TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a Cooperative Agreement with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and all other documents and amendments related thereto, in order to provide certain traffic mitigation measures in East Long Beach related to the Orange County Transportation Authority's West County Connectors Project that is designed to make capacity and operational improvements on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) that will link High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes with those on the Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22) and the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) to create a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) connection amongst the three freeways. (District 3)
DISCUSSION
This matter was the subject of discussion at a closed session conducted by the City Council on October 13, 2009.
The OCTA's West County Connectors project will provide new direct connect high occupancy vehicle lanes via freeway widening and new elevated structures on the Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22) connecting with those on the San Diego Freeway (1-405) and the San Gabriel River Freeway (1-605). Improvements also include the reconstruction of the northbound 1-405 to westbound 7th Street overcrossing, the Valley View Street overcrossing and Seal Beach Boulevard overcrossing. Construction of this project is being managed by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) with oversight by Caltrans. Construction is funded primarily by federal dollars and is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2010 and extend until the winter of 2013.
Of particular concern are the access and traffic impacts the West County Connectors project will have on the eastern portion of Long Beach. The largest impact is expected to occur during the removal and reconstruction of the northbound 1-405 connector to 7th Street, which will result in the loss of access for approximately one year. That connector currently carries approximately 30,000 vehicles a day into Long Beach. During the construction phase...
Click here for full text