75C - PH - BRISTOL EIR FROM WARNER TO ST. ANDREW

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Santa Ana and adjacent communities in this area are heavily urbanized, and the arterial roadway systems for this area are already established. Patterns of travel are also well established. A north /south bypass route is simply not feasible, given the existing development and commuting patterns. Substantial relocation impacts would also occur, even if a feasible and "under capacity" bypass route could be found. A possible southerly extension of the State Route (SR) 57 Freeway, along the Santa Ana River, from the SR -22 Freeway to the I -405 Freeway, is being discussed by regional transportation officials. That project is considered very long range (10 -20 years), due to extensive design review requirements and the lack of available funding for the estimated one billion dollar cost. In any event, projected traffic volumes along Bristol Street warrant additional traffic capacity, with or without the SR -57 extension. 6. Mass Transit Alternative The Orange County 20 -year Master Plan of Transportation Improvements, prepared by the Orange County Transportation Commission, contains a Transit Strategy Report which establishes the County's long -range plan and policies for development, a comprehensively multi -model transit system. Within the City of Santa Ana, and near the Bristol Street project corridor, the Transit Strategy proposes an Advanced /Automated Guideway (AGT) facility to connect the central county activity centers between Anaheim and South Coast Metro /IBC (in Costa Mesa and Irvine). The successful implemeritation of this comprehensive transit strategy relies heavily in as yet unapproved sales tax funding. The City of Santa Ana, in conjunction with the Cities of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Irvine and Orange, are currently discussing the development of an elevated fixed guideway system which would provide this link in Orange County's long -range transit strategy. The proposed alignment is primarily on Main Street, in Santa Ana, with a northern terminus at the multi -model transit station in Fullerton, and the southern terminus at the Irvine Transportation Center. This alignment is preferred because it connects the current and projected activity centers in Central Orange County, Bristol Street, between Civic Center Drive and the South Coast Metro area, is considered a potential alignment, but only if significant redevelopment activity were to occur and it becomes another major activity center. 11 -23 75C -68