Laguna Beach’s City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to explore options to close a growing deficit for operating transit services, but stopped short of imposing fares for the free summer trolley during its 10-week festival run. Instead council members approved spending $50,000 to hire an expert consultant to analyze transit services, whose costs have escalated 22 [...]
Editor, It is my understanding that the village entrance area is to be as park-like as possible. With more than 60 arrivals and departures per day, some with 10-minute “layovers” the big OCTA buses combined with numerous municipal bus arrivals would take a lot away from any “park-like” environment. Yes, the big buses do burn [...]
In April 2010 the Complete Streets Task Force identified sources of grant funding for building street infrastructure in Laguna Beach and delivered them to the City Council. Identifying funding is the fifth phase of a five-step program to implement Complete Streets policy. It identifies federal funding for civic projects such as bike-lanes, pedestrian zones and transit [...]
Laguna Beach received a $318,000 grant for the purchase of three trolleys. The grant, available to all Orange County cities through OCTA, requires a 50 percent match by the recipient which can be identified within the existing budget. The new trolleys will replace those rented each summer to supplement the city’s fleet.
Editor, Last week I attended Mobility Planning Meeting and Visioning, an open workshop organized by the LB Planning Commission to familiarize attendees with the the Land Use and Circulation Elements and a new visioning for Complete Streets Policy. Deja vu, where had I experienced this planning process before? Then I remembered meetings I attended previously. Each [...]
Laguna Beach and local resident Kirk Morgan host a beach volleyball tournament which ultimately crowns the king and queen of the court. The all-day men’s tournament volleys on Saturday while the women serve on Sunday. Players play in a round robin format, where they play with a different partner each game. This [...]
Special weeknight train service to Anaheim will be offered at all Orange County stations beginning with the Ducks home opener on Friday, Oct. 14. Round-trip service south of Anaheim for weeknight home games starting at 7:05 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. Round-trip tickets for the special train service cost $7 for the general public, $6 [...]
This letter was addressed to county Supervisor Pat Bates. I voted yes for Measure M to provide funds from sales taxes in O.C. for good bus service. I hear you may give the south Orange County bus routes to a private company, and do away with OCTA in south county. Is this true? The public [...]
Editor, Laguna Beach Mayor Toni Iseman has given years of time and energy to our city government and is famous for suggesting the popular summer buses and trolleys. That’s why I find it difficult to believe what I read in a paid advertisement in local papers that quotes her as saying: “Laguna roads are not [...]
Editor, This is in reference to the letter about the homeless situation from Mr. and Mrs. Klein that appeared in the Indy and the Coastline Pilot recently. First of all, I would like to thank the Kleins for writing. At least it draws some attention to the matter. I also very much applaud the City [...]
O.C. Supervisor Patricia Bates was unanimously selected chair of the Orange County Transportation Authority this week. Bates succeeds Jerry Amante, who continues to serve on the board as the representative from the Third District. OCTA operates toll roads throughout the county. Bates serves as the Fifth District supervisor, representing 10 south-county cities including Laguna Beach.
Editor, O.C. County Supervisor John Moorlach should resign from the Orange County Transit Authority board of directors. He does not represent the millions of citizens who ride the big OCTA buses, Access buses and Metrolink trains operated by OCTA. The driver who texted numerous times before his Metrolink train crashed and killed 20 plus people [...]
Police Use Taser to Subdue Assault Suspect
An assault involving three men escalated into a struggle with Laguna Beach police, who ultimately deployed a taser twice to subdue the younger combative suspect in the 300 block of Cozumel around 1:15 a.m. Friday, May 10, police said. Police ultimately arrested Laguna Beach resident Sergio Gabriel Borgognone, 51, for allegedly resisting arrest and his [...]
