Following input from the community and stakeholders, a new idea for consideration that results in a balanced solution to provide regional traffic relief to South Orange County was unveiled at the February 8 Joint Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) Board Meeting.

In response to public feedback and initial analysis by planners and engineers, the new idea would extend Los Patrones Parkway in Rancho Mission Viejo from Cow Camp Road to connect with Avenida La Pata prior to the Prima Deschecha Landfill.  The new idea also includes adding managed lanes in the median of Interstate 5 from State Route 73 to south of the San Diego County Line.

“Our planners and engineers are taking a deeper look at the public’s ideas with the goal of finding the best alternative for traffic relief in Orange County,” said Mike Kraman, TCA Chief Executive Officer. “This new idea will be added to the seven ideas that are planned for analysis in the Project Study Report (PSR), expected to be complete in summer 2018.”

TCA will now work to preliminarily analyze eight ideas in the areas of traffic, right-of-way impacts, and other environmental studies. Completing the PSR is the first step to initiating the formal environmental process.

The long-term strategic plan for the South County Traffic Relief Effort involves ongoing discussions with the community, stakeholders, environmental organizations and elected officials prior to beginning the formal environmental process.

A public scoping meeting and a public review period will be part of the formal environmental process, for more information visit www.TheTollRoads.com.  The formal environmental process is projected to be complete in 2025.