OCTA asks for 55 Freeway input

About 150 people crammed into the Victoria Room at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Center Monday night, ready to question a number of plans to ease congestion at the 55 Freeway’s end.

Residents scrutinized the proposals for almost an hour during a question and answer session put forth by the Orange County Transportation Authority and LSA Associates, the firm contracted to develop them.

While OCTA says 100,000 vehicles use Newport Boulevard every day, residents at the meeting cited Caltrans as saying 180,000 vehicles use the thoroughfare. OCTA estimates its number could increase by 15% as early as 2030.

The city has taken some short-term plans to alleviate the problem, including the addition of new lanes on the north and southbound portions of Newport Boulevard, though a long-term solution has yet to be seriously articulated, said Director of Public Services Peter Naghavi.

LSA representative Tony Petros repeatedly said the plans put forth by his firm were simply preliminary, and that the meeting was intended to elicit community input about which proposals should be further examined.

He cited one such plan, the widening of Newport Boulevard to a 10-to-12-lane road, as one that his staff assumed would be quickly rejected by residents.

“That might be unpalatable to those who live or have a business along that corridor,” he said. “We’re offering some of these ideas to rule them out.”

“We want to hear whether you like [the ideas] or don’t like [them],” said Costa Mesa Councilman and OCTA board member Allan Mansoor. “The reason we want to look at every idea is so that further down the road, if someone says, ‘Why didn’t you look at this concept or that concept,’ we can say, ‘This is why we didn’t like it,’ or ‘This is why we liked it.’”

The proposals were explained on posters throughout the room, and attendees were encouraged to place a red or green sticker depending on whether or not they thought the proposals were worth consideration.

Among the least favored were plans to, as Petros predicted, expand Newport Boulevard by several lanes, and extend the 55 Freeway on a raised median down Newport Boulevard.

Most favored by residents was a plan to extend the freeway through an underground tunnel that would end at Industrial Way.

East 19th Street resident Taffy Dalby, who had passed out fliers notifying her neighbors of the meeting this week, said an increase in traffic on her residential street could have a significant impact on her property values.

She said she found the meeting informative, but remained skeptical of the process.

“I think there is a bit of an agenda with the OCTA, and possibly the city,” she said. “I know they are probably going to listen to our ideas, but I think they want to move forward with what they think is best.”

Dalby’s solution?

Keep the boulevard as it is, and install traffic lights that would accommodate traffic and congestion at peak hours, similar to those considered by Newport Beach.

Those who missed the Monday meeting can also attend a session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the council chambers in Costa Mesa City Hall.

A meeting for Newport Beach is also planned from 5 to 7 p.m. April 10 at the Newport Beach Sea Base facility at 1931 W. Coast Hwy.

READER QUESTION

What do you think should be done with the 55 Freeway?

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at chris.caesar@latimes.com.