OC Streetcar Begins Clearance Testing October 27-28 Between Santa Ana and Garden Grove Ahead of Spring 2026 Opening
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), in Orange County, California, announced that the OC Streetcar has entered clearance testing: on October 27-28, a streetcar is being towed along the line between Santa Ana and Garden Grove to verify clearances between the vehicle, station platforms, track and lineside equipment. It is a key pre-opening step for Orange County's first modern streetcar line.
The OC Streetcar runs 4.15 miles with 10 stations, from the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center west to the Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue area of Garden Grove, passing through downtown Santa Ana. The fleet consists of eight Siemens S700 vehicles, each carrying about 211 passengers, operating a mix of dedicated guideway and shared-lane segments with service every 10 to 15 minutes. The project represents an investment of about $649 million.
OCTA said further systems testing and trial running will follow the clearance tests, with passenger service expected to begin in spring 2026. During testing, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians along the corridor should keep a safe distance from the track and test vehicles and avoid stopping on or crossing through test sections.
Under OCTA's plan, the streetcar will connect with Metrolink and Amtrak trains and OCTA buses at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center, adding a new option for commuting, shopping and school trips between Santa Ana and Garden Grove. Fare and ticketing details are to be announced before opening, with the streetcar integrated into OCTA's fare system.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 公共交通车辆（资料图）。Jengod 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / A public transit vehicle (file photo). Photo by Jengod, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
