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ANAHEIM, Calif. (Aug. 8, 2023) — Plans to transform the area around Honda Center and a vision to create a thriving riverfront along the Santa Ana River took an early step forward Tuesday with $5 million in funding from the federal Department of Transportation.
Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy Christopher Coes joined Mayor Ashleigh Aitken at Anaheim’s iconic ARTIC transit center to show support for a yearlong study and design of foot and bicycle bridges and trail expansions in and around the Santa Ana River.
“Anaheim and Orange County should be incredibly proud for laying the foundation of this grant,” Assistant Secretary Coes said. “We want to continue making investments in Anaheim that truly improve the quality of life, provide greater access and, more importantly, allow people to have pride in their communities.”
The grant is from the federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE, program. The grant will fund study and design of two bridges and three trials that will be part of OCVibe and what’s known as OC River Walk, Anaheim’s long-term vision for the riverfront.
“Today we mark the start of a new riverfront for our community and region,” Mayor Aitken said. “This funding will help us connect people, regardless of who they are, where they come from or what they do. These bridges and trails at OCVibe and OC River Walk will link all of us to public transit, nature, fun and entertainment and our neighboring communities.”
OC River Walk plan is in the early stages and calls for creating 1.7 miles of water-filled riverfront with recreation, parks and open spaces, trails and bridges. What’s envisioned as OC River Walk would add to the development set to play out over the next few years at OCVibe and also enhance existing Honda Center, Angel Stadium of Anaheim and ARTIC.
Anaheim is working with the neighboring city of Orange, the Orange County Water District and California State Coastal Conservancy on OC River Walk. The proposal would span years and potentially cost more than $100 million, drawing on potential federal, state and other funding.
“Realizing our vision of the riverfront won’t be easy,” Aitken said. “Big thinking never is. But everything big we have today started as an idea.”
You can learn more at ocriverwalk.com.
OCVibe is a $4 billon master planned development being built around Honda Center and ARTIC transit center with entertainment, offices, shopping, dining, apartments, parks and open spaces.
Early work is underway now and is expected to pick up in late 2023 with major completion expected by 2028 when Honda Center hosts the 2028 Olympic Games indoor volleyball competition.
You learn more at Anaheim.net/ocvibe.
The $5 million grant is going toward the study and design of:
Santa Ana River bridge
350-foot-long foot and cycling bridge across the Santa Ana River, just north of existing Katella Avenue roadway bridge and alongside Honda Center, connecting Anaheim with Orange
Katella Avenue bridge
150-foot-long bridge across Katella Avenue, connecting ARTIC transit center with Honda Center and entertainment, retail, offices, apartments and open spaces being built as part of OCVibe
Santa Ana River Trail northern extension
0.9-mile trail extension connecting the riverfront along Honda Center to the existing 2.5-mile Anaheim Coves trail just to the north alongside Santa Ana River estuaries and nature habitats
Santa Ana River Trail expansion
0.75-mile trail expansion to reconfigure three-quarters of a mile of trail along the Santa Ana River with separate paths for cyclists and walkers and runners
Highline trail
0.25-mile walking path connecting ARTIC with the proposed Katella Avenue bridge
The city of Anaheim will be leading the study and design of the bridges and trails.
