Angeli, the tunnel boring machine, was lowered into the ground near 1st and Central in late 2016 and began digging the tunnels in early February.
The historic ceremony held over the weekend marks the first Measure M-funded rail project to begin construction.
The plan, which is preperation for the summer Olympics in 2028, includes light rail expansions, a bus rapid transit network, and highway improvement and widening efforts.
The project is expected to cost approximately $299.3 million, with other funding coming from state cap-and-trade funding, other federal and local funding.
Interested firms can attend a pre-proposal conference on Jan. 10 and the deadline to submit a proposal is April 28, 2017. Construction of the OC Streetcar is scheduled to begin in 2018 with testing and operation expected to start in 2020.
Supporters say ridership on the 3.8-mile service could reach 6,000 people per day.
The system is intended to provide “last-mile” transportation for individuals traveling from the transportation hubs to employment and retail and recreational areas in the heart of Orange County.
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve an extension of highway and transit funding at existing levels through September 30. This is the 10th extension of the six-year transportation bill. We need a long-term bill.
Orange County Transportation Authority delivered on its promise to voters, through Measure M, to reduce freeway congestion, improve local streets and invest in transit. March 31 marks the final day that the half-cent sales tax will be collected to go toward Measure M. It represents the sunset of a successful program that has helped keep this county moving with more than $4 billion invested in transportation improvements.
For every $1 billion spent on infrastructure improvements, it is estimated that 18,000 jobs are created. In Orange County, the investment translates into nearly 9,500 jobs for a region hit hard by the economic recession, according to the agency.
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