A Faster Future Commemorative Book

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Doug Chaffee Jose Diaz Andrew Do

Jon Dumitru Jamey Federico

Katrina Foley Brian Goodell

Patrick Harper

Michael Hennessey Steve Jones

Fred Jung Farrah N. Khan

Jessie Lopez

Vicente Sarmiento

Donald P. Wagner

Gene Hernandez Chairman Tam Nguyen Vice Chairman

Message from the CEO

Darrell E. Johnson

The completion of the 405 Improvement Project marks a new era of mobility along 16 miles of one of the nation’s busiest highways. The biggest project in OCTA history, the improvements benefit everyone who lives in, works in and visits Orange County, no matter how they travel through the area.

Twenty years ago, we began studying ways to improve travel times and accommodate expected growth in employment, population and housing, ultimately breaking ground on the 405 Improvement Project in 2018. This centerpiece of OCTA’s voter-approved Measure M was a promise to voters to build one new general purpose lane in each direction, improve interchanges, and rebuild overpasses with new bike lanes and sidewalks.

The Project also created the 405 Express Lanes, two tolled express lanes in each direction to help ease congestion for all who travel the 405. Those who carpool or choose to pay a toll can spend even more moments with loved ones, pursue their passions, and live life on time.

OCTA is proud to deliver on our promise to move Orange County forward.

Thank you for commemorating this milestone with us and for your role in ensuring a positive transportation future for the people of Orange County.

Sincerely,

Darrell E. Johnson OCTA Chief Executive Officer

2003 - 2005

MAJOR INVESTMENT STUDY COMPLETED

2006

VOTERS RENEWED MEASURE M INCLUDING I-405 PROJECT (PROJECT K)

ENVIRONMENTAL & PRE-CONSTRUCTION

JULY 2008

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT INITIATED

FEBRUARY 2010

PHASE I TRAFFIC AND REVENUE STUDY COMPLETED

OCTOBER 2005

I-405 MAJOR INVESTMENT STUDY APPROVED BY OCTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2008

PROJECT STUDY REPORT APPROVED

2009

DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTING AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

Governor signed SB 4, allowing design-build contracting for up to 15 transportation projects (five local projects; 10 state projects), and allowing an unlimited number of public-private partnerships for transportation projects, deleting the existing statutory limits.

APRIL 2011

PHASE 2

TRAFFIC AND REVENUE STUDY COMPLETED

MAY TO JULY 2012

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT CIRCULATED

1,200 comment letters/emails received.

Four public hearings were held in the Cities of Fountain Valley, Westminster, Costa Mesa and the community of Rossmoor.

More than 800 stakeholders attended.

2016

OCTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR PROJECT SUPPORT SERVICES WITH CORRIDOR CITIES

MAY-JUNE 2015

RECORD OF DECISION FILED NOTICE OF DETERMINATION FILED

2015

DESIGN-BUILD

COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CALTRANS AND OCTA EXECUTED

JULY 2017

TIFIA LOAN SECURED

OCTA secured a $629 million federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan for the Project, which was used to pay for construction of the 405 Express Lanes.

The loan will be repaid solely using revenue collected from drivers who choose to use the 405 Express Lanes.

MARCH 2015

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT APPROVED

NOVEMBER 2016

OCTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED

SELECTION OF OC 405 PARTNERS TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT THE PROJECT FOR $1.2B

2018 TOLL SYSTEMS INTEGRATOR CONTRACT AWARDED

OCTA Board of Directors approved selection of Kapsch TrafficCom USA to provide toll lane system integrator services for the design, installation, operations, and maintenance of the electronic toll and traffic management system for the 405 Express Lanes and 91 Express Lanes. The contract was awarded for $42.3 million.

CONSTRUCTION THROUGH COMPLETION HISTORY

2019

COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM HOSTED NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS FOR UPCOMING BRIDGE WORK

January: Fairview Road bridge

March: Westminster Boulevard, Goldenwest Street, Bolsa Avenue bridges

April: Santa Ana River bridge

July: Slater Avenue bridge

MARCH 2018

START OF CONSTRUCTION

Nighttime freeway lane and ramp closures began. Activities included k-rail placement, vegetation removal, prep work for bridge and roadway demolition, temporary signage installation.

