OCTA Kept Orange County Moving in 2025

Advancement of highway and transit projects, improving mobility for residents and commuters while responsibly investing taxpayer funds, highlights the year in transportation

ORANGE - The Orange County Transportation Authority achieved major milestones and advanced key transportation projects in 2025, completing major highway improvements and expanding transit access, enhancing travel for millions of residents, commuters and visitors across the region.

Throughout the year, OCTA focused on enhancing mobility, easing congestion and strengthening the county's transportation system while responsibly managing taxpayer funds.

"Every project we advanced in 2025 delivers real benefits to the public - safer roads, more reliable travel, and better transit options - all while protecting our environment," said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee. "These accomplishments reflect our commitment to meeting Orange County's transportation needs today and for the future."

Major accomplishments included:

• Completing the I-5 South County Improvements Project, upgrading 6.5 miles of the highway with new carpool and regular lanes, rebuilt interchanges and improved pedestrian and bicycle access. The work made travel safer and smoother for daily commuters.
• Making major progress with improvements along SR-55, set to finish in 2027, and breaking ground on SR-91 improvements in Anaheim, which will help drivers move more efficiently through some of the county's busiest freeways.

Public transit also saw key advancements, including:

• OCTA's introduction of the Wave Card, a paperless fare system that speeds boarding, offers flexible reload options and easy mobile payments, and guarantees riders the lowest fares always.
• Enhancing seasonal transit services, such as the OC Fair Express, which welcomed more riders than ever, providing families, seniors and youth with an easy way to reach the Fairgrounds while helping reduce traffic congestion.
• Continuing to promote and boost ridership on public transit: OC Bus recorded more than 29.2 million boardings through the end of November - on track for well over 30 million boardings for the year. And local city shuttles funded by OCTA's Measure M notched more than 626,000 boardings through the first three quarters of the year.

Testing also began on the OC Streetcar, a 4.15-mile modern streetcar connecting Santa Ana and Garden Grove. All eight streetcar vehicles were completed and delivered in 2025, and testing is set to begin on city streets in coming weeks - exciting progress toward a 2026 debut. The streetcar will connect riders to Metrolink, OC Bus and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, supporting local businesses and providing another important transit alternative to driving alone.

OCTA also continued its commitment to protect the environment, including the county's waterways by funding $3.1 million in local projects that remove transportation-related pollutants before they reach rivers and the ocean. This year's funding will help install over 1,400 devices across the county that trap pollutants, improving community health and advancing a 14-year effort that has prevented more than 80 million gallons of trash from reaching waterways. That is the equivalent of covering Angel Stadium's entire playing field nearly 100 feet deep in waste.

OCTA also strengthened rail resiliency through projects like the sand-placement project in San Clemente, which protects the coastal rail corridor from erosion and weather-related disruptions and began work on a 1,400-foot catchment wall as part of an ongoing effort focused on four priority areas to protect the rail line.

Collectively, these achievements highlight OCTA's ongoing work to provide reliable and accessible transportation solutions while maximizing the value of taxpayer investments through Measure M, the county's half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.

For more on OCTA's projects and programs and efforts to enhance Orange County transportation, please visit www.octa.net.

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