OCTA seeks public input on long-range transportation plan

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is soliciting public input to help plan for the county's transportation needs for the next 20 years.

A draft copy of the "Outlook 2035" plan is posted for public review and comment on OCTA's website. Authority officials will host an open house on May 7 at OCTA's headquarters in Orange, Calif., so the public may comment on the plan.

"This is a document that will direct how we improve mobility for Orange County for the next two decades, looking at a wide range of transportation modes – from freeways to bicycles," said OCTA Chairman Shawn Nelson in a prepared statement. "We need the public’s input to ensure that we’re developing the best ways to keep residents, workers and visitors moving."

OCTA completes a long-range transportation plan every four years to examine the county's expected transportation needs, accounting for changes in demographics, the economy and available funding. The plan also explores potential trends in the way people travel through the county as the population changes and analyzes multiple transportation modes, including buses, trains, freeways, city streets and bikeways.

Orange County’s population is expected to grow by about 400,000 people, OCTA officials said.