Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
| Company type | Public transportation facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Anaheim, California , United States |
| Products | Transit hub services (Amtrak, Metrolink, buses) |
The Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) functions as a major transit hub in Anaheim, California, integrating various modes of transportation including Amtrak intercity rail, Metrolink commuter trains, and multiple bus operators such as the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART), Greyhound, Megabus, Flixbus, and Tres Estrellas de Oro.
ARTIC commenced operations in 2014, succeeding the nearby Anaheim–Stadium station that had been active since 1984. The terminal was conceived by internationally recognized architecture firm HOK. It boasts a steel framework with a glass façade and a distinctive curved shell made from inflated plastic cushions that allow natural light to permeate the interior. The arched roof is illuminated with vibrant, multihued lighting, visible across the surrounding district.
Situated strategically within Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle close to the Anaheim Resort, ARTIC caters to prominent commercial and tourist areas. It provides bicycle accessibility via the Santa Ana River Trail and is positioned adjacent to California State Route 57, facilitating efficient connections for both commuters and visitors.
Location
This transportation center is located near two principal highways: State Route 57 and Interstate 5. Positioned north across Katella Avenue is the Honda Center, while one of the three entrances to Angel Stadium can be reached southwest through the Douglass Road underpass. The station features direct links to the Santa Ana River Trail along with bicycle parking options including racks and lockers. Additionally, it connects to the Disneyland Resort via Anaheim Resort Transportation’s ARTIC Sports Complex Line 15.
During the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics, ARTIC will accommodate spectators traveling to events at the Anaheim Olympic venue, with indoor volleyball competitions taking place at the neighboring Honda Center.
The station supports local bus routes operated by OCTA and ART, alongside services for regional and international travel. Since its inauguration in 2014, Megabus has offered routes from this terminal to destinations such as Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco. Greyhound shifted its operations here from a previous terminal located three miles away. Starting in January 2016, Tres Estrellas de Oro began providing service from ARTIC to destinations including Tijuana and Guadalajara, Mexico.
Conceived as a driver for transit-oriented development, ARTIC was situated within reach of approximately 7.7 million residents as of 2019, extending service potential to over 15 million people in the broader region.
In 2022, the Anaheim city council approved the development of OC Vibe, a mixed-use entertainment district near the Honda Center that includes plans for a new parking facility across Douglass Road from ARTIC. By 2023, funding was secured for constructing an elevated pedestrian walkway featuring a bridge spanning Katella Avenue.
ARTIC is proposed as a future stop on the California High-Speed Rail network. It was also designated as the southern endpoint for the planned but unrealized California–Nevada Interstate Maglev, as well as intended to serve as the eastern terminus for the now-canceled Anaheim Rapid Connection streetcar system designed to link major points within Anaheim Resort and the Platinum Triangle.
Rail Service History
The Southern Pacific Railway extended a branch line to Anaheim in 1875, with the Santa Fe Railway establishing a route to San Diego by 1887. By 1921, Anaheim featured two Southern Pacific stations alongside one Santa Fe depot. Although rail service ceased for a period, it was reinstated in 1984 when Anaheim inaugurated an Amtrak station for the San Diegan near State Route 57 on land previously owned by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. In October 1986, a newly constructed station following the standard design was opened approximately northwest near Anaheim Stadium, named Anaheim–Stadium.
This facility adhered to the model 75C blueprint, encompassing , with seating accommodations for 48 and a total passenger capacity of 75. It was anticipated to rank within the top twenty Amtrak stations nationwide based on ridership figures. On June 1, 2000, the San Diegan service was renamed the Pacific Surfliner.
The Orange County Line commenced operations in 1990 as the Orange County Commuter, an Amtrak route connecting Los Angeles and San Juan Capistrano. By 1994, this route transitioned to become Metrolink's fifth line after acquiring the Surf Line right-of-way from Santa Fe. The Inland Empire–Orange County Line does not serve this station but stops at the nearby Anaheim Canyon station. Both Metrolink routes include Orange as their subsequent southern stop. Before this station replaced its predecessor, daily boardings averaged approximately 500 Metrolink and 400 Amtrak passengers.
