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Regional agencies outline local priorities: OCTA, LA Metro, Kern COG, Ventura and Riverside present STIP project requests
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Summary
Regional planning agencies presented projects ranging from a century-old rail bridge replacement and OC Loop segments in Orange County to truck climbing lanes in Kern County and HOV/port access projects in Ventura County; LA Metro requested funds for transit electrification and East Side Transit Corridor right-of-way.
Several regional transportation planning agencies used the CTC’s South hearing to describe RTIP submissions and how projects address local needs.
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Deputy CEO Jennifer Bergner said OCTA proposed roughly $150 million in STIP programming over five years, including $34.8 million in new programming. Key projects include replacing a more-than-100-year-old Pacific Coast Highway coastal rail bridge to meet seismic standards, advancing OC Loop segment B to close a gap in a 66-mile county network, adding right-of-way phases to managed-lane and truck-climbing projects, and continuing active-transportation and rail resiliency work.
Kern Council of Governments Executive Director Jay Schlosser proposed the State Route 58 truck climbing lane phase 2 project. Schlosser said the overall SR 58 program represents three phases to address steep climbing segments and that phase 2 would seek roughly $25.3 million in STIP programming with an estimated total project cost of about $50 million. He cited a recent 43-car pileup at the project location to underline safety priorities.
Los Angeles County Metro Executive Officer Mark Yamarone outlined five new county projects including the Marengo Mobility Hub, Eagle Rock Boulevard multimodal improvements, purchases of battery-electric buses and chargers, and a large ask for right-of-way funding on East Side Transit Corridor Phase 2A. Metro said the East Side project will be built in phases to deliver early mobility benefits and estimated significant long-term vehicle miles traveled reductions and travel-time savings.
Ventura County Transportation Commission Executive Director Martin Erickson described two priority projects: US 101 HOV/express bus lanes to improve transit reliability and Hueneme Road widening to strengthen freight access to the Port of Hueneme. Riverside County Transportation Commission planning director Jillian Gazzato presented two new projects — Pennsylvania Avenue grade separation and CV Sync phase 4 — plus carryover projects and said RCTC is proposing STIP programming up to its target share, supported by more than $77 million in other federal, state, and local sources.
Commission staff repeatedly emphasized that while regions have presented priorities, staff will need to reconcile programming against fund-estimate constraints and may request schedule shifts or delays to balance the STIP across fiscal years.
