Mission Viejo drivers use Rockfield extensively to reach El Toro Rd or the I-5 Freeway from Los Alisos. Concern arose, therefore, when Lake Forest threatened last week to reduce traffic lanes from 4 to 2 on that arterial roadway.
The lane reduction plan may be torpedoed by Lake Forest’s own residents, however. Residents living near Rockfield turned out at a City workshop last night to strongly oppose the loss of any traffic lanes. They were concerned about bottlenecks, traffic during peak school hours, and safety.
The Community Room at the El Toro Library was lined with large streetscape illustrations depicting the trees, bike routes, and other beautification amenities already planned for the street. After collecting and reading comment cards from the audience, however, Director of Public Works Bob Wooding immediately summarized the mood of the crowd. “Traffic is the main concern, not the streetscape.” he said.
Wooding stated the 2-lane option was not a done deal; that his job was to report to the City Council about whether residents favored the 2-lane alternative. Two City Council members, Kathryn McCullough and Marcia Rudolph, attended the workshop and heard first-hand the overwhelming opposition by neighbors to the 2-lane option. No one stated support for eliminating 2 lanes.
If the plan proceeded, it would require environmental evaluation under CEQA, approval by the OCTA for modification of the OC Master Plan for Arterial Roadways, and review by Mission Viejo and Laguna Hills. As Wooding put it, “There are many hard miles to go.”
The 2-lane option would reduce average daily vehicle trips from the current 17,000 to 12,000 according to city projections.
Beautification will proceed even if the road remains with 4 lanes. It was surprising to learn the power lines will not be buried, however.
Mission Viejo Dispatch 