It’s not everyday that a City launches a website dedicated solely to the transit options available, whether they be bus or rail.

It’s certainly not a normal day when an Orange County City launches a website dedicated solely to the transit options available, whether they be bus or rail, or in this case, rapid buses, high-speed rail, and monorails.

The City of Anaheim has recently launched a new website called AConnext, highlighting the future of transit in the Resort Area, as well as providing information for options currently in place, such as OCTA, Metrolink, Amtrak, and Anaheim Resort Transit (ART). The website serves as a one stop shop for residents and transit geeks alike to find all the information they need related to the new and upcoming projects that are sure to excite any diehard transit fans, along with the average businessman looking for ways to get around the Resort Area without driving. read more→

This press release landed in my inbox last night; a new contract between the Teamsters and OCTA's Board means that there's one less wildcard in terms of bus operations. According to a news post at Voice of OC: “ The poor economy has forced 156 coach operator layoffs and 44 administration layoffs at OCTA in less than two years. The pact, retroactive to May 1, holds salaries for 903 drivers at current levels for at least two years, but leaves the door open to renew contract talks in the third year if the economy improves. Currently, beginning drivers earn $15.22 an hour, and the top pay is $23.92, plus medical and retirement benefits.”

Here's the press release:  read more→

The California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) Authority met today and released a supplemental alternative analysis for the tracks between Los Angeles and Anaheim. They did this after a year of conducting meetings among railroad companies, city planners, and — of course — vociferous homeowners such as the tense, angry Anaheim folks I saw that attended a high-speed rail meeting. In a nutshell:

• 2 mainline dedicated passenger tracks between Fullerton Junction and Commerce (largely within the existing 3-Track BNSF right-of-way).
• 2 existing at-grade shared-use tracks within the OCTA right-of-way from Fullerton Junction to the new ARTIC terminal in Anaheim. These are called "shared-use" because they plan to let both passenger and freight trains that are "temporally separated" run on these.

Doing this alternative — as opposed to building new dedicated bullet train tracks — unfortunately will cut the number of bullet trains that can run from 5 to 3 bullet trains per hour. This arrangement will require that Metrolink runs about 3-4 trains per hour and Amtrak runs 1 train per hour. Also, all trains — including the bullet trains — will be maxed out at 90 mph to prevent train conflicts (or "overtakes" in train parlance). Here's a map of the area:

I personally can't believe that OCTA is honestly going to try and squeeze Metrolink, Amtrak, CAHSR, and freight onto 2 lines. In New York, some corridors run 8 tracks of passenger trains, and when an accident on one track happens, it wreaks havoc on a lot of people's commutes. Imagine if one track gets shut down.

The good news: it'll cost less to build because fewer homes will be taken, and the Federal Railroad Administration recently allowed a similar arrangement to occur for Caltrain, a 2- to 3-track railroad on the San Francisco Peninsula, to allow them to run "mixed-use" passenger train service. Caltrain can now plan to run lighter, more sleeker electrified trains.

Their documents are unfortunately buried in their website; you can read their Press Release after the break, take a look at the Los Angeles to Anaheim presentation, alternative report, recommendations presentation, and their briefing memo.

....and more visuals. Here's a map of the Anaheim study area in particular:

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EDIT June 24, 2010: I got this email from Tamara Warren, project manager for corridor studies at OCTA, to clarify some of my errors in my original post. I've asked her for permission to post:

I would like to correct two points in the note.  The note mentions that the SR-22 connectors are part of the City of Santa Ana’s Go Local project.  This is not true.  Although the ramps are of interest to the City of Santa Ana and they would like to pursue further study, they are not part of their Go Local project.  The concept of ramps from the SR-22 connecting motorists to downtown Santa Ana utilizing the PEROW is part of the City of Santa Ana’s long term vision for the area. 

The note also mentions that Santa Ana’s Go Local project would prevent SCAG’s Pacific Electric corridor project.  OCTA owns the PEROW and along with all of the cities on the PEROW we are working in partnership with SCAG on their corridor study.  SCAG is coordinating with the City of Santa Ana with the intent to ensure whatever proposals come out of the SCAG study, they will complement each other and work in tandem and not prevent either effort.  I would appreciate it if you would correct the wording below to ensure the information being shared is accurate.  

Again, I really appreciate your interest in our CCCMIS study and for helping us get the word out on our study effort. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

OCTA staff are finalizing a set of options to present to the OCTA board and local governments on how to relieve congestion in central Orange County, based on a projected 15%-20% increase in population and congestion.

OCTA's staff are proposing the following ideas and this week have been soliciting feedback in workshops in the community. I went to their Fountain Valley meeting and a handful of people showed up, but from what I heard from other community members, improving transit service was a concern. Below is a comprehensive map of their proposals. Note that right now the team's survey will very likely gauge public support for these proposals; my guess is that OCTA's Board will cherry-pick from this list based on what people in Orange County vote on.

In other words, take OCTA's survey now!!

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