Johnny Dunning Jr., COO, Orange County Transportation Authority (left); Matt Mahoney, Director of Business, Marmon Rail & Leasing.

People News: OCTA, Marmon

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) names Johnny Dunning Jr. Chief Operating Officer (COO). Also, Matt Mahoney is promoted to Director of Business for Marmon’s Rail & Leasing Group. OCTA OCTA announced

This artist rendering shows the concept for the OC Streetcar LRVs that will run through Santa Ana and Garden Grove, Calif. (Photo Courtesy OCTA)

OC Streetcar Reaches Construction Milestone

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is one step closer to taking delivery of the Siemens light rail vehicles that will run through Santa Ana and Garden Grove, Calif., when the 4.15-mile OC Streetcar system debuts in 2024.

Commentary

Biden Administration Sides With Labor, Throwing California Transit Grants (and Riders) Under the Bus

In what has become a contest between two groups who strongly back Democrats, the Biden Administration has come out for labor by refusing to certify grants that would help California’s transit providers and, eventually, the state’s riders. The decision by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) could eventually affect transit projects in other transit-rich states that are facing financial woes due to the pandemic.

MBTA will receive $859.6 million in ARP grants for COVID-19 response from the FTA.

MBTA, OCTA: $1B in ARP Grants for COVID-19 Response

The Federal Transit Administration has awarded American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 grants for COVID-19 response to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA, $859.6 million) and Orange County (Calif.) Transportation Authority (OCTA, $163.9 million).

The Chicago Transit Authority will use a $13.96 million U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant “to protect critical surface transportation and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure.”

Transit Briefs: CTA, OCTA

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is receiving $13.96 million for emergency preparedness as part of a U.S. Department Homeland Security (DHS) grant to the state of Illinois. Also, the Orange County (Calif.) Transportation Authority (OCTA) will begin work this month on a $29.86 million Metrolink station improvement project at Anaheim Canyon.

Orange County streetcar breaks ground as FTA signs for funding

Construction began Nov. 30 on the Orange County Transportation Authority’s 4.1-mile streetcar project in Santa Ana, the same day the project was fully funded.

Siemens selected for OC Streetcar

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has awarded a $51.5 million contract to Siemens Industry for eight S70 low-floor light rail vehicles for the OC Streetcar project, construction of which is expected to begin later this year.

OCTA chooses HNTB for new streetcar line

California’s Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has appointed HTNB to design a 4.16-mile streetcar line linking Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center, through Downtown Santa Ana and the Civic Center, along a former Pacific Electric Railway right-of-way, to a new multimodal transit hub at Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue in Garden Grove.

OCTA awards streetcar contract to HNTB

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) board of directors has selected HNTB Corporation to design the OC Streetcar project.