Environmental Sustainability - Overview

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A Culture of Sustainability

This is the story of how we work to safeguard our air, land, water, and community to create healthier, happier lives today, while putting the wheels in motion to shape a resilient future for generations to come.

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Our Commitment

For many years, we have demonstrated our commitment to healthy communities and a balanced, equitable and sustainable transportation network. Embracing a zero-emission bus future by building the world’s largest hydrogen fueling station. Pioneering microtransit to reduce congestion and vehicle miles traveled. Identifying climate-change stressors to ensure a strong region prepared for the journeys ahead.

In all, we consider the environment.


Preserving & Conserving Land & Water

Orange County voters told us to prioritize the environment. For decades, we’ve kept that promise.

a group of people hiking in an arid area

  • Preserved 1,300 acres of open-space land

  • Allocated $10M to restore 350 acres of open space land

  • Kept 45.3 million gallons of trash out of waterways

  • Protected more than 40 miles of Orange County coastline

mountain range

Wilderness Preserves

Seven properties have been purchased and permanently preserved as open space and ensure OCTA's wilderness preserves will remain forever protected from development.
desert flower in bloom

Environmental Mitigation Program

Working in collaboration with state and federal wildlife agencies, the program allocates funds to acquire land and fund habitat restoration to offset the environmental impacts of freeway projects.

a rocky beach with palm trees

Improving Water Quality

Two programs help keep waterways and the ocean free from transportation-generated pollution.
a group of people hiking in a hilly area with trees

Environmental Committees

To offset the environmental impacts of freeway improvements and improve overall water quality from transportation-related pollution, OCTA seeks feedback and guidance from two committees.


Green Bus Transit

Our OC Bus fleet runs on clean, renewable energy now and is headed toward a 100 percent zero-emission future to bring even cleaner air quality to Orange County.

a smiling man riding riding a bus with a pair of headphones hanging on his neck

  • Conducting a pilot program using 20 zero-emission (10 hydrogen, 10 electric) buses

  • Built nation’s largest hydrogen fueling station with an 18K-gallon fuel capacity, scalable to 100 buses

  • Debuted pilot hydrogen fuel cell electric bus program in 2016, the first in Southern California

  • Replaced 40 support vehicles with zero-emission substitutes

OC Buses lined up in a parking lot

Zero-emission Bus Progress

We’re testing hydrogen & electric to see which performs best in Orange County.
OC Bus

OC Buses Run Clean

OCTA has a history of operating clean buses, including those with renewable CNG fuel.

OC Bus Chevy Volts

Electric Support Vehicles

Zero-emission Chevy Bolts will support the bus fleet.
electric vehicle charging station

Support Vehicle Charging Stations

Electric vehicle charging stations will be placed at two bus bases.


Clean Travel Modes

We’re making it easier for Orange County to breathe easier with clean travel alternatives for all that reduce pollution, congestion, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT).

a family at a train station speaking with an OCTA employee

  • Led nationwide microtransit trend to help remove cars from the road and reduce air pollution

  • Awarded approximately $140 M in funding since 2012 to encourage active transportation

  • Reduced 339M+ VMT with Metrolink annually

  • Removed thousands of cars from OC streets each July with the OC Fair Express

  • Completed more than 1,000 miles of regional bikeway network

OC Streetcar train driving down a road during sunset

OC Streetcar

OC Streetcar will reduce vehicle traffic to central Orange County from throughout California.
a group of college students standing in front of a bus

College Pass Program

OCTA’s innovative free bus pass removes cars from roads, reduces congestion, and provides equitable access.

a woman on a bicycle clipping a helmet to her head

OC Active

OCTA is a leader in active transportation funding & programming.
a train arriving at a station

Rail

Metrolink reduces VMT, emissions, and congestion for commuters and leisure travelers.
OC Flex van

OC Flex

OC Flex furthers OCTA's goal of reducing air pollution and implementing critical first-mile, last-mile strategies.


