OCTA OKs Contracts for 3 More Tow Trucks

Orange County transit officials on Monday approved contracts with three tow truck operators to patrol county freeways during peak traffic hours to help remove disabled cars or clear crashes from roadways quicker.

The three trucks are among eight that the Orange County Transportation Authority is expected to add to the freeway system this summer to help ease freeway congestion.

“This provides better overall county coverage,” said John Standiford, the agency’s spokesman.

“When someone’s got a car problem, that alone can cause people to slow down and take a look. This helps remove that impediment and provides assistance to people who need it.”

Under Monday’s contract approvals, the three trucks are expected to patrol parts of the Laguna, Riverside and San Gabriel River freeways. The agency is expected to approve contracts for the other five trucks soon, bringing the county’s fleet to 38.

The new trucks are being funded mainly through a Caltrans allocation of $2.2 million for county road services for the fiscal year that began July 1. The amount is $562,500 more than what the county received last year. To get the state funds, the transit agency has to provide an additional 25%, which gives it $703,125 for the additional tow truck services.