The OCTA’s 2021 initiatives and action plan focus on accessibility, sustainability and collaboration

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority board today presented the 2021 Board and CEO Strategic Initiatives and Action Plan, the document that prioritizes what will guide the agency as it continues to negotiate the challenges of the COVID-19 public health crisis while remaining fiscally conservative and working to provide a balanced, sustainable transportation system for Orange County.

Orange County First District Supervisor Andrew Do, who was elected as OCTA chairman earlier this month, unveiled the initiatives, along with OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson, who developed an action plan based on the Board’s priorities.

The Initiatives and Action Plan include:

• Reliable, Accessible, and Balanced Transportation Choices
• Provide Balanced Public Transportation Options and Solutions
• Deliver Improvements to Fulfill Measure M Promises
• Engage with Diverse and Disadvantaged Communities
• Financial Stewardship, Sustainability and Resilience
• Champion Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability
• Plan and Adapt to a Changing Environment
• Demonstrate fiscal responsibility and effective Measure M2 administration
• Organizational Excellence and Collaboration
• Enhance Workforce Diversity and Inclusive Work Culture
• Adapt to a Changing Workplace, Promote Employee Development and Safety
• Provide Quality Customer Service and Collaborate with Regional Partners

“After the disruptions we’ve seen this past year, high-quality transportation options are more important than ever,” said Chairman Do. “We also must ensure that our practices as they relate to customers, contractors, and employees are fair and equitable. The initiatives adopted by the Board today position OCTA to meet this moment – both the challenges and opportunities we will face this year – and help us fulfill our important mission of keeping Orange County moving. I’m eager to work with my colleagues to continue improving the quality of life for Orange County’s residents, workers and visitors.”

In the year ahead, OCTA will continue work on several important transportation projects and adopt a revised Measure M Next 10 Delivery Plan, to ensure fiscal sustainability and the continuation of critical programs and projects. That includes the $1.9 billion I-405 Improvement Project, between Costa Mesa and the border with Los Angeles County, and ongoing work on OC Streetcar, Orange County’s 4.1-mile modern electric streetcar that will run through Santa Ana into Garden Grove.

Even as the COVID-19 pandemic remains, OCTA will continue to provide essential transit services to those who rely upon it, keeping the health and safety of the public and employees as the guiding priority. Chairman Do said that OCTA will work to enhance efforts to reach diverse communities and small and minority-owned businesses to connect with OCTA, hear their voices and help them grow.

The initiatives will also enhance OCTA’s efforts to attract and maintain a strong workforce, while continuing to build relationships with external partners and stakeholders. Examples of that are extending the College Bus Pass program and collaborating with neighboring counties, including San Diego County on Interstate 5 improvements between Avenida Pico in San Clemente and the county border.

“Even with the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are moving forward with ambitious plans to evolve and improve transportation,” OCTA CEO Johnson said. “I am confident and excited that we are moving forward with a balanced and innovative plan that continues to prioritize the health of our communities.”

To learn more about OCTA programs and projects, visit www.octa.net.

About OCTA: The Orange County Transportation Authority is the county transportation planning commission, responsible for funding and implementing transit and capital projects for a balanced and sustainable transportation system that reflects the diverse travel needs of the county’s 34 cities and 3.2 million residents. With the mission of keeping Orange County moving, this includes freeways and express lanes, bus and rail transit, rideshare, commuter rail, environmental programs and active transportation.