Widening a major highway through several cities, and putting tolls on it? The expected result: public disapproval and lawsuits. But not if you’re the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). When you’re OCTA, “the environmental community supported it from Day 1,” recalls Darrell Johnson, CEO of the Southern California agency.
Skeptical cities were won over, too. Adolfo Ozaeta, city traffic engineer for the city of Westminster, notes that one alternative listed for the $1.9-billion Interstate 405 widening would have required acquiring more than 100 parcels from the city. “Through OCTA’s public participation process ... today we are constructing this alternative which includes the permanent acquisition of zero homes and businesses. It speaks volumes as to the manner in which OCTA does business. We are constructing a project that has countywide support.”