August: McFadden Avenue bridge

JUNE 2019

SUPERSTRUCTURE

ACTIVITIES BEGAN ON MAGNOLIA ST BRIDGE PARTIAL DEMOLITION OF HARBOR BLVD UNDERCROSSING

DECEMBER 2020

PROJECT DESIGN SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE

PROJECT IS 50% COMPLETE OVERALL ALL BRIDGES RELEASED FOR CONSTRUCTION

91 WALLS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

2018

GROUNDBREAKING

AUGUST 2018

DEMOLITION BEGAN ON MCFADDEN AVE BRIDGE

NOVEMBER 2018 FOUNDATION

CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON SLATER AVE BRIDGE

JANUARY 2019

PROJECT IS 25% COMPLETE OVERALL

PILE DRIVING BEGAN ON GOLDENWEST ST BRIDGE

AUGUST 2019

SLATER AVE BRIDGE OPENED TO TRAFFIC

2021

OCTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED SELECTION OF WSP FOR BACK OFFICE SYSTEM AND CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OPERATIONS FOR 405 EXPRESS LANES. CONTRACT AWARDED FOR $106.1M

COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM LAUNCHED THE 405 FORWARD PROGRAM TO PROMOTE MORE THAN 200 BUSINESSES ALONG THE PROJECT CORRIDOR AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITIES TO EAT AND SHOP LOCALLY

DECEMBER 2021

NEWLAND ST BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN

AUGUST 2021

15 BRIDGES AND TWO CONNECTORS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

FIVE BRIDGES COMPLETED AND OPENED TO TRAFFIC

2022

PROJECT IS 75% COMPLETE OVERALL COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM DEVELOPED, FILMED AND RELEASED THE AWARDWINNING INSIDE THE 405 VIDEO SERIES

JULY 2023

OCTA UPDATED INITIAL 405 EXPRESS LANES TOLL POLICY AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR APPROVAL

OCTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED 405 EXPRESS LANES TOLL POLICY AND OPENING DAY TOLL RATES

MARKETING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

BEGAN FOR THE 405 EXPRESS LANES TO RAISE AWARENESS AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC

AUGUST

2022

SECOND PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON HEIL AVE PEDESTRIAN OVERCROSSING

DECEMBER 2023

ALL LANES, INCLUDING THE 405 EXPRESS LANES, OPENED TO THE TRAVELING PUBLIC

OCTA HELD DEDICATION EVENT TO COMMEMORATE THE I-405 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

SEPTEMBER 2023

WARD ST, NEWLAND ST, AND SPRINGDALE ST BRIDGES OPENED TO TRAFFIC ALL BRIDGES OPENED TO TRAFFIC

OCTOBER 2023

405 EXPRESS LANES OPERATING SYSTEM TESTING BEGAN

FUNDING

Overview

The $2.16 billion I-405 Improvement Project is financed with a combination of local (OC Go, also known as Measure M), state and federal funds, with the majority of funding from Measure M. The express lanes portion of the Project is not funded with local dollars but instead is paid for through a federal Transportation Infrastructure and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan that will be repaid solely by drivers who choose to pay a toll.

Funding Breakdown

OC GO SALES TAX FUNDS

FUNDS FEDERAL TIFIA

FEDERAL FUNDS

$45.6MILLION

Savings

$1.4 BILLION

$89.8 MILLION

$629 MILLION

OCTA has saved taxpayers $509 million through a series of innovative financing strategies for the I-405 Improvement Project.

$300

$24 M savings by issuing Bond Anticipation Notes at 0.34% versus TIFIA loan rate of 1.95% over the next three years

$27 M savings by investing TIFIA loan funds at 4.38% prior to using them to pay off the Bond Anticipation Notes

M

M total

Background

2006

OC Go, also known as Measure M, is renewed by nearly 70 percent of voters. The renewed measure provided $500 million (in 2005 dollars) for I-405 Locally Preferred Strategy.

