On Dec. 13, Orange County residents and more than 800 business, city and community leaders turned out to explore ARTIC, the Anaheim-based transportation hub that offers links to southern California and beyond with a wide variety of different transportation modes. Though ARTIC opened officially on Dec. 6, the grand opening celebration on Saturday offered a chance for the public to learn more about the 67,000-foot structure that conveniently houses nine transportation options under one roof, including those of OCTA, Metrolink, Amtrak, Anaheim Resort Transportation, shuttles, taxis, buses and other public/private transportation providers.
Visitors were treated to live music, food and drinks proved by retailers who will be part of the infrastructure of the ARCTIC. Retail shops and restaurants include, The Lost Bean, Ritters, R.A.D. Nano Brewery, the Hive Bar and Mission Market. At the transportation information booth, OCTA helped hundreds learn about public transportation and the bus and Metrolink services available at ARTIC. An OCTA bus stationed nearby offered an opportunity for visitors to step aboard and explore the interior to help familiarize them with bus boarding and travel. OCTA also organized a bicycle ride to ARTIC that attracted about 75 people and demonstrated how easy it is to connect to bus and train service following a first-and-last mile commute by bike. Groups departed from two different locations for the approximately 10-mile ride. The OC Wheelmen left from Huntington Beach, while the BOBies led the pack from Yorba Regional Park. OCTA set up a bike valet at ARTIC so riders could safely leave their wheels and enjoy the grand opening festivities.
The ARTIC is located between the Honda Center and Angel Stadium of Anaheim, ARTIC offers dining, retail, and entertainment services. The facility’s environmentally friendly design was given LEED Platinum status by optimizing energy and water, reducing storm water run-off and air emissions, and providing electric vehicle charging stations.