Development and Construction of the Site
Previously, the location housed Orange County's "Katella Yard," which contained outdated facilities supporting county surveyor activities, agricultural commissioner functions, public works transportation, watershed protection, and flood control services. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) spearheaded the acquisition of this property from the county. On November 21, 2006, the Orange County Board of Supervisors authorized both the sale and relocation of existing operations to prepare the site for new development. In July 2012, Anaheim—already owning part of the parcel—agreed to purchase the remaining land from OCTA for $32.5 million following unsuccessful lease negotiations. The city is set to reimburse OCTA over a 14-year period at a simple interest rate of 2%.
Environmental clearances under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) were finalized in October 2010, with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval achieved in 2012. KTGY Architecture + Planning handled approvals, entitlements, and land-use planning aspects. Design development was completed by PB/HOK in May 2012. The construction contract was awarded to Clark Construction Group-California, LP. Groundbreaking took place in September 2012, with train service beginning on December 6, 2014.
Additionally, a lease agreement spanning three decades was ratified in January 2013 permitting the Orange County Water District to build an injection water well and associated infrastructure on-site.
Financial Aspects of Construction
Approximately $68 million of the overall $185 million construction budget was allocated to building the main terminal. Initial projections estimated annual operating and maintenance costs at $5 million; however, through efficiency measures—including management by the city's conventions, sports, and entertainment department—expenses were reduced to $3.8 million during the first year.
Funding for ARTIC's construction primarily derived from Measure M, a sales tax dedicated to transportation projects. The comprehensive budget of $120 million for construction combined with environmental assessments and connectivity enhancements brought total project expenditures to about $185.2 million. A significant construction challenge involved reconciling platform height differences between Metrolink and Amtrak to maintain accessibility compliance, necessitating redesign efforts whose costs were absorbed within a $6 million contingency reserve.
Structure
Spanning 67,880 square feet, the building is constructed with a tubular steel frame and features an intricately curved shell enveloped by a 200,000 square-foot ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roofing system that evenly disperses natural light inside. After dark, 1,354 energy-saving lights cast multicolored illumination through the roof’s arched form, created by air-filled plastic cushions. The main entrance showcases a 120-foot glass façade opening into a large lobby and ticketing zone. A plaza adjoins thirteen bus bays; the second floor accommodates office spaces and two dining establishments, while the third level contains a mezzanine lobby and a concourse bridge that connects to stairs and elevators descending to the train platforms.
ARTIC holds LEED Platinum certification and was honored in 2015 with the Public Works Project of the Year award from the American Public Works Association, recognizing outstanding project management and cooperation among agencies and contractors. The building’s climate control system utilizes radiant floor heating combined with jet diffusers that focus conditioning within a 12 to 15-foot zone above the floor. The ETFE cushions aid in keeping upper areas cooler when paired with operable glass louvers designed to promote natural ventilation. Approximately one-fifth of the facility’s electricity is generated by solar panels installed on adjacent parking structures, and recycled materials were integrated throughout construction. The diamond-shaped metal grid shell rests on a structural steel framework, developed through detailed building information modeling.
The sole public art feature is a dynamic holographic installation by artist Mikyoung Kim, positioned within the grand staircase of the main lobby. This piece presents shifting atmospheric visuals that respond to changing time and environmental conditions.
Reception
The transit center has earned acclaim for its architectural beauty and status as a civic icon in Anaheim, occasionally considered an attraction in its own right. Its impressive interior has been likened to renowned American train stations such as Grand Central Terminal and the historic Pennsylvania Station. In 2014, the American Institute of Architects recognized it as a "world class transportation gateway to Orange County," fusing elements of 19th-century railway heritage with the scale and complexity typical of contemporary airport terminals. Its design echoes airship hangars and complements other significant Orange County landmarks like the Marine Corps Air Station Tustin. The project also received the 2014 AIA Technology in Architectural Practice Building Information Modeling Award.
Despite these accolades, critiques have emerged regarding the station’s configuration, which necessitates long pedestrian walks between the main building and train platforms; some users have labeled transfers between bus and train services as "dysfunctional." Furthermore, its location amid expansive parking lots has been perceived as creating a sense of isolation, limiting ease of access notwithstanding its architectural merits.
Operational costs and revenue sources
The City of Anaheim oversees ARTIC’s ongoing operational and maintenance expenses with the objective of achieving financial self-sufficiency for the facility. Initial capital was primarily sourced from a 2 percent levy on resort-area hotel guests through the Anaheim Tourism Improvement District, supplemented by Measure M2—a half-cent sales tax countywide dedicated to transportation enhancements. Revenue from leasing commercial spaces now contributes to funding, alongside efforts to boost income through hosting events and film productions.
