Go Local: Connecting Metrolink with your community

To improve rail service, OCTA and cities join forces

Orange County’s Metrolink service will increase frequency beginning in 2010 and OCTA has developed the innovative Go Local program to enhance connections between the Metrolink stations and surrounding communities.

The four-step program, combined with the increased Metrolink service, will allow for a fundamental shift in the way Orange County residents travel.

Step 1 – Cities Conduct Preliminary Project Studies

Since the inception of the Go Local program, Orange County cities have worked to develop concepts either individually or in partnership with adjacent cities.

• All 34 cities received a $100,000 grant from OCTA to study possible extensions linking major activity and employment centers with a Metrolink station.
• Cities began submitting their findings in March 2008 for consideration into step two. 
• View the Go Local final reports that contain the fixed-guideway and mixed-flow bus/shuttle proposals approved for Step Two:
  • Aliso Viejo 
  • Anaheim 
  • Brea Team (Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia and Yorba Linda)
  • Buena Park Team (La Palma and Cypress)
  • Fullerton 
  • Irvine 
  • Laguna Beach 
  • Lake Forest 
  • Lake Forest (Laguna Hills)
  • Mission Viejo 
  • San Clemente Team (San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point)
  • Tustin 
  • Westminster Team (Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and Stanton)

Step 2 – Detailed Planning For Selected Projects

Step one report evaluations are now under way and the OCTA board will determine which proposals receive funding to continue with detailed planning and additional studies.  There is $25.4 million available for this step of the program.

• Fixed-guideway proposals from Anaheim and the joint Santa Ana and Garden Grove proposal each received $5.9 million to move forward with step two.
• 26 bus and shuttle projects approved to move into step two.

Step 3 and 4 – Implementation of Selected Projects

Construction and implementation will begin on the projects during the third step of the program. In this step, cities compete for $1 billion in funds from Renewed Measure M.

Once Go Local programs are operating, OCTA will perform necessary upgrades to the rail corridor to ensure that all connections work seamlessly.

For more information on Go Local, please contact: Laura Teel at lteel@octa.net.