Orange County Transportation Authority orders eight Siemens streetcars

[daveklepper]

Summarized from Randy Glucksman from Progressive Railroading

In late 2016, OCTA, , the Orange County Transportation Authority, released a request for proposals for the manufacturing and delivery of the eight streetcar vehicles.  They will be used on the future 4.1-mile Orange County Streetcar line, which will run from Santa Ana to Garden Grove, California. Six vehicles will operate on the system at a time, with two spare cars

Monday , the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) on Monday approved a $51.5 million contract for eight S70 model streetcars, which can carry up to 180 passengers, from Siemens Industries Inc., including the option to purchase up to 10 additional streetcars at a later date. Siemens will provide systems support and training to operators and maintenance technicians The $299 million OC Streetcar project will be funded by Measure M, Orange County's half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements plus state and federal funding,  Construction will begin later this year, with testing and operations beginning in late 2020.

[Electroliner 1935]

Thanks for the heads up. Description is below. Plans call for completion by 2020. 

http://www.octa.net/Projects-and-Programs/All-Projects/Rail-Projects/OC-Streetcar/

[K. P. Harrier]

First I’ve heard of it, but it seems like an overly optimistic project.  Next time I’m anywhere near there I should drop by and see if anything is built.

[usmc1401]

Maybe they could save some money by adding to San Francisco MUNI'S order.

[daveklepper]

Could be ---  minus the morerized hihg-level - low-level capability and multiple-unit capaility.   Don't forget, SF's MUNI Metro cars are not low-floor.  Their subway was built with high-level platfomrs, and three geneations of cars had and have dual entrane arrngents, sidewalk level and platform level.   Dallas is the only other USA city to have high-level-floor 21st-Century LRVs.

[mvs]

K. P. Harrier

First I’ve heard of it, but it seems like an overly optimistic project.  Next time I’m anywhere near there I should drop by and see if anything is built.

I agree; is Santa Ana that big of a destination these days from an employment perspective?  Would think that Irvine is the center of employment in OC.

One project that might be worthwhile, is the West Santa Ana Branch (from LA Metro) which would come close to Garden Grove/Santa Ana.