Railway construction on Harbor Blvd. and Fairview St. continues to buzz alongside street traffic as Garden Grove and Santa Ana prepare for the launch of Orange County’s first streetcar in nearly a hundred years.
Editor’s note: This is an occasional series where Voice of OC works with local community photographers to offer residents a first-hand look at the local sites and scenes of Orange County.
The OC Streetcar project construction started in 2018 and is meant to connect the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC) with a new transit hub at Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue in Garden Grove.
Officials say the aim of the OC Streetcar is to create a low-cost option that connects to other transportation options, such as Metrolink and OC Bus.
At a total estimated cost of nearly $600 million, it is split up between a combination of federal ($280.1M), state ($175.43M) and local ($123.63M) tax dollars.
Officials say the route was determined with alot of public input.
“The route was chosen by the cities, with input all along the way from the public and from local business owners,” says Eric Carpenter, Orange County Transportation Authority communications specialist.
Despite the input OCTA may have received, the construction has been controversial, and many businesses and community members have spoken out against it in the past.
Some even complained in 2022 that meeting with OCTA officials was difficult.
Read here: Battling to Survive the Santa Ana’s Streetcar
Read here: Downtown Santa Ana Businesses Say They’re Suffering During Streetcar Construction
Officials acknowledge project impacts, noting people commuting through Harbor Blvd. will experience some traffic congestion and temporary lane closures while workers complete curb and gutter work for people commuting through the area.
“Harbor Boulevard is one of the most traveled corridors in the county, and [the new transit hub] will help connect riders to some of OC Buses’ most popular bus routes.”
According to Carpenter, the overall project is approximately 85% complete, and the railroad track has been 100% installed.
Officials acknowledge challenges and setbacks during construction, such as identifying the location of utilities in city streets and contaminated soil, but note that testing for the project is currently scheduled to begin later this year.
Construction is expected to last through next year.
“There is still substantial work to be done re-striping the streets and finalizing work on the platforms, as well as finishing work on the maintenance and storage facility that will house the streetcars,” says Carpenter. “The schedule will be re-evaluated this summer.”
One stop away from Harbor Blvd lies the future Fairview station stop.
Located near Lydia Romero-Cruz Academy middle school and Santa Ana School District offices, the Fairview stop appears to be nearly complete with stop crossing gates and tracks in place but still needing benches and lighting.
OCTA officials say the majority of the construction for both locations is currently taking place behind fenced construction sites and is meant to limit disruptions to commuters.
“As station/platform improvements continue, there may be intermittent lane closures; however, no major detours are planned for now,” shared Carpenter in an email to Voice of OC.
“We understand that heavy construction is an inconvenience and we appreciate patience from the public,” said Carpenter. “At the same time, we very much look forward to sharing the benefits of OC Streetcar with everyone.”
Updates on construction and lane closures are posted regularly on the OCTA website to keep local residents up to date.
•••
Can you support Voice of OC with a donation?
You obviously care about local news and value good journalism here in Orange County. With your support, we can bring you more stories like these.