Cleaner Journeys on Freeways & Sustainable Streets

We’re maximizing limited space to encourage ridesharing and transit use on sustainable roadways.

a stretch of freeway with traffic during sunrise with a shrubby hill to the left and flat shrub land to the right

  • Pioneered congestion management pricing with the 91 Express Lanes

  • Synchronized more than 7,750 intersections, reducing emissions and greenhouse gases

  • Reduced 4M+ miles of VMT in six months with vanpool

carpools only 2 or more persons per vehicle

Managed Lanes

HOV and tolled express lanes mitigate traffic congestion and pollution and increase efficiency.
a traffic light with the green light on

Signal Synchronization

This innovative program reduces delays, travel time, greenhouse emissions and fuel consumption.

three cars at an intersection and the traffic lights are green

Sustainable Streets & Roads

OCTA funds countywide paving projects to preserve roads in good condition to minimize material use, disposal, and construction costs.
the interior of a car where a man is handing a woman a cup of coffee

OC Rideshare Journeys

To reduce VMT and solo driving on roadways, OCTA encourages many rideshare options including vanpool and telework.


Adapting for a Brighter Tomorrow

As stewards of the future, we are working to minimize the effects of potential climate hazards and fortifying assets for sustainability to make sure a strong, resilient future is down the road.

a family at a train station speaking with an OCTA employee

  • Leading climate defense of OC rail infrastructure, with partners SCRRA, Caltrans & SCAG

  • Developing agency resistance to natural and human-induced disasters/hazards

  • Protecting the Transit Security & Operations building with sustainable design

a train driving along a coastline flanked by palm trees

Defending Rail from Climate Change

We’re studying opportunities and challenges to improve service, operation, and infrastructure to better withstand severe weather conditions.
three people staring at a laptop screen

Hazard Mitigation Plan

This helps develop resistance for natural and human-induced disasters and hazards and assists in accessing federal funding to implement interventions from natural disasters.

three cars at an intersection and the traffic lights are green

Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Plan

This agency-wide effort plans for climate adaptation and integrates environmental sustainability throughout OCTA.
the interior of a car where a man is handing a woman a cup of coffee

Sustainable Structures

We’re innovating with green structures and projects designed to adapt to climate change, harmonize with local climate and culture, support environmental efforts and conserve energy, resources and materials.


Our Commitment

To assure that transportation continues to contribute to a green, resilient county, we’re committed to leadership, administration and oversight thoughtfully focused on sustainability and a healthy future.

a group of people in suits and ties standing in front of a fenced building with a sign that says air products

  • Leading the region with a vision for environmental stewardship & sustainability.

  • Recycled more than 1,160 pounds of electronic waste and 7,735 gallons of used antifreeze in one year at OCTA facilities.

  • Implemented the voter-approved transportation sales tax OC Go, providing $13.2 billion in new funding for freeway, regional/local streets and roads, and transit improvements until 2041.

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Leadership & Commitment

We demonstrate both through our transit vision, activities on regional boards, and environmental speaking engagements.
orange county transportation authority

Legislative & Grant Activities

Our dedicated departments assure that OCTA remains aware of and participates in emerging regulations and opportunities.

a man with a hard hat and reflective vest on writing on a clipboard

Environmental Compliance Programs

OCTA administers environmental compliance programs at fixed locations like bus maintenance facilities and capital project construction sites to ensure good environmental stewardship.
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Planning for Equity and Diversity

OCTA is committed to ensuring the needs of the most vulnerable and transit-dependent populations are prioritized and met through equitable planning in its climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
a group of people and a dog having a picnic in a park

Improving the Environment with Local Tax Dollars

Voter-approved OC Go, also known as Measure M, funds programs that preserve and clean Orange County’s land and water, synchronize traffic lights to reduce greenhouse gas, provide trolley service to reduce VMT, and much more.

We’re taking action today to ensure a clean, resilient tomorrow.

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Orange County Transportation Authority
Address: 550 S. Main Street
Orange, CA 92868
Bus Information (714) 636-7433
91 Express Lanes (800) 600-9191
OCTA Administrative Office (714) 560-6282