of day, with tolls usually higher at peak periods
Grade Separated Facility - Highways in which different movements or directions
of travel take place on different levels, above or below
Direct Connector Lane - A facility that directly connects two different
highways, commonly found linking two freeways
3-Lane Connector Distributor Road - Connector Distributor Roads provide a
separate roadway for traffic to merge and diverge off of the mainline highway
Lane Balancing - New lanes added to balance the number of lanes in opposing
directions of travel
Mixed Flow Lane - General purpose highway lane available to all users
Auxiliary Lane - Lane of typically short length added to help traffic
merging onto the mainline highway or exiting from the mainline highway
ADT - Average Daily Traffic (number of cars that travel daily through an
area, typically representing the average over a year)
Transit - May include urban light or heavy rail, commuter rail, bus, express
bus, bus rapid transit, "paratransit" like small buses available on advance call-in
basis for mobility-challenged individuals, etc.
3 Bore - Three bores (or three tunnels)
TSM/TDM - Transportation Systems Management (TSM) and Transportation Demand
Management (TDM) - Example TSM treatment might be providing special lanes for buses
and carpooling vehicles; example TDM measure might be charging higher tolls during
peak travel periods
HOV/HOT - High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and High Occupancy Toll (HOT) - With
HOT lanes, single-occupant vehicles are allowed to pay to use the lane
Arterial - Is differentiated from a freeway by lower speeds, lower carrying
capacity, intersections at-grade signalized or not, driveways, etc.
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