Council adopts 5‑year review of Lake Forest transportation mitigation program; $2.52 million funding gap noted

The Lake Forest City Council on June 17 approved the 2024 five‑year review of the Lake Forest Transportation Mitigation Program and an updated fee schedule intended to fund intersection improvements tied to new development.

Tran Tran, the city’s transportation manager, told the council the LIFTEM program (established in 2008) has completed seven projects, has four currently under construction, one project in design led by Irvine, and three projects in planning. Staff reported the total program improvement cost is $14,670,000; the city has collected $12,150,000, leaving $2,520,000 in remaining unpaid costs to be allocated among remaining housing units.

Tran presented lower‑cost alternatives for three intersections originally scoped for larger roadway widening. At Los Lisos Boulevard and Rockville Boulevard staff proposed a restriping option (a 19‑foot‑wide de facto right‑turn lane) instead of curb‑pushing that could require right‑of‑way acquisition from adjacent homes. At Lake Forest Drive and Rockfield Boulevard staff recommended a right‑turn overlap signal operation rather than a reconfigured split‑phase signal that would reduce overall intersection efficiency. For the intersection involving Avenida De La Carlota and the I‑5 off‑ramp (jurisdictionally shared with Irvine and Laguna Hills), staff proposed signage and restriping changes instead of adding through and turn lanes that would require complex coordination with Caltrans.

Tran said one project — Bay Parkway and Rockville Boulevard — will be removed from the LIFTEM list after checking with Irvine’s traffic modelers; staff concluded the intersection currently meets the city’s level‑of‑service standards. He added the proposed changes reduce the program’s projected costs by an estimated $6 million to $9 million.

The council approved the alternative improvements, the removal of the Bay Parkway/Rockville project, and updates to the cost estimates and fee schedule. "The liftem program was established back in 02/2008...so far, the lift and program has completed 7 improvement projects," Tran said during his presentation.

During public comment, resident Andrew O'Connor questioned prior intersection work and raised separate traffic concerns about the El Toro Road I‑5 southbound exit, asking, "When what's the decision on the El Toro Road exit, southbound I 5? What's it gonna be? What's Caltrans decided? They doing a flyover or what?" City staff and council members said the city is coordinating with Caltrans, OCTA and neighboring jurisdictions on interchange and ramp improvements.

The motion to adopt the 2024 LIFTEM five‑year update and fee schedule passed unanimously.