The Buzz

Art Pedrosa’s Orange County blog spells out the Orange County Transportation Authority’s political game in the 405 widening project:

“There’s nothing inherently wicked or wrong with public relations in the private sector, but for an expected-to-be transparent government the question here is why a freeway needs a PR firm?  The controversial 405 widening is already off to a bad start as the OCTA Board voted for the least politically impactful single-lane alternative instead of the only slightly more expensive (in relative terms, this is a $1.3 billion project) two-lane choice that could have been made to DOUBLE the pavement width for only a 7.7% increase in cost.  The other alternative for toll lanes was a disaster.  We’ll presume part of the Flaks’ job is to spin all this in favor of the Board’s decision, and of course there will be the mundane work of dealing with residents in the construction area who’ll need mollification for all that noise and dust.  If the widening goes over budget as happened for $50 million with the 22 Freeway, there’ll be excuses to be made to the “stake holders” by the Flaks taking any arrows for OCTA management and the contractors and keeping the complainers out of the Board meetings public comments period.”

Read the post for updates about Orange County’s top trough-feeders: http://ocpoliticsblog.com/the-usual-o-c-hacks-line-up-for-an-octa-4-7-million-freeway-pr-contract/

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Several political clubs and organizations don’t meet in December, including Saddleback Republican Assembly, Capistrano Valley Republican Women Federated and the Orange County Republican Central Committee. SRA’s next meeting will be on Thurs., Jan. 16.

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Some Mission Viejo homeowners have been overburdened by a special tax, Mello-Roos 87-1. Areas in 87-1 include Stone Ridge, Canyon Crest, Pacific Hills, Quail Run and several other Mission Viejo neighborhoods. On the Dec. 11 agenda for the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees was a discussion on retiring 87-1 in 2016 instead of 2020 when the last bond ends. Speaking from the public microphone in favor of ending the tax in 2016 was Mission Viejo Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht. Trustees driving the early retirement of 87-1 are Ellen Addonizio of Mission Viejo and Jim Reardon of San Juan Capistrano. Trustees wanting to continue the tax include Lynn Hatton, who represents a portion of Mission Viejo on the CUSD board. The board decided to table the discussion until all trustees are present. Trustee Anna Bryson missed the Dec. 11 meeting.

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Now that the Transportation Corridor Agency is unable to extend the 241 toll road, (as per the bond refinance agreement), there is new movement in improving South County freeways. On Dec. 13, an OC Register article says officials are recommending widening the I-5 south of the El Toro “Y.” Alternative 2 (the preferred option) would add one lane in each direction from Avery Parkway to Alicia Parkway and extend a second HOV lane from El Toro Road to Alicia; add and extend auxiliary lanes; realign and widen the Avery and La Paz Road interchanges and the roadways beneath them. The estimated cost is $472 million. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/alternative-593346-laguna-team.html