Vice Chair Katrina Foley Releases Statement Following the Orange County Transportation Authority Board Meeting on Railroad Stabilization Updates, State Legislative Status Report, and the Proposed New Fare Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2025

Latisha Townsend – Communications Director, Supervisor Foley 

(714) 559-8364 | Latisha.Townsend@ocgov.com

ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Today, Vice Chair Katrina Foley released a statement following the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors meeting. 

Update on Emergency Need for Railroad Track Stabilization in the Vicinity of Mile Post 203.83 to 204.40 and 206.10 to 206.70 on the Orange Subdivision: The Board received an update on the state of emergency regarding railroad track stabilization in San Clemente with continued repair work conducted in Areas 1 and 2.

“Our team is working around the clock and remain on schedule to complete and re-open passenger rail service by June 9th,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “We continue to move forward with plans to bring in 300,000 cubic yards of sand and build the Mariposa catchment wall to save the railroad and protect our shoreline.”

In Area 3, the California Transportation Commission allocated $92.231 million on May 16, 2025. OCTA also received the revised proposal for independent geotechnical engineering services on May 8, 2025, and the design-build contractor on May 7, 2025. Preparation is underway for a cooperative agreement with Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) for construction support for Area 3. The construction for Area 3 catchment wall will take approximately 8 months to complete. There will be ongoing regular construction coordination meetings between SCRRA, the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Managing Agency, and the City of San Clemente. There will also be coordinated public outreach efforts with SCRRA’s contractor and the City of San Clemente.

In Area 4, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) does not recognize Area 4 as an emergency, which means no emergency Coastal Development Permit (CDP) will be issued. OCTA will continue to coordinate with CCC staff to complete the standard CDP. The construction for Area 4 shoreline protection wall will take approximately 8 months to complete. OCTA also recently met with CCC and discussed beach nourishment coastal sand modeling analysis. OCTA will complete the alternatives analysis (AA) and detail the reasons for each alternative considered. OCTA will prepare a specific sand modeling report with the AA report.

Item 10 – State Legislative Status Report: The Board voted to unanimously adopt the proposed principles for Cap-and-Trade Revenue Distribution legislation and to adopt a support position on AB 986 (Muratsuchi, D-Torrance), which would expand the definition of events qualifying for a state or local emergency to include landslides and pre-existing climate conditions.

“The cap-and-trade program has successfully served as a funding source for major local projects, including to stabilize the coastal rail corridor,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Cap-and-trade is under re-negotiation and we must ensure that Orange County continues to receive its fair share of transportation dollars from the state.”

Vice Chair Katrina Foley added, “AB 986 would expand the circumstances under which a state or local emergency may be declared by explicitly including landslides and preexisting conditions exacerbated by climate change among qualifying events, which would enable agencies like OCTA to act more quickly to prevent future disruptions and safeguard public infrastructure such as our coastal rail corridor.”

Item 17 – Proposed New Fare Media: Finally, the Board reviewed the proposed new fare media as part of the implementation of the new Rider Validation System scheduled for rollout in October 2025. The proposed fare media, branded as the Wave card, is a contactless smart card that would replace legacy magnetic stripe passes and broaden access to features such as fare capping, contactless payments, and free two-hour transfers. In order to implement the new fare media, the Orange County Transportation Authority must conduct outreach and a Title VI analysis to ensure that low income and minority riders are not negatively impacted by the proposed fare media. The required outreach and Title VI analysis has been completed, and the Board unanimously approved the new proposed fare media.

“The new OCTA Wave card will make it easier for our customers to use our OC Bus system by allowing more payment options, fare capping, and free two-hour transfers,” said Vice Chair Foley. “Beginning in October 2025, customers can download the Wave card app on their phones, which can connect to their credit/debit card or purchase a card at more than 400 retail stores throughout Orange County.”

 ###

Orange County Supervisor Vice Chair Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.   

Vice Chair Foley’s 2025 Board appointments include:

Chair – Orange County Housing Finance Trust,

Orange County Audit Oversight Committee,

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA),

Vice Chair – OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee,

Regional Transportation Committee,

Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA),

TCA Joint Capital Improvements and Projects Committee,

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS)

Community Engagement Panel,

Co-Chair – Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition,

Orange County Public Libraries Advisory Board,