In 2006, the cities of Garden Grove and Santa Ana partnered in a Go Local Project to study the feasibility of a transit system to extend the reach of Metrolink.  City Council adopted Resolution No. 9211-14, on January 28, 2014, in support of the Santa Ana-Garden Grove streetcar project, and also adopted Resolution No. 9269-15, on February 10, 2015, approving the selection of Streetcar Alternative 1 as the Locally Preferred Alternative.

The proposed OC Streetcar Project would include an at-grade rail system from the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center to the northeast corner of Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue.  The alignment would be approximately 4.1 miles traversing through the Santa Ana Civic Center area and going up the Pacific Electric Right of Way to reach the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue.

This Cooperative Agreement applies to the construction phase of the OC Streetcar Project.  The City will provide construction inspection support services and project submittal reviews on City-owned facilities, such as sidewalks, roadways, and traffic signals, as well as project coordination with OCTA staff.

The construction cost is estimated at $289 million dollars.  The project is anticipated to be funded through federal, state, and local grants.  Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2018, and the streetcar will be in operation by December 2020.

There is no impact to the General Fund. The City will spend $87,504 for internal labor costs, which will be reimbursed monthly by OCTA, from the time of execution of this Agreement to one year after the streetcar is in service.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Approve the attached Cooperative Agreement with the OCTA for the OC Streetcar Project; and

• Authorize the City Manager to sign the Cooperative Agreement on behalf of the City.

By:    Dai C. Vu, P.E., City Traffic Engineer