West Santa Ana Branch

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!!

read more→

I'm catching up on all the transportation stories over the past month, and came across two Orange County Grand Jury reports that criticize OCTA for failing to protect transit commuters while spending a disproportionate amount of money on freeways and Metrolink. Within the same period, they criticized Santa Ana's City Council for a lack of government transparency in awarding a $4.85-million contract to the least-qualified firm for their pet Santa Ana streetcar project.

The OC Register, L.A. Times, and other blog outlets have articles that summarize the findings:

• Grand jury says OCTA fails low-income bus riders: After a 20 percent reduction in bus service, the grand jury wants OCTA to re-examine its spending decisions. (Orange County Register)
• O.C. Grand Jury criticizes Santa Ana council over transportation contract: A report says the bulk of a $4.85-million consulting agreement for a streetcar project went to a firm that experts had rated the least qualified of all the bidders. (Los Angeles Times) 
• Grand Jury Exposes Santa Ana City Countil...Now What! (TheLiberalOC.com)
• Well-connected firm got 'flawed' contract: Grand Jury finds that Santa Ana officials used a 'compromised' process to award a contract worth nearly $5 million. (Orange County Register)

Some choice tidbits from the Orange County Grand Jury report on OCTA's shortcomings: read more→

As our county and region continues to grow and expand, it’s a no brainer that alternative modes of transportation would be sought after.

Therefore, it shouldn’t be a surprise that rail is back in the news here among the orange groves, and this time, I mean smack-dab in the middle of the orange groves.

Initiated in March, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has begun a several month long Transit Alternatives Analysis (AA) for the Pacific Electric Right-of-Way / West Santa Ana Branch Corridor. This study is a large collaboration between SCAG, LACMTA (Metro) and OCTA, with SCAG hiring the consultants (AECOM Inc.), paying the bills ($1.8 million), and publishing the preferred alternative, which will then be presented to the Metro and OCTA Board of Directors.

In the AA, SCAG will determine whether or not potential transit service along the corridor is a viable option to improve intercounty travel, improve transit accessibility, support regional goals and reduce congestion at the same time. Here’s a little background information from SCAG’s fact sheet:

The Pacific Electric Right-of-Way (PE ROW) / West Santa Ana Branch Corridor is a railroad right-of-way that extends for approximately 20 miles between the City of Paramount in Los Angeles County and the City of Santa Ana in Orange County. The railroad corridor was once part of the Pacific Electric Railway, or Red Car, system that provided mass transit service to Southern California from 1901 to 1961. Much of the corridor has been abandoned and is not currently used for mass transit purposes.

SCAG goes on to elaborate on what they will be researching:

The AA will evaluate a broad range of alternatives, including bus rapid transit (BRT) with dedicated bus lanes, light rail transit (LRT), commuter rail, and high speed rail, along with “no-build” and Transportation Systems Management improvements.

As you can see on the map, the PE ROW runs through many OC cities, including Cypress, Anaheim, Stanton, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana, just to name a few. On the north end sits the Metro Blue line and Green line, while the Santa Ana Depot sit on the south end. Can you imagine the possibilities of having a quick, convenient transit connection between these destinations and many more? Well SCAG can! The final question is… can Orange County? read more→