To:
FROM:
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SUBJECT:
CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Jacki Scott, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
March 17, 2026
Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-1522, Authorizing the Request for Delay of Measure M2 Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program Funds for the Crown Valley Parkway Westbound Widening Project to the Orange County Transportation Authority
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-1522, Authorizing the Request for Delay of Measure M2 Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program {CTFP) Funds for the Crown Valley Parkway Westbound Widening Project to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).
BACKGROUND
Crown Valley Parkway, from Interstate 5 (1-5) to Greenfield Drive, is designated as an Enhanced Major Arterial Highway in the Mobility Element of the City's General Plan. The designation of "enhanced" indicates that traffic conditions in this location require additional travel lanes to reduce current congestion and to meet future traffic volume expectations. The need for additional travel lanes in this section of Crown Valley Parkway was also included in the Gateway Specific Plan.
The Crown Valley Parkway Westbound Widening . Project (Project) includes the construction of a fourth lane on Crown Valley Parkway, from the 1-5 southbound off-ramp to Cabot Road. The Project will require the widening of the Oso Creek Bridge, which spans Oso Creek Channel, as well as the bridge spanning the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) railroad tracks. Additionally, the project will widen the intersection of Crown Valley Parkway and Forbes Road. These improvements include widening Forbes Road from Crown Valley Parkway to approximately 100' south of Cape Drive. The median and parkway landscaping, street lighting, and signage will also be enhanced along Forbes Road. A location map of the Project is provided as Attachment "A".
In May 2024, the City was awarded a grant by OCTA as part of the Regional Capacity Program (Project 0). This grant provides $9,760,000 in funding for the right-of-way and construction phases of the Project and the City is required to contribute $5,300,000, in matching funds.
ANALYSIS
As part of the grant requirements, the City was required to begin the Right-of-Way (ROW) phase prior to June 30, 2025, and the construction phase prior to June 30, 2026. Since February 2025, the City has been diligently working on the ROW phase with its consultant, Monument ROW. The ROW phase includes obtaining appraisals for portions of properties where right-of-way for the Project is needed, meetings with property owners, presentation of acquisition offers to property owners and the execution of acquisition documents.
In order to complete the Right-of-Way phase and move into the construction phase, it is necessary to acquire portions of four properties along Crown Valley Parkway and Forbes Road. To date, two properties have accepted the City's offers and executed the agreements. Because two remaining property owners have not accepted the City's offers, a request for a 24-month extension (to the construction phase grant funding) is now necessary to continue to comply with the grant requirements. Upon approval from OCTA, this extension request will allow the City to start the construction phase prior to June 30, 2028. Resolution No. 2026-1522 (Attachment "B") formally requests a 24-month delay of Measure M2 grant funding for the Crown Valley Parkway Westbound Widening Project.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The City Council could direct staff to not submit the request for delay in Measure M2 grant funds. This alternative is not recommended because this will jeopardize the grant funding from OCTA. Without the grant funding, the project will not have adequate funding to proceed to the construction phase.
FISCAL REVIEW
The Fiscal Years 2025-27 Capital Improvement Program includes sufficient funding for the construction phase of the Crown Valley Parkway Westbound Widening Project, and includes OCTA Project O grant funding.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's Office has approved this report and Resolution No. 2026-1522 as to form.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-1522, Authorizing the Request for Delay of Measure M2 Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program Funds for the Crown Valley Parkway Westbound Widening Project to the Orange County Transportation Authority .
Harrin Martin
Senior Civil Engineer
Attachments :
A. Location Map
B. Resolution No. 2026-1522
Scott C. Smith
City Attorney
Page3
ATTACHMENT A
Location Map
LEGEND
Project Limits
Location Map
Crown Valley Parkway Westbound Widening (From 1-5 Off-Ramp to Forbes Road) Laguna Niguel
ATTACHMENT B
Resolution No. 2026-1522
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-1522
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIFORNIA,
AUTHORIZING THE REQUEST FOR DELAY OF
MEASURE M2 COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PROGRAM (CTFP) FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF THE
CROWN VALLEY WESTBOUND WIDENING PROJECT
WHEREAS, the City of Laguna Niguel received an allocation of $7,671,014 in Measure M2 Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program (CTFP) funds from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to fund the Crown Valley Westbound Widening Project (Project); and
WHEREAS, the City of Laguna Niguel established Fiscal Year 2025/26 as the program year for the Construction phase of the Crown Valley Westbound Widening Project; and
WHEREAS, the City of Laguna Niguel has not yet reached an agreement with all property owners necessary to complete the right of way phase of the Project, which has delayed further implementation of the Project, including the use of funds for the construction phase; and •
WHEREAS, OCTA CTFP Guidelines requires agencies to request authorization from their governing boards if delays are expected to be incurred beyond the allocated funding Fiscal Year.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council that the City of Laguna Niguel as follows:
The City's Public Works Director is hereby authorized to submit a request to OCTA for a delay of 24-months of Measure M2 CTFP Funds for the Crown Valley Westbound Widening Project and is authorized to execute and submit all documents required for this request.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 17th day of March, 2026.
ATTEST:
Marissa J. Asistin
City Clerk
Gene Johns, Mayor