Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Transportation

OCTA offers discount bus passes for the Holidays

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

JinglePass2013_Header

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 11, 2013

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713/Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

OCTA Kicks Off Holiday Season With Jingle Pass Sales Event

Residents can save 15 percent off 30-day bus passes for a limited time

ORANGE –The Orange County Transportation Authority is kicking off the holidays with a Jingle Pass sales promotion from Nov. 15 through Nov. 30.

The Jingle Pass is part of OCTA’s ridership program and enables riders to get where they need to go with less money out of their pockets. Continue reading→

OCTA has drivers seeing more green through Signal Synchronization Program

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation

OCTA Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 1, 2013

OCTA Has Drivers Seeing More Green Through Signal Synchronization Program

Goal of improving 2,000 intersections with renewed Measure M funds more than halfway complete

ORANGE – Motorists throughout Orange County are moving along city streets more efficiently and saving gas thanks to the Orange County Transportation Authority’s signal synchronization effort.

An update to the OCTA’s board this week showed that more than 1,074 intersections, along 269 miles of streets, have been synchronized in the last five years. That’s more than halfway toward the original 30-year Measure M goal to synchronize 2,000 intersections along 750 miles of roadway. Continue reading→

Town hall forum regarding proposal to add toll lanes to the 405 set for 10/29

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, OCTA, Orange County, Transportation, Westminster Leave a comment

405 Freeway Cities Coalition

405 Freeway Cities Coalition

FOR MORE INFORMATION: George Urch (714) 464-9125 (Cell)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2013

405 FREEWAY CITIES COALITION IN ORANGE COUNTY TO HOLD TOWN HALL FORUM THIS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, ON OCTA PROPOSAL TO ADD TOLL LANES ON I-405 FREEWAY

Forum Will Offer Opportunity For General Public To Voice Opinion On OCTA’s Proposal To Add Toll Lanes Along I-405 Freeway Between SR-55 And I-605 Freeways In Orange County

WHO: * Panel Made Up Of City Council Members From Each Of The 6 Member Cities Of The 405 Freeway Cities Coalition (Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Westminster)

* Remarks From A Wide Variety Of Electeds & Members Of Public Including: Continue reading→

Aggressive Santa Ana tow truck operator and his pals facing criminal charges

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, Tow Trucks, Transportation 1 Comment

Santa Ana Tow Truck

The former and current owners of Santa Ana towing and security companies face several criminal charges related to an alleged illegal towing operation. At the center is Patrick Tocher, who owned the companies for years before selling them, moving to Hawaii and, according to prosecutors, remaining in contact with the current owners, according to the OC Weekly.

It essentially boils down to this, according to the complaint: Security Towing and Night and Day Security were owned by Tocher and run out of the same Santa Ana yard. He is alleged to have directed Night and Day Security employees to authorize towing by Security Towing trucks even though property owners had given no permission for the towing. Tocher is further accused of failing to register his companies with the state Employment Development Department, paying employees in cash and failing to provide workers with required pay stubs or tax documents. Continue reading→

Take Metrolink to the next USC Football game on Oct. 10

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

OCTA USC Football Express

Metrolink USC Football Express

Special train service takes fans to and from big home game

Cheer on the Trojans at a Thursday night home game starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Coliseum with help from Metrolink! OCTA will provide a special Metrolink train called the USC Football Express to take Orange County fans to and from the big game against the Arizona Wildcats on October 10. Just board a convenient Metrolink train near your home and take it to LA Union Station. From there, transfer to LA Metro Rail and you’ll be at the Coliseum quickly and easily with a few simple transfers. Transfers to LA Metro Rail are free. After the game, take the LA Metro Rail back to Union Station where you can catch Metrolink’s USC Football Express back to OC.

USC Trojans are 3-1, 5th in South Division. Be there…you can make a difference! Continue reading→

I-405 improvement project update

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

OCTA Logo

I-405 Improvement Project Update

By Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates

Project development and environmental documentation are underway for improvements to the Interstate 405, between State Route 55 and Interstate 605. On October 22, 2012, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors considered three different build alternatives and selected Alternative 1, which adds one general purpose lane in each direction, as the Locally Preferred Alternative.