2013

Assembly Bill 401, authored by former Assembly Member Jim Frazier, is signed into law. AB 401 gave OCTA design-build authority.

2014

Assembly Bill 2250, authored by former Assembly Member Tom Daly, is signed into law. AB 2250 required excess toll revenue from the 405 Express Lanes to be used within the Project corridor.

2015

Assembly Bill 194, authored by former Assembly Member Tom Daly, is signed into law. AB 194 gave OCTA tolling authority.

2017

OCTA secured its initial TIFIA loan for the I-405 Improvement Project with a 2.91% interest rate. The TIFIA loan was estimated to save approximately $300 million on a net present value basis over the life of the loan compared to traditional bond financing.

2021

OCTA took advantage of historically low interest rates, becoming the first agency to ever reset a partially drawn TIFIA loan. The new interest rate of 1.95% realized savings of $158 million on a net present value basis.

OCTA issued Bond Anticipation Notes, a short-term financing tool used during the construction of projects, to allow OCTA to take advantage of lower short-term interest rates over the next three years instead of drawing on its TIFIA loan. These notes resulted in net present value savings of $24 million.

2022

To generate an additional $27 million in savings, OCTA took advantage of rising short-term interest rates by drawing its entire TIFIA loan and using the proceeds to pay off the Bond Anticipation Notes. The remaining funds are invested in U.S. treasuries yielding 4.38%.

2023

The OCTA Board of Directors approved the use of an additional $79.8 million in Measure M funds for the Interstate 405 Improvement Project. The additional funds were requested to address Project challenges such as discoveries of archaeological resources, changes to electronic tolling and traffic management work, the coronavirus pandemic, and labor and materials availability and pricing among others. The approval increased the Project budget from $2.08 billion to $2.16 billion.

The Benefits

The TIFIA loan will be repaid solely using the revenue collected from drivers who choose to use the 405 Express Lanes. Toll revenue collected beyond what it costs to repay the loan will fund transportation improvements for everyone who travels throughout the 405 corridor – whether or not they use the Express Lanes. The $509 million in savings will allow more money to be available sooner to make those additional improvements along I-405. In addition, OCTA’s project financing will allow the 405 Express Lanes to remain free to two-person carpools during nonpeak hours for the first 3 1/2 years after the Express Lanes open, a commitment made by OCTA to the community prior to construction.

THIS IS HOW WE ROLL

Construction workers were essential in completing the I-405 Improvement Project. Here are some photos of these essential workers constructing the improved I-405.

Installing rebar on the Newland Street deck

Deck pour on Brookhurst Street

Rebar installation on Bolsa Avenue

Seismic retrofitting bridge columns

Construction workers completing backfill

Soundwall construction

Forming the overhead sign

Installing pull boxes on Goldenwest Street

Crews performing drainage work

PROJECT MAP

To keep the community informed on construction progress over the life of the Project, a map was developed to show each major bridge and structure under construction. The map noted which bridges were in progress, whether the bridges were going to be constructed in two phases, keeping them open to traffic, and which bridges had been completed.

TEAM PHOTOS

A project of this magnitude required daily coordination with multiple teams to build a Faster Future on I-405. Take a look at some of the hardworking men and women that made up the I-405 Improvement Project Team!

Drainage team members worked at night to reduce traffic impacts! The Community Outreach Team connected with the community at area Tet festivals.

Members of the Project team touring freeway and bridge improvements. Members of the field team in early 2023, proud of the construction progress that was made on the I-405 improvements.

Members of the Project/Construction Management team on the SR-73 to I-405 Express Lanes connector.

Members of the OC 405 Partners office staff.

Members of the structures crew, which installed hundreds of freeway signs on the I-405 Improvement Project.

Members of the civil work crew ready to work!

Members of the Kapsch TrafficCom team that handled the tolling infrastructure.

