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Ranking Pennsylvania Congressman 'Impressed'
with Ready-to-Work Orange County
A ranking Republican congressman on the House Railroad Subcommittee said today he was “impressed with Orange County’s work to deliver improvements” to the nation’s second-busiest railways. Congressman Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania spent the day getting familiar with the transportation system in Orange County, the nation’s fifth most-densely populated county.
Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche and OCTA Chairman Peter Buffa provided details about $67 million of local investment under way to create a world-class transportation hub called ARTIC or the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center. “Anaheim and Orange County are the epicenter of two major high-speed train projects,” Pringle said. “Federal stimulus funds, private and local funds and California bonds will provide important resources to help deliver state-of-the-art systems.”
 The first link of the California high-speed rail is between Anaheim and Los Angeles with more than 700 miles connecting Southern California with San Francisco by a three-hour train. California-Nevada super speed train connects Anaheim with Las Vegas – powered by maglev technology that safely transports passengers more than 250 miles in less than 1.5 hours.
The 16-acre ARTIC site will serve as the gateway to both modern rail systems. A bold and iconic design – featuring a soaring 189-foot-high archway resembling a modern hangar – won praises from transportation officials, who awarded a $24.3 million design contract to the team of Parsons Brinckerhoff / HOK. OCTA and Anaheim officials expect to break ground late 2010 with the center operating in 2013. ARTIC also will serve more frequent Metrolink and Amtrak service.
Shuster concluded his tour with a discussion on goods movement or freight traffic that drives economic growth, but impacts local communities with increased noise, pollution and traffic congestion. OCTA is making improvements to railways to improve both freight and passenger traffic with local funds and available federal matching funds.
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
(ARTIC) |
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High-Speed Rail
between Orange County and Los Angeles |
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High-Speed Rail
between Orange County and Las Vegas |
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Los Angeles - San Diego Rail Corridor Map
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Stimulus Dollars On The Way For SR-91
The federal government approved $67.7 million in stimulus funds on May 29 for the construction of an additional eastbound lane from the Eastern Toll Road (SR-241) to the Corona Expressway (SR-71).
“Orange County is leading the way for an economic recovery in the region,” said OCTA Chairman Peter Buffa. “The SR-91 project kicks off the creation of thousands of jobs for the county while bringing much needed traffic relief to commuters who travel that stretch of freeway daily.”
Caltrans, in partnership with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), secured the money well ahead of the June 30 deadline to use the funds, as required by the federal government.
Click here for the full press release or learn more about the SR-91 project.
Stimulus Dollars On The Road To Orange County
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced on May 4 that the state has awarded more than $1 billion in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to transportation projects throughout the state.
Obligating these funds comes two months ahead of the deadline set by the federal government, ensuring the dollars will be utilized quickly and effectively to boost the state’s economy and deliver much-needed transportation projects.
Caltrans District 12 in Orange County has been allocated funding for 41 local projects in the amount of $32.4 million and seven Transportation Enhancement projects in the amount of $4 million. These local city projects are throughout Orange County.
Click here for Gov. Schwarzenegger’s list of projects.
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