Latest news with #DougChaffee
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Customized text, email alerts now available to Metrolink riders
Metrolink is offering riders a new way to stay updated on service alerts such as track changes, line closures and delays that may impact their trip. 'This new tool is creating a much-needed avenue to push service alerts directly to affected passengers,' Metrolink Board Chair Doug Chaffee said. 'Riders who opt in will no longer need to seek out updates through a variety of online channels or at stations, and will instead enjoy the convenience of having information come directly to them.' Riders can visit to sign up for 'Metrolink Alerts' to get customized notifications delivered in real-time by text or email. 'With this new resource, information will automatically be sent to subscribers via their preferred delivery method,' Metrolink stated in a news release. When signing up for Metrolink Alerts, customers will be asked to customize the following settings: How they prefer to receive alerts – by text, email or both Which trains and stations they want to receive information about Days and times for which they would like to receive notifications Metrolink stated that service notifications will remain available on the website, 'ensuring passengers continue to have easy access to the information they need to plan their trip.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Orange County unveils streetcar for area's ‘first modern' system
Orange County officials have unveiled the first of eight vehicles that will soon operate on the OC Streetcar system. The debut of the blue and orange colored vehicle, which will be the county's 'first modern, electric streetcar,' was held at its base in Santa Ana on Wednesday, the Orange County Transportation Authority stated. 'The arrival of the first OC Streetcar vehicle is an exciting moment for Orange County and a clear sign of the strong progress we're making toward getting the system running,' said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee. The Siemens S700 streetcar is 90 feet long and designed to carry up to 211 passengers, including 62 seated and 149 standing. 'The OC Streetcar will run on electricity from an overhead catenary system, producing zero emissions as it runs along the track,' according to the OCTA. The cars will run a 4-mile route between the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center and Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove, serving some of the most densely populated neighborhoods and connecting with Metrolink rail service. Testing on the new system is expected to begin this summer, with service slated to begin in spring 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Passenger rail service through coastal Orange County suspended for 6 weeks
Passenger rail service through San Clemente will be suspended for six week beginning Monday, as crews begin emergency efforts to stabilize sections of track threatened by landslides and coastal erosion. The closure will affect both Southern California passenger rail systems that traverse the Los Angeles, San Diego, San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor, Metrolink and Amtrak. The emergency repair work is being led by the Orange County Transportation Authority. 'This temporary closure allows our teams to safely carry out urgent reinforcement work to protect rail passengers, freight operations and public safety,' said Doug Chaffee, Chair of both OCTA and Metrolink. The emergency construction will focus on repairing and reinforcing areas identified as 'high risk,' including near Mariposa Point where previous landslides have already damaged infrastructure. Work will include: Placement of 8,150 tons of riprap and up to 540,000 cubic yards of sand to stabilize bluffs and restore beaches Construction of a 1,400-foot debris catchment wall Removal of a damaged pedestrian bridge Restoration of coastal trail access Metrolink will continue weekday service to Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and weekend service to San Juan Capistrano. Metrolink service updates can be found here. Amtrak will run modified Pacific Surfliner service with bus connections between Irvine and Oceanside. Riders can check Amtrak alerts here. Coastal Orange County, particularly near San Clemente, has been the site of all-too frequent landslides and erosion in recent years. In January 2024, all rail service, passenger and freight, was suspended for several weeks due to a pedestrian bridge collapsing onto the tracks below. Freight trains were eventually allowed to travel through the corridor during overnight hours, but passenger service remained suspended for additional days. Orange County officials, including elected officials and members of the OCTA board, have blamed climate change and a lack of preventive action for the frequent landslides and economy-affecting closures. As part of a Coastal Rail Resiliency Study, OCTA completed an Initial Assessment that identified four areas requiring immediate action to ensure safe and uninterrupted rail operations through San Clemente. These emergency projects are moving forward independently from the broader study and are expected to begin construction as early as April, officials said. Each effort will proceed on its own timeline based on complexity and availability of contractors and materials. For ongoing updates and recent actions, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Metrolink breaks weekend ridership record
March proved to be a historic month for Metrolink, the regional passenger rail line that services six counties in Southern California. On Thursday, Metrolink said it recorded the highest number of weekend boardings for a single month in the agency's entire history. In total, 122,693 weekenders boarded Metrolink trains in March, eclipsing the previous record figure of 117,348 set in September 2018. It's an important milestone for the rail system, which is attempting to evolve from a strictly commuter-based service to a general purpose passenger rail line. Late last year, Metrolink released an updated service schedule that includes more trains and shorter transfer windows at Los Angeles Union Station. After a 'bumpy start,' the schedule was retooled earlier this year to better accommodate existing rider schedules. Metrolink also extended its popular Student Adventure Pass, which allows students from kindergarten through college to ride for free, through at least June 2025. Deals on weekend passes, free weekend rides for kids, and the SoCal Explorer rewards program are among the coordinated efforts launched by Metrolink to attract more riders. Board Chair and Orange County Supervisor Doug Chaffee credits these 'innovative campaigns and promotions' for the record-breaking weekend ridership, and a growing and evolving customer base. 'Today's riders know that, in addition to traveling to and from work, Metrolink is a great option for exploring regional destinations like Orange County's famous beaches, visiting friends and family, and connecting with new experiences,' Chaffee said. The weekend ridership record also represents a pivotal moment in Metrolink's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time that the rail line has exceed a pre-pandemic milestone, officials said. Metrolink, like many transit systems and other industries, have struggled to bounce back from the steep decline brought on by the pandemic. Officials said the spring of 2020 and related COVID-19 mitigation measures brought fundamental changes to Southern California travel and transit systems. Now, five years later, Metrolink says weekend ridership has fully recovered from the pandemic. Monday-through-Friday ridership, however, still has ground to make up. Year-over-year weekday ridership was around 65% as of March, officials said. But the rail line says it continues to see recovery; overall ridership on Metrolink in March was 71% of pre-pandemic highs—the highest recovery figure to date. And since debuting its updated schedule, Metrolink says 'off peak' service has seen massive growth, up 74% year-over-year through March. Several high-profile events across Southern California in March contributed to the ridership milestone, including the International Women's Day Protest and Rally in downtown Los Angeles, Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano, and the Beyond Wonderland festival in San Bernardino. For more information about this milestone, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Orange County crews break ground on affordable housing for veterans, families with special needs
Orange County officials broke ground on a new affordable housing complex designed to provide permanent housing for low-income veterans, students with families, and individuals and families with special needs. The Lincoln Avenue Apartments, located at a former commercial property on Lincoln Avenue near Knott Avenue in Buena Park, will feature more than 50 low-cost housing units. The development is a collaboration between C&C Development, a Tustin-based firm specializing in affordable housing, and several funding partners, including CalOptima Health. CalOptima Health is contributing $8 million to the project through its Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program. The investment aligns with the state mandate requiring cities to develop new low-income housing and reflects CalOptima's commitment to improving community health and reducing homelessness. Local leaders, including U.S. Rep. Derek Tran, Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Doug Chaffee and Buena Park Mayor Joyce Ahn, attended the groundbreaking ceremony. 'Investing in permanent supportive housing is an essential part of improving the overall health of the community and reducing the unhoused population,' CalOptima officials said in a news release. The project marks the latest in Orange County's efforts to reimagine vacant land and commercial properties into affordable housing solutions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
