Village News

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is initiating environmental and engineering studies for the proposed South County Traffic Relief Effort (SCTRE), which aims to improve north-south regional mobility in South Orange County and accommodate growing regional travel demand. 

An environmental impact report/environmental impact statement (EIR/EIS) will be prepared to assess likely influences future improvements may have on the environment and communities in and around the study area. The EIR/EIS will analyze ways to reduce or avoid possible adverse environmental impacts. 

While most of the potential projects would take place deeper in south county, a preliminary scoping report includes two proposed traffic alternatives that would affect the I-5 in the vicinity of Laguna Woods:

Add I-5 General Purpose Lane from I-405 to San Diego County (aka Alternative 11)

Alternative 11 would widen I-5 and add one general purpose lane in each direction from the I-405/I-5 junction to Basilone Road, just south of the Orange County/San Diego County line. The existing I-5 high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes north of Avenida Pico are intended to function as HOV lanes in the opening year (2025) but would be converted to high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes by Caltrans as part of its regionwide regional express/HOT lane network by 2040.

Add I-5 HOT Lane from I-405 to San Diego County (aka Alternative 12)

Alternative 12 would convert two existing HOV lanes to HOT lanes in each direction on I-5 from I-405 to Alicia Parkway. One existing HOV lane would be converted to a HOT lane and another HOT lane would be added in each direction from Alicia Parkway to Avenida Pico. Two HOT lanes would be added in each direction from Avenida Pico to Basilone Road, just south of the Orange County/San Diego County line.

View a map of projected alternatives here. View the project website here.

How to Participate

Caltrans, which will hold public scoping meetings about the project, encourages citizens to participate in the process by exchanging information about mobility needs in their community, becoming familiar with the proposed project and the environmental review process, contributing ideas on what should be studied in the EIR/EIS and submitting comments and concerns.

Comment By

• Emailing: 
        Scoping@SCTRE.org
• Mailing comments:
        Caltrans District 12
        1750 East 4th Street
        Santa Ana, CA 92705
        Attn: Env/SCTRE Scoping
• Attending a Public Scoping Meeting and submitting comments in person (an open-house format with no formal presentation; attendees can arrive at any time):
        Wednesday, November 20
        5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
        Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center
        24932 Veterans Way
        Mission Viejo, CA 92692
        
        Wednesday, December 4
        5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
        The Ocean Institute
        24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive
        Dana Point, CA 92629

The deadline for public comment is 5 p.m., Monday, December 9. 

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