Members of the I-405 Project Team gathered for a working lunch.

A field appreciation breakfast for the construction crew.

The I-405 Improvement Project Team worked day and night to improve the freeway, bridges, on- and off-ramps, drainage systems, utilities and local streets throughout the Project corridor.

SOAR HIGH

BY THE NUMBERS

13 ACRES BUILT ALMOST OF SOUNDWALLS REPLACED

360,000 TONS OF ASPHALT REPLACED 3,025,000 LBS OF OVERHEAD SIGNS STRIPED OVER 303 MILES INSTALLED OVER 25 MILES OF NEW RAILINGS INSTALLED 38,000,000 LBS OF REBAR PAVED 11 NEW SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES

33,000 JOBS CREATED DURING THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE PROJECT

TRIP THROUGH THE CORRIDOR

Hundreds of improvements were made over the course of the Project, including 18 bridge replacements, 58 realigned ramps, 187 walls and new landscaping features. Let’s take a trip through the corridor and view some of these improvements.

New = New structure

Improved = Improvements to existing structure

Replaced = Replaced existing structure

SR-73/I-405 Express Lanes Connector

New - City of Costa Mesa

Started 2021 – Completed 2023

New direct connector between SR-73 and the 405 Express Lanes

SB I-405 to SB SR-73

Improved - City of Costa Mesa

Started 2020 – Completed 2021

Connector

Improved connector from southbound I-405 to southbound SR-73

Fairview Road Bridge

Replaced - City of Costa Mesa

Started 2019 – Completed 2022

Replaced on- and off-ramps

Harbor Boulevard Undercrossing

Improved - City of Costa Mesa

Started 2019 – Completed 2021 Replaced on- and off-ramps

Santa Ana River Undercrossing

Improved - Cities of Costa Mesa and Fountain Valley Started 2019 – Completed 2021

Four new lanes of travel

Euclid Street Undercrossing

Improved - City of Fountain Valley Started 2019 – Completed 2021 Replaced on- and off-ramps

TRIP THROUGH THE CORRIDOR

Ward Street Bridge

Replaced - City of Fountain Valley

Started 2021 – Completed 2023

Two new lanes of travel

New northbound sidewalk

Talbert Avenue Bridge

Replaced - City of Fountain Valley

Started 2019 – Completed 2021

Two new lanes of travel

Replaced on-ramp

New bike lanes in both directions

Brookhurst Street Bridge

Replaced - City of Fountain Valley

Started 2020 – Completed 2023

Replaced on- and off-ramps

New bike lanes in both directions

Slater Avenue Bridge

Replaced - City of Fountain Valley

Started 2018 – Completed 2019

Bushard Street Bridge

Replaced - City of Fountain Valley

Started 2019 – Completed 2020

Warner Avenue Bridge

Replaced - City of Fountain Valley

Started 2021 – Completed 2023

Replaced on- and off-ramps

New westbound sidewalk

Street Bridge

Replaced - Cities of Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley and Westminster

