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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Transportation

Dump the Pump next week and enter to win a $500 gift card from the OCTA

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

DumpPump2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2013

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697

OCTA Encourages Commuters To ‘Dump the Pump’ Next Week

Residents can sign the pledge and be part of the pollution solution

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is encouraging people to Dump the Pump from June 17-21 by leaving their car at home and commuting using other forms of transportation.

Riders can pledge to Dump the Pump until June 21 by choosing not to drive solo and instead take the bus or train, carpool, ride a bike, walk or telecommute. Those who pledge to take the bus or Metrolink will be sent a one-day pass or trip ticket. Continue reading→

OCTA Bravo! Buses speed up the Harbor Blvd. commute starting on June 10

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Fullerton, Garden Grove, OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

OCTA Bravo Bus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 4, 2013

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697

Bravo! Bus Speeds Up Harbor Boulevard Commute

OCTA launches limited-stop service June 10 and offers free rides Monday through Wednesday

ORANGE – Bravo! Route 543 – the new limited-stop bus service along Harbor Boulevard – will begin operating Monday, June 10, giving commuters an opportunity to make it to their destination more quickly.

The Orange County Transportation Authority service will have distinct blue and orange buses with Bravo! branding. The service will run 12 miles along Harbor Boulevard stretching from the Fullerton Transportation Center, through Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana and ending at MacArthur Boulevard in Costa Mesa. Continue reading→

Experience San Juan Capistrano via Metrolink from Santa Ana, on 6/8

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Metrolink, OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2013

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697

Ride Metrolink and Experience San Juan Capistrano

Riders can win free Metrolink tickets and enjoy food and music at the event

ORANGE – Free food, music and a chance to win Metrolink tickets will be part of a Saturday, June 8 kick-off event in Santa Ana as the Orange County Transportation Authority invites residents to “Make it Your Mission to Experience San Juan Capistrano” by rail.

The event begins at the Santa Ana Transportation Center, where San Juan Capistrano Mayor John Taylor and Mayor Pro Tem Sam Allevato are expected to attend the short celebration before joining passengers on the train to San Juan Capistrano for a day in Orange County’s oldest community. Continue reading→

Public is encouraged to join OCTA for a bike rally on May 16

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, OCTA, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 8, 2013
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697

OCTA Gears Up For Bike To Work Day
Public is encouraged to join OCTA for a bike rally on May 16

ORANGE – Commuters looking for ways to improve their health, help the environment and cut the cost of driving are invited to join OCTA for a bike rally on national Bike to Work Day, May 16.

OCTA will be hosting a bike rally from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Participants will meet at the Orange Depot at 7:30 a.m. and join more than 50 cyclists for a 3-mile ride to OCTA Headquarters. Continue reading→

Ken Phipps named Deputy CEO of OCTA

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

Supervisor Moorlach taking a tour of the 91 Express Lanes with Ken Phipps

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 6, 2013
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697

Phipps Named Deputy CEO of OCTA
Industry veteran starts his new role this week

ORANGE – Ken Phipps, the executive director of Finance and Administration for the Orange County Transportation Authority, has been selected to become the deputy chief executive officer of the agency.

“Ken has a broad range of experience and financial expertise in the transportation industry as well as a comprehensive knowledge of OCTA’s programs, projects and services,” said Darrell Johnson, CEO of OCTA. “He skillfully helped guide our agency through challenging economic times and I am very confident in his ability to serve the people of Orange County in his new role.” Continue reading→

O.C. Bike Month starting with a Bike rally in Orange on May 16

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, Entertainment, OCTA, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

May is Orange County Bike Month, according to the OCTA, which states on their website that “Bicycling is an environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and enjoyable way to get around Orange County.Please support our efforts to get you out of your car and onto a bike. Even for a day! It’s healthy, fun and we’re offering plenty of prizes if you pledge your support.”

Continue reading→

High-Speed Rail Authority to host a small biz workshop in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Business, california, Entertainment, Lou Correa, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

High Speed Rail

High-Speed Rail Authority to Host Small Business Certification Workshop In Orange County

April 26, 2013

SACRAMENTO, CA – In his continued outreach and assistance to small businesses, Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) announced that the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) will host a series of statewide workshops to help certify small businesses that want to participate in the statewide high-speed rail project. The Authority will provide small businesses with hands-on technical assistance which includes on-the-spot certification that can be completed online. Participants will also receive pertinent information on upcoming procurement opportunities around the state that would be of interest to their businesses. Continue reading→

Santa Ana General Plan community meeting set for April 27

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Entertainment, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

Santa Ana in Motion

Santa Ana General Plan Circulation Element Update

The General Plan contains the City’s values and vision for its future. The General Plan Circulation Element (9.8 MB) communicates goals, policies and programs to address Santa Ana’s local and regional transportation and travel needs.