Alternative 2 would add two general purpose lanes in each direction but would have a $100 million funding shortfall; and Alternative 3 would add one general purpose lane in each direction, as well as a toll lane in each direction, which would be added to the existing HOV lane to create a two-lane High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lane facility (similar to the 91 Express Lanes). The approximate $700 million shortfall for Alterative 3 would be funded through toll revenue bonds. Continue reading→

The OCTA gives teens a chance to weigh in on transportation policy on 10/1

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, OCTA, Orange County, Transportation, Youth Activities Leave a comment

OCTA Logo

Opportunity for Teens to Weigh In on Transportation Policy

By Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is hosting a discussion about transportation and student travel from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Tuesday, October 1 in Conference Room 103/104 at OCTA Headquarters, 600 S. Main Street, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Try other travel options during Rideshare Week and you could win a prize

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

OCTA Urges Solo Drivers To Try Other Travel Options During Rideshare Week

By the OCTA Blog

Commuters will have a chance to learn about the benefits of using alternate modes of transportation during national Rideshare Week, which runs from Oct. 7 through Oct. 11, 2013.

Rideshare Week is an annual event that focuses on environmentally friendly transportation options, which include buses, trains, carpools, vanpools, bikes and more.

OCTA’s 2013 Rideshare Week campaign — 101 Reasons to Rideshare — reminds commuters of the benefits associated with alternative transportation. Benefits include cost and time savings, networking possibilities and the ability to relax instead of dealing with traffic.  Continue reading→

Yes, we paid to send three Councilmen to Portland to look at streetcars

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Planning, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Transportation, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

Sarmiento is Santa Ana

Can you believe it?  Our city is broke but on August 28, 2013, “officials from Santa Ana conducted a one-day site visit to learn more about the highly successful transit and streetcar system in Portland, Oregon.”

That’s right.  We paid to send a bunch of Council Members and city staffers to Portland, Oregon, to look at their light rail system. Now why in the world would our city leaders do this?  Well, they allege that “Out of the 15 systems currently operating and the 40 under design or construction throughout the country, Portland’s has been seen as a model that reflects the Transit Vision for Santa Ana’s proposed streetcar system.”

But is that true?  Does Portland really have anything in common with Santa Ana? Continue reading→

I-405 reopens following successful Bridge Bash

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 18, 2013

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Ted Nguyen (714) 560-5334 or (949) 637-6836

I-405 Reopens Following Successful Bridge Bash

The closure was necessary to demolish the southbound I-405 to eastbound SR-22 connector as part of the West County Connectors Project

ORANGE – The southbound San Diego Freeway (I-405) reopened to traffic at 2:20 p.m. today after being closed between the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) and Valley View Street in Westminster. The northbound I-405 will reopen to traffic at 3 p.m. Continue reading→

Enter to win a trip to San Juan Capistrano, Anaheim, Pasadena or San Clemente

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 10, 2013
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697

Metrolink Helps Residents Win Big With A Weekend Getaway

Enter for a chance to win trips to San Juan Capistrano, Anaheim, Pasadena and San Clemente

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority and Metrolink are teaming up to offer residents a chance to win a relaxing and traffic-free weekend getaway for two at Orange County and Los Angeles destinations.

A winner will be chosen every two weeks from July 19 to Aug. 30 for four trips. The destinations, accommodations and drawing dates include: Continue reading→

Catch the OC Fair Express and get into the Fair for only $3!

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

Save a Busload on The OC Fair Express!

The Orange County Fair is on July 12, 2013 through August 11, 2013 and the best way to get there is on the OC Fair Express! The OC Fair Express provides direct bus service to and from the fair from nine convenient locations for just $2.00 each way. You can catch the OC Fair Express any Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the fair starting July 12, 2013.

All OC Express customers also receive a coupon good for $3 Fair Admission—that’s up to $8 off. So skip traffic and save on parking and admission with the OC Fair Express! Continue reading→

John Wayne Airport’s 4th of July travel tips

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

John Wayne Airport

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2013
Contact: Jenny Wedge, (949) 252-5182, jwedge@ocair.com

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT OFFERS IMPORTANT TIPS FOR FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY TRAVEL

SANTA ANA, Calif. – John Wayne Airport (JWA) anticipates a busier-than-normal travel period from Friday, June 28 through Sunday, July 7 during the Fourth of July holiday. Passengers are reminded that fireworks are prohibited and should be left at home.

Visitors to JWA during this holiday period should be aware of ongoing construction activities around the Riley Terminal, exercise caution when navigating Airport roadways and follow posted speed limits. Continue reading→

OCTA funding new transit services in Orange County

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation 1 Comment

OCTA Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2013
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik, (714) 560-5713; Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697 

OCTA Funding New Transit Services In Orange County

Measure M2 providing $9.8 million for six new projects that will expand the reach of transit service  

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) today approved $9.8 million to fund six new services that will expand the reach of transit for Orange County residents.

Funded by Measure M2, the half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, the money will allow cities to operate year-round, seasonal or special event services that complement Orange County’s regional bus and rail systems. Continue reading→