Cities throughout Orange County will receive funding for local trolleys and shuttles following the OCTA Board’s approval of $26.7 million for community-based transit circulators that serve specific public transit needs.
The funding comes from Measure M, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. In addition to fulfilling the Measure M promise to improve transit, these projects support OC Bus 360°, OCTA’s ongoing effort to create better and more efficient bus service countywide.
The shuttles and trolleys, smaller than a typical OCTA bus, will meet local needs that complement OCTA bus service by connecting riders to major civic, employment and shopping destinations, as well as major transportation centers.
The funding also helps support seasonal and special event services, pay for associated bus-stop improvements and maintenance facilities, and supplement the purchase or lease of buses/trolleys.
Cities receiving funding include:
- Anaheim (ARTIC/Center circulator): $1.1 million
- Costa Mesa (Circulator to Anaheim): $2.8 million
- Dana Point (Dana Point PCH Trolley): $905,968
- Huntington Beach (Seasonal Local Transit Circulator): $917,770
- Irvine (iShuttle – Tustin to Irvine Business Center): $2.7 million
- Irvine (iShuttle – Irvine Station – East): $2.7 million
- Laguna Beach (Residential Trolley Service): $2 million
- La Habra (Special Events Shuttle): $96,810
- Lake Forest (Shuttle from train station to Panasonic): $1.2 million
- Lake Forest (Shuttle from train station to Oakley): $303,240
- Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo Local Transit Circulator): $3.3 million
- Newport Beach (Balboa Peninsula Trolley): $685,454
- Orange County (Orange County Ranch Ride) $2 million
- San Clemente (Summer Trolley): $1.2 million
- San Clemente (San Clemente Ridershare Services): $914,400
- San Juan Capistrano (Summer Trolley Service): $95,486
- Westminster (Little Saigon Local Circulator) $3.7 million
Several cities also received funds totaling $323,780 to perform planning studies to better determine ridership demand for community-based shuttles. They include:
- Fountain Valley: $45,000
- Garden Grove: $49,280
- Laguna Niguel: $49,500
- Mission Viejo: $45,000
- Placentia: $45,000
- Rancho Santa Margarita: $45,000
- Tustin: $45,000
Photo credit: mymodernmet.com