Despite Name Changes, Loma Street Will Stretch to Anaheim

Dear Street Smart:

I read in the paper that there’s a proposal to connect Loma Street at the Orange-Anaheim border to Loma Street at the Orange-Villa Park border. But the 1994 Thomas Bros. guide for Orange County says Loma Street is to connect to the Mesa Dump Road in Orange.

Which is it?

Greg Bales Anaheim

In a sense, both scenarios are correct. Loma Street takes on a couple different names, but from stem to stern it starts at the Orange-Villa Park border and will eventually extend to the Orange-Anaheim border.

Beginning at the southern end in the city of Orange, Cannon Street becomes Loma Street. Still in Orange, Loma Street continues north along the eastern border of Villa Park and becomes Mesa Dump Road. But it doesn’t stop there.

If you’ll look closely at your Thomas Bros. guide, you’ll see that Mesa Dump Road will turn back into Loma Street and go on to connect with Imperial Highway in Anaheim. Work to connect Loma Street with Imperial Highway is currently underway, said Bernie Dennis, traffic engineer for the city of Orange.

The Orange County Transportation Authority is holding several public forums and hearings on transportation projects. This week, the public is invited to two forums to learn about and comment on the Imperial Highway Smart Street project.

The first forum will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Imperial Middle School, 1450 S. Schoolwood Drive, La Habra. The second forum will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Canyon High School, 220 S. Imperial Highway, Anaheim.

Smart Street enhancements include traffic signal coordination, roadway widening, raised medians, and bus turnouts. The forums will enable residents and business owners to learn more about planned improvements on Imperial Highway.

While there will not be a formal presentation, information and exhibits detailing the project will be available. Also, representatives from OCTA and local cities will be available to answer questions.

OCTA also is soliciting public comment on proposed changes to the transit service it offers people with disabilities who cannot access regular buses.

An annual public hearing will be at 9 a.m. Jan. 10 in the Orange County Planning Commission Hearing Room, Hall of Administration, 10 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana.

This public hearing will focus on minor service improvements and will raise issues to be considered in the next update.

In addition to the hearing, OCTA will conduct a two-month public outreach campaign during February and March to inform riders and social services agencies of the authority’s services.

For additional information, call OCTA at (714) 636-RIDE or at (800) 636-RIDE from outlying areas of the county.

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The Measure M Citizens Oversight Committee will hold its annual public hearing at 6 p.m. Jan. 11 in the Orange County Hall of Administration Planning Commission Room at 10 Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana.

The hearing will give an overview of Measure M expenditures during the past year and an update on the status of Measure M projects.

The public will have an opportunity to comment and share their ideas regarding Measure M projects and programs.

The citizens committee consists of Orange County residents who monitor expenditures of Measure M, the half-cent transportation sales tax passed by local voters in 1990.

Each year, the committee holds a public hearing to determine if provisions of the Measure M ordinance are being met by OCTA.