State Steers $242 Million Toward O.C. Freeways, Roads

Orange County’s share of the $100-billion state budget signed by Gov. Davis on Friday includes $242 million for transportation projects, almost all of it for the widening of the Garden Grove Freeway.

Dave Simpson, spokesman for the Orange County Transportation Authority, said $206 million will be used to expand the 12.5-mile-long freeway. The estimated cost of the entire project, which will allow carpool lanes to be added, is about $300 million, he said.

“We’re pretty happy because we made out very well,” Simpson said. “The $206 million will pay for a big chunk of the construction. The [Garden Grove] Freeway is the last freeway in the county to be improved. It’s at the top of our priority list.”

OCTA officials are finishing an environmental report for the project and will release it before the end of the year.

Funding for other Orange County transportation projects in the budget includes:

* $28 million to improve railroad crossings on Orangethorpe Avenue between Anaheim and Placentia so traffic can move unimpeded.

* $5 million for a study of an extension of the Orange Freeway from where it ends at Edison International Field of Anaheim south to the San Diego Freeway. The extension would be built down the middle of the Santa Ana River with some private funding.

* $3 million to widen Harbor Boulevard where it crosses under the Garden Grove Freeway in Garden Grove.

In addition, at least $40 million was set aside for county projects. County government spokesman Rob Richardson called the appropriations for local programs “a mixed bag.”

“There were a number of items in the budget that we were pursuing, but the funding was reduced,” Richardson said. “But overall, I’d have to say we’re pleased with what we received.”

This included $20 million for the Santa Ana River flood control project. Richardson said Orange County got half of the flood control funds available in the state budget.

Sheriff Mike Carona succeeded in getting $10 million for a training facility at the coroner’s office. Also, the Orange County Probation Department received $9.8 million that will be used to develop programs for juvenile offenders.

The budget includes $1 million for improving urban runoff channels along the coastal area, but Richardson said officials were hoping for substantially more.

On Friday afternoon, county and city officials were thumbing through the governor’s 104-page budget, looking for pet projects that survived the budgetary process.

“There’s a lot of stuff to digest,” Richardson said. “Some of our other programs survived, but I can’t tell you how much we’re getting for them.”