Contact Us

info@ranchoortega.com
@Rancho_Ortega

Announcements

Rancho Ortega Blog discusses matters of public interest in South Orange County, including the communities of San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch and Rancho Mission Viejo.

The writings of Don Juan Ortega on the Rancho Ortega Blog are the personal views of the author. This blog is not authored by nor does it have any affiliation whatsoever with any other person, place or entity using the name "Rancho Ortega" (or any similar name).

We have installed some new anti-spam software, and we are going to try again with open registration. Registration and sign-in information are available at the bottom of the far right column. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, you may email us at info@ranchoortega.com.

Categories

Archives

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/4704

OC Board of Supervisors and Rancho Mission Viejo Seem to be Planning for Life Without the 241 Tesoro Extension

It looks as though Orange County and Rancho Mission Viejo are ready to move forward with the alternative road plan, and appear to be concluding that the Tesoro Extension of the 241 will not be built. Back in April, we wrote in this article about how the 241 to the 5 connector was likely dead, [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/4408

Today is the Last Day for Paying Cash on the Toll Roads

This is a reminder that today is the last day you can use the Orange County toll roads and pay cash. Effective midnight tonight, cash will no longer be accepted on the toll roads. The Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency discussed the change in this recent blog article:

In January, the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), which [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/4350

OCTA Seeking Comments on its Draft Long Range Transportation Plan at Public Meeting Tonight

There is a ton of construction going on in South County right now. For the next few years, South County residents will need to deal with construction on I-5 at Avenida Pico, Ortega Highway and El Toro just for starters. We will also watch as the Rancho Mission Viejo transportation infrastructure is built out over [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/4281

Cash Tolls on the Toll Roads will End May 14

If you’ve driven any of our local toll roads recently, you are aware of (or perhaps confused about) the changes coming to TCA toll collection. On May 14, drivers will no longer have an option to pay cash at toll booths. According to the toll road agency:

On May 14 at 12:01 a.m., we will [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/3625

San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano Mayors Talk about the Future of South Orange County

The newly appointed mayors of San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano (Tim Brown, Lisa Bartlett and Sam Allevato) sat down with the publishers of the Capistrano Dispatch and its sister publications to talk about the future of South Orange County. You should read the entire article here, but we wanted to highlight some [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/2550

An Introduction to Planning Area 2

With the success of Sendero (originally known to some of us as Planning Area 1), Rancho Mission Viejo is already working on Planning Area 2:

For those who are just starting the home shopping process, Rancho Mission Viejo would still welcome you out. As Johnson explained, “We’re already working on Planning Area 2 to begin [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/3293

Good News and Bad News for Toll Road

The Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) entered into an agreement with Caltrans that will permit the TCA to extend the amount if time it can collect tolls on the 241 Toll Road until 2053, a twelve year increase. This extension may help the TCA avoid a credit downgrade in the near future. On the other [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/3056

Are the Toll Roads Headed for Bankruptcy?

Are the Toll Roads headed for bankruptcy? A Bloomberg article, citing a California Treasury commission report, warns that the Transportation Corridor Agency may “eventually” become unable to meet its debt service if it is unable to refinance.

The Foothill-Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency, which operates 39 miles (63 kilometers) of toll highways in Orange County, risks [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/2753

Full Closure at NB 5/133 Connector Tomorrow

Announcement from Caltrans and the TCA affecting many northbound commuters tomorrow:

FULL CLOSURE NOTICE: Tomorrow from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Caltrans will be closing the northbound I-5 to northbound SR 133 connector. Northbound I-5 traffic wishing to use the northbound SR 133 will be detoured past the closed connector, then to exit at Jeffrey [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/2562

Does Trouble for the Toll Road Mean Trouble for the Ranch?

With the recent defeat suffered by the 241 and Transportation Corridor Agencies at the hands of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, some are wondering whether there will be an impact on the future development of the Ranch Plan. Does trouble for the toll road mean trouble for the Ranch? The short answer [...]