You can weigh in on the General Plan at a Community Open House that is set for Saturday, April 27, 2013, at the Southwest Senior Center, located at 2201 W. McFadden Avenue, in Santa Ana.  The meeting will run from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. A presentation will take place at 10:00 a.m. Event Flyer. Continue reading→

The OCTA leads pension reform efforts

Posted on by Posted in Labor, OCTA, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

OCTA Logo

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2013

OCTA Leads Pension Reform Efforts

Employees will pay full share of pension costs resulting in $85 million savings over 20 years

ORANGE – Employees of the Orange County Transportation Authority will pay their full share of pension costs under a proactive plan approved today by the agency’s board of directors.

OCTA has been paying an average of 8 percent for each administrative employee’s share of their pension costs. OCTA’s 1,100 union-represented coach operators, maintenance workers, facilities technicians and parts clerks already contributed 100 percent of the employee share. Continue reading→

Millions in Measure M2 sales taxes to fund O.C. streets and signals

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Taxes, Transportation Leave a comment

OCTA Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2013
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713 ; Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697

Millions Approved For Orange County Streets and Signals Through Measure M2
OCTA board will allocate nearly $50 million for projects throughout the county

ORANGE – Orange County streets will see an influx of $49.6 million after the Orange County Transportation Authority board approved the funding of 24 improvement projects through voter-approved Measure M2.

The following projects were approved by the board this week: Continue reading→

Another damn Streetcar

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, OCTA, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Transportation, Vince Sarmiento 32 Comments

tracks

From the OC Politics Blog

Lurking in the back of the OCTA‘s Measure M Wasteful Boondoggles Projects File is another streetcar project in Santa Ana.  It’s not as expensive (for now) as the $319 million debacle that’s been cooked up in Anaheim by the City Council and the Toontown Troika of SOAR, the OC Business Council and Master of the Universe Curt Pringle’s team of lackeys, but it’s just as big a turkey.   The Register reports today (don’t worry about the paywall) that so far it’s coming in at a minor $209 million even though it’s longer and has five times more stops than the Murray/Eastman Express.

From Lou Gonzales’ story, there are some absolutely priceless quotes from a clueless, in-the-dark City Councilman and his colleague, Michele Martinez, a failed Mayoral candidate:

Continue reading→

OCTA seeks volunteers to serve on their Citizens Advisory Committee

Posted on by Posted in Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

OCTA Bus

OCTA Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2013
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697

OCTA Seeks Volunteers to Serve on Citizens Advisory Committee
Applications for advisory committee are being accepted through May 7

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is seeking community leaders to fill seats on the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).

The 34-member committee meets throughout the year to provide input on a broad spectrum of transportation projects, studies and outreach activities and offers input to OCTA staff and board of directors. Continue reading→

Ride the Metrolink to the Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano!

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Family, OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

The Swallows’ Day Parade Is Coming

The 55th annual Swallows’ Day Parade and Mercado will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., in downtown San Juan Capistrano. The Swallows’ Day Parade is part of the Fiesta de las Golondrinas—the Festival of the Swallows. The festival is built around the swallows’ legendary return to Mission San Juan Capistrano every St. Joseph’s Day, March 19. The Swallows’ Day Parade is the largest non-motorized parade in the nation, and great fun for the whole family! The parade is a popular event, so be sure to arrive early to avoid street closures that start at 10:00 a.m. The parade will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. Continue reading→

New OCTA Chief Executive announces his initiatives for 2013

Posted on by Posted in Darrell Johnson, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

OCTA Bus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2013
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697

New OCTA Chief Executive Announces Initiatives for 2013

CEO Darrell Johnson’s efforts support the values, vision, mission and goals of OCTA

ORANGE – At his first board meeting as the new Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) CEO, Darrell Johnson unveiled his strategic initiatives for the year ahead, placing a high priority on creating services to meet community needs, ensuring sustainability of transit systems and advancing the delivery of Measure M2 projects. Continue reading→

Darrell Johnson begins post as OCTA’s new Chief Executive

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

Darrell Johnson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2013
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697

Darrell Johnson Begins Post as OCTA Chief Executive

Johnson replaces long-time transportation veteran Will Kempton who retired Feb. 28

ORANGE – Darrell Johnson began his new post today as the chief executive officer of the Orange County Transportation Authority.

OCTA is the countywide transportation agency with 1,500 employees and an annual budget of $1 billion. Under the direction of a 17-voting member board of directors, Johnson is responsible for planning, financing and coordinating Orange County’s freeway, street and rail development, as well as managing bus services, commuter-rail services and paratransit service for people with disabilities. Continue reading→