SR-74 Multi-Asset Project

The California Department of Transportation (Department) proposes the this multi-asset management project is located along State Route 74 (SR-74) from SR-74/ Interstate 5 (I-5) Separation (PM 0.0) to 1.0-mile East of San Juan Creek (PM 11.5), in Orange County, including the city of San Juan Capistrano and the county unincorporated area. The project proposes to address a range of improvement, including roadway, traffic safety devices, complete street elements, and drainage systems. Two alternatives are being considered: the Build and No Build Alternative.

Project Location Map for the SR-74 Pavement Preservation Project

The Department is the Lead Agency for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), with the anticipated environmental determination being a Categorical Exclusion (CE). The Department is also the Lead Agency for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). An Initial Study (IS), leading to a Negative Declaration (ND) is the anticipated CEQA Document.

An IS with Proposed ND has been prepared for this project, which documents potential environmental impacts and proposed avoidance, minimization and/or mitigation of potential impacts associated with the proposed Build Alternative.

Anticipated Project Schedule

Public Comment Period - November 24 to December 23, 2025
Project Approval & Environmental Document - April 2026
Completion of Project Design - March 2027
Start of Construction - January 2028
Open Year - November 2032

Draft Environmental Document

The Department will be publicly circulating the Draft Environmental Document - Initial Study to the public for 30 days between November 23 to December 23, 2025. Hardcopies and electronic copies of this document are available for review at the CA Department of Transportation - District 12 office at 1750 East 4th Street, Suite 100, Santa Ana, California 92705, on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. The documents are also available at the following location during normal business hours:

OC Library - San Juan Capistrano Branch (Hours: Mon - Thu: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm and Fri - Sat: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm)

Please submit your comments or request for a public hearing no later than 5:00 pm, December 23, 2025 via email to: SR-74pavementpreservation@dot.ca.gov, or in writing to: Carmen Lo, Associate Environmental Planner, the Department District 12, Division of Environmental Analysis, 1750 East 4th Street, Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92705. The date we will begin accepting comments is November 24, 2025. If there are no major comments, the Department will proceed with the project’s design.

Documents

Accessibility Assistance: Caltrans makes every attempt to ensure our documents are accessible. Due to variances between assistive technologies, there may be portions of this document which are not accessible. Where documents cannot be made accessible, we are committed to providing alternative access to the content. Should you need additional assistance, please contact the Caltrans District 12 Public Information Office at (657) 328-6000 or visit https://dot.ca.gov/request-ada-compliant-documents.