21-0518_CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION_PowerPoint_F1aLower Ortega Highway Widening Funding
Agreements with OCTA, County of Orange,
and Caltrans
Item F-1(a)
May 18, 2021
Agenda Item Purpose
Consideration of funding agreements with
OCTA, the County of Orange, and Caltrans
for the City’s passthrough of OCTA grant
funds and County developer fees to
Caltrans for design of its Lower Ortega
Highway Widening Project.
1.Add one lane each direction to eliminate
bottleneck.
One mile length from Calle Entradero to
Riata Road.
Improve traffic flow & reduce merging
conflicts.
2.Add traffic signal at Hunt Club Drive
Project Description
Location Map
Background
1.Project is ready for design by Caltrans
◦Estimated at $7 million that is budgeted in 2024 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
2.Project can be moved up two years with OCTA Measure M grant funds that Caltrans is not directly eligible to receive, but that are available to the City
3.Measure M grant requires 25% match, which would be provided from County’s developer fees paid by RMV into South County Roadway Improvement Program (SCRIP).
Background (cont.)
1.City Council authorized City’s grant application Nov 2019
2.OCTA Board approved $5.25 million Measure M grant to City in Jun 2020
3.County Board of Supervisors will consider the agreement with the City for $1.75 million matching funds Jun 22.
4.RMV has commitment to submit $1.75 million to County:
◦$0.5 million by Jul 2021.
◦$1.25 million by Jan 2022.
Existing Private
Rail Crossing at
Rancho Capistrano
Funding Diagram
Agreements’ Provisions
1.Proposed funding agreement provisions:
◦Require no City funding.
◦Have no Project related liabilities for City
now or in future.
2.Side Note: Settlement agreement from 2011
commits City to 50% of O&M costs for Hunt
Club traffic signal (about $5,000 per year)
Schedule & Future Funding
1.State and Federal environmental documentation completed.
2.Design and right-of-way acquisition to be completed in 2025.
3.State construction funding is about $50 million short.
4.With environmental being completed and design under way, the Project will be a good candidate for future infrastructure grants and programs.
Recommendations Summary
1.Approve agreements with OCTA, the County of
Orange, and Caltrans for funding of design for the
Caltrans State Route 74 Lower Ortega Highway
Widening Improvement Project, subject to incidental
changes and approvals of the governing bodies of the
respective agencies; and,
2.Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreements
and to execute any other documents necessary for the
City to receive and disburse funds under provisions of
these agreements.