Started 2018 – Completed 2021

Two new lanes of travel

New northbound sidewalk

New bike lanes in both directions

Heil Avenue Pedestrian Bridge

Replaced - Cities of Westminster and Huntington Beach

Started 2020– Completed 2022

Realigned pedestrian bridge

LED lighting for nighttime use

Magnolia

TRIP THROUGH THE CORRIDOR

Newland Street Bridge

Replaced - Cities of Huntington Beach and Westminster

Started 2021 – Completed 2023

Two new lanes of travel

New northbound sidewalk

New bike lanes in both directions

Edinger Avenue Bridge

Replaced - Cities of Huntington Beach and Westminster

Started 2020 – Completed 2021

New westbound sidewalk

New bike lanes in both directions

Beach Boulevard Undercrossing

Improved - Cities of Huntington Beach and Westminster

Started 2019 – Completed 2023

Four new lanes of travel

New on- and off-ramp structures

New = New structure

Improved = Improvements to existing structure

Replaced = Replaced existing structure

McFadden Avenue Bridge

Replaced - Cities of Huntington Beach and Westminster

Started 2018 – Completed 2020

Two new lanes of travel

New eastbound sidewalk

New bike lanes in both directions

Bolsa/Navy Railroad Overheads

Improved - City of Westminster

Started 2020 – Completed 2022

Four new lanes of travel

Bolsa Avenue Bridge

Replaced - City of Westminster Started 2019 – Completed 2023

Two new lanes of travel

Replaced on- and off-ramps

New westbound sidewalk

New bike lanes in both directions

Goldenwest Street Bridge

Replaced - City of Westminster

Started 2018 – Completed 2023

Three new lanes of travel

Replaced on- and off-ramps

New southbound sidewalk

New bike lanes in both directions

TRIP THROUGH THE CORRIDOR

Edwards Street Bridge

Replaced - City of Westminster

Started 2020 – Completed 2021

Westminster Boulevard Bridge

Replaced - City of Westminster

Started 2019 – Completed 2022

Replaced on- and off-ramps

New westbound sidewalk

New bike lanes in both directions

Springdale Street Bridge

Replaced - City of Westminster

Started 2021 – Completed 2023

Replaced off-ramp

New southbound sidewalk

New bike lanes in both directions

Bolsa Chica Road Bridge

Replaced - City of Westminster

Started 2018 – Completed 2021

Four new lanes of travel

Replaced on- and off-ramps

New on-ramp to southbound I-405

New bike lanes in both directions

An example of wall aesthetics

Aerial view of the new ramp configuration at Talbert Avenue

Seal Beach Boulevard bridge monument

Landscaping on Slater Avenue

PROJECT FEATURES

As you travel along the new and improved I-405 freeway, be on the lookout for the new monuments, aesthetic walls, landscaping, and other unique features designed in coordination with each of our partner Cities on the Project!

Heil Avenue Pedestrian bridge

Slater Avenue Bridge decorative fencing

Sidewalk on Newland Street

405 EXPRESS LANES

As part of the Orange County Transportation Authority’s I-405 Improvement Project, the 405 Express Lanes incorporated preexisting carpool lanes and connectors that opened back in 2014 providing two new toll lanes in each direction in 2023. The new Express Lanes run between the SR-73 in Costa Mesa and the I-605 at the Orange County border with Los Angeles County, giving options to carpoolers to travel for free and solo drivers the choice to speed up their commute for a toll.

405 FORWARD

OCTA partnered with corridor Cities and Chambers of Commerce in support of local businesses along the I-405 Improvement Project corridor. Throughout the Project, the Community Outreach Team canvassed doorto-door and mailed over 30,000 postcards to residents and businesses within a half-mile of the Project to keep them up to date on Project developments. At the same time, OCTA promoted the free 405 Forward Program for local businesses, which was designed to encourage the surrounding communities to eat at local restaurants, shop at local retailers and use local services. Since its implementation in 2021, 220 businesses have joined in the program.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

405 Community Outreach Team

The 405 Community Outreach Team coordinated with the Project contractor and the corridor Cities to provide first responders, business owners, residents and drivers with the latest Project information. During construction, the team met with the community at local parks, attended community events, presented at civic meetings, canvassed flyers and visited local businesses to talk about the Project and major activities. During the pandemic, the team pivoted to virtual meetings to continue keeping the community informed. The team also focused on diverse communities and businesses along the corridor by meeting with LatinX and Vietnamese community based organizations and attending events such as area Tet festivals.

THE MAKING OF INSIDE THE 405

Inside the 405, a nine-episode video series, celebrated the progress of the Project and provided a behind-thescenes look at what it took to improve one of the most traveled sections of freeway in the nation.

The videos showcased completed bridges and on- and off-ramps, the construction team, community members, outreach efforts to the local Vietnamese and LatinX communities, and the 405 Forward Program, which focused on supporting local businesses throughout the corridor.

Scan the QR code to watch the episodes!

PROJECT PARTNERS

EVENT PARTNERS