Mobility 21 Reception Honoring California Transportation Commission at Port of Long Beach

Please join Mobility 21 on Thursday, March 20 for a reception honoring the California Transportation Commission (CTC).

Thursday, March 20, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Port of Long Beach
Administration Building

Registration 
$125 Private Sector
$65 Public Sector, Nonprofits, Students
Elected Officials Complimentary

Click here to register

Sponsorship
$2,000 – Host Level: Includes logo on event marketing and five complimentary tickets
$1,000 – Support Level: Includes logo on event marketing and two complimentary ticket
$500 – Small Business Level: Includes logo on event marketing and one complimentary ticket

Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Erin Brooks
Director of Customer Energy Solutions
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)

Erin Brooks is the Director of Customer Energy Solutions for Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas). In this role, she manages the relationships with large Commercial and Industrial (C&I) business customers, supports customer adoption of clean transportation, cleaner fuels and new technologies, and collaborates with hard-to-decarbonize C&I customers to develop a path to net-zero in support of SoCalGas ASPIRE 2045 and California’s climate goals. Prior to coming to SoCalGas in 2016, Erin worked as a management consultant with Kenny & Company and an energy consultant at Navigant. She is passionate about developing and promoting clean energy solutions for our changing world, and promoting policies to support and enable innovation and growth in the clean energy marketplace. Erin holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of California, Berkeley.

Celebrate SCAG’s 60th Anniversary at the 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly

Join SCAG for the 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly, May 1-2 at the JW Marriott in Palm Desert. This year, SCAG will celebrate its 60th anniversary. SCAG has worked with the region’s leaders to plan for a brighter future for Southern California since 1965.

Attend the 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly to network with regional leaders from both the public and private sectors, sharing best practices and lessons learned while working toward common goals. The event features a two-day program of panels, discussions, and activities that showcase leading thinkers and practitioners in planning and related fields from throughout Southern California and the entire nation.

Register online by March 31 to save $150 on the general admission ticket price and secure your hotel room at the special conference rate.

OCTA Advances Priority Coastal Rail Projects in San Clemente

The Orange County Transportation Authority is taking another decisive step in the ongoing effort to protect and stabilize the coastal rail line through San Clemente to help ensure safe and uninterrupted rail service.

The OCTA Board of Directors has voted to advance four priority projects under the Coastal Rail Stabilization Priority Project, marking a significant milestone in efforts to safeguard the rail corridor.

“This rail line is essential to safely moving passengers and freight, and I’m proud of the work we are doing with strong input from the community and all stakeholders to make sure this vital corridor remains operating smoothly,” said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee, also Orange County’s Fourth District Supervisor.

Since fall 2021, multiple bluff failures and landslides on privately owned land have, along with coastal erosion, have significantly impacted rail operations along the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor, requiring emergency stabilization efforts. Subsequently, studies indicated that other areas through San Clemente are at risk.

To address these urgent concerns, OCTA has been actively collaborating with regulatory agencies to implement strategic solutions in the near future, while continuing to look at short and mid-term solutions to protect the rail line in place. OCTA is also working with the state toward long-term solutions.

OCTA staff has continued to engage with regulatory agencies to find ways to streamline the permitting processes and advance the four identified reinforcement areas. The priority projects are currently under the environmental and preliminary engineering phase, which would help to ensure the timely implementation of protective measures while aiming to minimize future rail service disruptions.

OCTA advanced the following projects:

  • Reinforcement Area 3: A proposed catchment wall at Mariposa Point designed to protect from landslides will be expedited. This location does not require permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the California State Lands Commission, allowing for accelerated project implementation.
  • Reinforcement Areas 1, 2, and 4: OCTA is evaluating multiple protective measures, including riprap repair, engineered revetments, seawalls, and sand nourishment to address coastal erosion risks.

Collaborative Efforts, Funding Secured

OCTA is working closely with geotechnical, structural, and coastal engineers, alongside key stakeholders such as the City of San Clemente, State Parks, Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink), LOSSAN, Amtrak, and BNSF Railway.

This collaborative approach ensures the selection of the most resilient and cost-effective solutions that would protect the rail line.

Last fall, OCTA secured $305 million in state and federal funding, enabling the completion of design and construction for the Coastal Rail Stabilization Priority Project. This financial commitment underscores the urgency and importance of protecting the region’s transportation infrastructure.

OCTA continues to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the California Coastal Commission, and the California State Lands Commission to advance the project under the standard regulatory framework, while looking for ways to expedite the effort. The work includes:

  • Submitting a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application to the Coastal Commission.
  • Conducting geological and environmental assessments.
  • Identifying and securing sand sources to support beach nourishment.

In a series of public meetings, OCTA heard from and recognized the importance of incorporating sand nourishment into any proposed solutions. A critical component of the project includes a one-time infusion of approximately 540,000 cubic yards of sand for beach nourishment.

OCTA is exploring viable offshore and inland sand sources to support erosion control measures. Environmental studies and permitting processes are actively being pursued to expedite approvals and ensure efficient project implementation.

Project Timeline and Next Steps

The alternative analysis for Reinforcement Area 3 is expected to be finalized by March 2025, with preliminary engineering and environmental documentation completed by early 2026.

For Areas 1, 2, and 4, the alternatives analysis process is anticipated to conclude by mid-2025, with preliminary engineering and environmental documentation completed by early 2027. The timeline is subject to change.

Additionally, OCTA is coordinating with rail operators to minimize disruptions to passenger and freight rail services once construction begins.

OCTA is steadfast in its commitment to protecting Orange County’s coastal rail corridor through strategic, data-driven solutions to ensure continued reliability and resilience of one of the nation’s busiest rail corridors.

For more information, visit www.octa.net/CRRS.

TCA Distributes RFI on Reuse Options for Toll Plazas

The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), operator of The Toll Roads, has released a Toll Plaza Reuse Request for Information (RFI) to explore innovative uses for existing mainline toll plaza areas located on State Routes (SR) 73, 133, 241 and 261. Within the 51-mile toll road network the TCA operates in Orange County, there are 10 mainline toll plazas.

In 2014, TCA made the conversion to All Electronic Tolling (AET), eliminating the need for cash payments at toll plazas. This RFI is the first step in the process to explore innovative concepts for Toll Plaza reuse and underlines TCA’s commitment to promote enhanced mobility, bringing added value to Orange County residents.

“The Toll Plaza Reuse RFI is part of TCA’s Strategic Plan initiative to explore other concepts for the underutilized space” said Mission Viejo representative Trish Kelley, Chair of the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency and the Joint Capital Programs and Projects Committee. “With the release of this RFI, we look forward to the public submitting innovative ideas for consideration by TCA’s Boards for potential reuse of existing toll plaza areas that will benefit the communities we serve, as well as the drivers on the Agencies’ toll roads.”

All applications are due by March 24, 2025, and applications will be evaluated through Spring 2025 with final notification to respondents in Summer of 2025. For additional information, please visit Toll Plaza Reuse | The Toll Roads.