OC Streetcar Construction Reaches Major Milestone
The agency and its partners marked the completion of the frame for the OC Streetcar’s Maintenance and Storage Facility in Santa Ana, which is where the streetcar vehicles will be stored, washed, and maintained.
The Walsh Group signed the final beam that was then lifted to the top of the building along with an American flag and a tree (a construction tradition) and secured into place at the top of the building.
OCTA
Construction of the OC Streetcar project reached a milestone this week as construction crews placed the final steel beam on the building that will house the streetcar vehicles.
Several staff members from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), which is building the OC Streetcar, and from the contractor The Walsh Group signed the final beam that was then lifted to the top of the building along with an American flag and a tree (a construction tradition) and secured into place at the top of the building.
It marked the completion of the frame for the OC Streetcar’s Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) in Santa Ana, which is where the streetcar vehicles will be stored, washed, and maintained.
Construction of the rails and stations continues along the route, including in Downtown Santa Ana, where crews are working on an expedited schedule and OCTA is working with the city of Santa Ana to minimize the effects of construction on local businesses.
The OC Streetcar vehicles are being manufactured by Siemens in northern California. Completing the MSF building will allow for the vehicles to be delivered and stored once they are finished. Delivery of the first streetcar vehicles is expected in 2023, with testing expected to begin shortly after.
The OC Streetcar, estimated to cost $509.5 million with a majority of the cost paid with federal funding, will run on just over four miles of track in each direction through Santa Ana and Garden Grove. It is scheduled to begin operations in early 2024.
The OC Streetcar route, chosen by the city of Santa Ana, will serve the city’s thriving downtown and dense employment areas that include county and local government offices and courthouses in the Civic Center.
The streetcar will carry passengers between the busy Santa Ana transit center and a transit stop at Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue in Garden Grove, running along Santa Ana Boulevard, Fourth Street and the Pacific Electric right-of-way and connecting with OCTA’s busiest bus routes.
Six vehicles — with two spares — will operate daily, making stops at 10 locations in each direction every 10 to 15 minutes.
More Rail
Trinity Metro Breaks Ground on $270M TEXRail Extension
The 2.1-mile extension will connect Fort Worth’s Medical District and Near Southside to downtown, surrounding communities, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Read More →
Bringing Austin’s First Light Rail System to Life
Austin Transit Partnership CEO Greg Canally discusses the city's nearly 10-mile light rail project, its collaborative approach to project delivery, the importance of community engagement, and the milestones ahead as construction approaches in 2027.
Read More →
Metra Draft Plan Outlines Costs, Service Improvements for Regional Rail
The Systemwide Network Plan identifies infrastructure needs and potential investments to expand all-day, bidirectional rail service across the Chicago region.
Read More →
Amtrak Completes First Street Tunnel Upgrades, Restores Service
The nine-day construction project included replacing aging track infrastructure and modernizing switch systems near Washington Union Station.
Read More →
FRA Announces $2.3B for Passenger, Freight Rail Projects Nationwide
The CRISI Grant Program funding will support rail infrastructure improvements, safety upgrades, and projects aimed at improving freight and passenger rail service across 45 states and Washington, D.C.
Read More →
Caltrain’s Electrification Drives a New Era of Ridership Growth
The railroad’s shift to electric service has brought more frequent trains, stronger customer satisfaction, and increased ridership, earning it APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation System award.
Read More →
FTA Advances $164M Broward County Commuter Rail Project
The proposed 10.5-mile commuter rail extension would connect Fort Lauderdale and Aventura, expanding passenger rail options in South Florida.
Read More →
New York MTA Launches Historic $1.9B Signal, Track Modernization Project
Funded in part by congestion pricing revenue, the project will replace nearly century-old signals along the A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens.
Read More →
LA Metro Breaks Ground on East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Project
The 6.7-mile line will add 11 stations along Van Nuys Boulevard, expand access to jobs and regional transit connections, and support Metro’s broader efforts to improve mobility as rail ridership grows.
Read More →
CSA Group Releases Climate Resilience Standard for Transit, Passenger Rail
Developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada, CSA D700 guides assessing climate-related risks and planning adaptation measures for transit and passenger rail systems.
Read More →