As the OC Streetcar construction in Santa Ana and Garden Grove reaches near completion, the first of an eight streetcar fleet has arrived.
Editor’s note: This is an occasional series where Voice of OC works with local community photographers to offer residents a first-hand look at the local sites and scenes of Orange County.
Although passengers won’t be able to board the streetcar until its debut in Spring 2026, residents will start seeing the vehicles on the streets as early as this summer when system testing begins along the former Pacific Electric Right-of-Way.
As part of a recent first look event, OCTA officials and local leaders previewed the new streetcar experience.
“Today was the opportunity to show [board members and officials] what the user experience is going to be like,” said Darrell Johnson, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Chief Executive Officer.
“In a rail project, getting that rail vehicle here so people can see it, touch it, understand it, and frankly, hopefully be proud of it.”
The project has been controversial since its inception – with critics questioning whether it was really needed along with its $649 million price tag and years of construction impacts.
OCTA officials say the goal for the new transportation method will be to allow passengers to travel in densely populated neighborhoods and areas— like Downtown Santa Ana, where many merchants protested the construction in past years — and connect to the Metrolink rail service and OCTA’s local bus routes.
Read here: How the OC Streetcar Put Downtown Santa Ana on A New Path
Read here: Santa Ana Prohibits Downtown Merchants From Suing OC Streetcar for Disrupting Businesses
Read here: Downtown Santa Ana Merchants Step Back into the Trench to Protest OC Streetcar Impacts
The OC Streetcar is a short train-like vehicle that operates alongside cars via rails embedded in the street.
With a 4.15-mile route, the OC Streetcar will run from Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC) to a new transit hub at Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue in Garden Grove.
The 90-foot long vehicle is designed to carry up to 211 passengers and is expected to run every 10-15 minutes during operating hours with 10 stops in each direction.
The remaining seven OC Streetcars are set to arrive every two weeks until all eight have arrived at the OC Streetcar Maintenance & Storage Facility in Santa Ana.
“I think [the OC Streetcar] is going to be reliable, high frequency, safe and really linking parts of the community that have had difficult linking before,” said Johnson.
OCTA executives and board members are optimistic about the impact the OC Streetcar will have on the community.
“Well, we hope it will revitalize the areas that it goes through,” said Doug Chaffee, OCTA Chair and Fourth District Supervisor. “It’ll make it easier to get to some of the restaurants and businesses and just people generally getting along the way.”
The OC Streetcar will be powered by electricity from an overhead wire system, known as an Overhead Contact System (OCS). The OCS consists of high-voltage wires located 20 feet above the street to prevent contact by anything other than the streetcar vehicles.
As the streetcar vehicles travel alongside existing traffic, Orange County Transportation Authority officials say they will be launching a public outreach campaign to ensure that drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are prepared to adjust to new traffic patterns safely.
In coordination with the city of Santa Ana, protected bike lanes have also been constructed along the OC Streetcar route for cyclists.
On-going construction updates and traffic disruptions are regularly posted on the OCTA website.
Funding for the $649 million project is split up between a combination of federal, state and local tax dollars.
The OCTA board of directors have already approved a fare policy so riding with the OC Streetcar will be the same as the existing bus system. Users will be able to utilize their OC Bus pass for the OC Streetcar depending on whether they have a one-way, one-day or monthly pass.
