South County Traffic Relief Effort Project Formally Concludes

Los Patrones Parkway Extension identified for further study

IRVINE, CA (June 9, 2020) – On June 3, staff provided the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) Board of Directors with a 120-day update on the conclusion of the South County Traffic Relief Effort (SCTRE) project per the Board’s March 12 decision that directed staff to collaborate with regional partners to study the advancement of an untolled extension of Los Patrones Parkway (Alternative 22) for further consideration as an alternative that could provide significant traffic relief with minimal environmental and community impacts.

Since then, staff has collaborated with regional partners to transition the further study of the Los Patrones Parkway Extension Project to the County of Orange. Additionally, staff has coordinated with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to:

• Notify public, local, state and federal agencies that the SCTRE project will not be advancing
  
• Withdraw the Notice of Preparation for the Environmental Impact Report posted at the State Clearing house
  
• Rescind the Notice of Intent for the Environmental Impact Study posted in the Federal Register
  
• Remove the project website (SCTRE.org) by the end of June
  

Completion of these activities formally concludes the SCTRE project and, as such, there will be no further pending updates to the Board.

The F/ECTA will continue to support and coordinate with the County and other regional partners to advance the untolled Los Patrones Parkway Extension project, as well as with the Orange County Transportation Authority and Caltrans to advance the I-5 HOV extension project and the Ortega Highway widening project in San Juan Capistrano.