OCTA chosen as local manager of LOSSAN passenger-rail corridor

The Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo's (LOSSAN) board has selected the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) as the first local managing agency for the intercity passenger-rail service on the LOSSAN rail corridor.

LOSSAN member agencies now will finalize the transfer of administrative responsibility for state-funded Amtrak Pacific Surfliner rail service from the California Department of Transportation to the locally governed LOSSAN Joint Powers Authority, according to an OCTA blog.

As the managing agency, OCTA will provide administrative services, including a managing director and small staff. OCTA also will use shared positions in areas such as human resources, finance and accounting, legal, contracts, risk management, audits, public information and board clerk.

A final administrative agreement is expected to be approved in November.

The 351-mile, 41-station corridor runs through six counties, and is the second-busiest intercity passenger-rail corridor in the United States. The corridor accommodates more than 150 passenger trains daily and logs annual ridership of more than 2.7 million on Surfliner trains, and 4.5 million on Metrolink and Coaster commuter trains.