Two monument signs offer fixed directional information and advertising space within the center. A planned digital billboard facing State Route 57 was projected to generate approximately $800,000 annually but was indefinitely shelved by City Council in 2014 despite its potential to offset considerable operating costs. The city remains in pursuit of a naming-rights partner—a critical anticipated revenue stream that has yet to materialize.
Initially, selling naming rights was envisioned as a principal funding mechanism for ARTIC’s operational and maintenance budget.
In popular culture
The station was featured in the finale of the HBO series True Detective second season. Additionally, it served as a filming location representing a train station in the second season of The Morning Show, portraying scenes set in Wuhan, China during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, chosen for its architectural resemblance.
Ridership
Prior to the inauguration of the new facility in 2013, the station handled approximately 500 daily boardings on Metrolink and 400 on Amtrak, amounting to an estimated 224,500 annual Amtrak passengers. Officials anticipated that following the redevelopment into ARTIC, daily ridership would surpass 10,330 boardings, with initial counts near 3,000. The launch was promoted with expectations of attracting 10,000 riders on opening day. Early weekday usage averaged about 2,400 passengers, increasing to roughly 3,900 on days with special events.
By 2019, daily ridership fluctuated between 4,200 and 5,500. That year, Amtrak recorded a total of 287,415 boardings and departures. Furthermore, Amtrak Thruway intercity bus connections from ARTIC to eight different cities transported 950 passengers in 2019.
Amtrak ridership
In 2019, Amtrak reported 242,032 combined arrivals and departures at this station; all tickets were for coach or business class since the Pacific Surfliner does not provide first class or sleeper accommodations.
The mean travel distance was . Journeys under accounted for 91.8% of trips, while 5.9% ranged between 100 and , and only 2.2% exceeded .
The average ticket price was $25.00, with a yield per mile averaging $0.347.
Annual Amtrak passenger traffic
| Year | Passengers (in thousands) |
Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 214.5 | -- |
| 2014 | 212.8 |  1.0%
|
| 2015 | 236.3 |  11.0%
|
| 2016 | 243.9 | 3.2%
|
| 2017 | 247.6 | 1.5%
|
| 2018 | 256.6 | 3.6%
|
| 2019 | 242.0 | 5.7%
|
Top station pairs by Amtrak ridership
The ten most frequented destination stations connected to ARTIC via the Pacific Surfliner in 2019 were:
| Rank | Station | City | Distance from ARTIC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe Depot | San Diego, California | 97 miles (156 km) |
| 2 | Union Station | Los Angeles, California | 31 miles (50 km) |
| 3 | Old Town Transit Center | San Diego, California | 94 miles (151 km) |
| 4 | Solana Beach station | Solana Beach, California | 71 miles (114 km) |
| 5 | Oceanside Transit Center | Oceanside, California | 56 miles (90 km) |
| 6 | Template:Stn | Santa Barbara, California | 135 miles (217 km) |
| 7 | Template:Stn | San Juan Capistrano, California | 27 miles (43 km) |
| 8 | Irvine Transportation Center | Irvine, California | 14 miles (23 km) |
| 9 | Template:Stn | San Luis Obispo, California | 253 miles (407 km) |
| 10 | Template:Stn | Goleta, California | 143 miles (230 km) |
Leading Amtrak Station Pairs by Revenue
The following table lists the top ten stations that generated the highest revenue from journeys to and from ARTIC in 2019:
| Position | Station Name | Location | Distance from ARTIC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe Depot | San Diego, California | |
| 2 | Old Town Transit Center | San Diego, California | |
| 3 | Union Station | Los Angeles, California | |
| 4 | Solana Beach station | Solana Beach, California | |
| 5 | Oceanside Transit Center | Oceanside, California | |
| 6 | Santa Barbara, California | ||
| 7 | San Luis Obispo, California | 253 miles (407 km) | |
| 8 | Goleta, California | 143 miles (230 km) |
Platforms and Tracks
| Station | Ticket vending machines, Station personnel available | |
| Platforms | ||
| Side platform, train doors open on the right side | ||
| Northbound | ← Lua error: expandTemplate: template "Amtrak color" does not exist. heading toward San Luis Obispo (Fullerton) ← Lua error: expandTemplate: template "Metrolink (California) color" does not exist. bound for Los Angeles Union Station (Fullerton) | |
| Southbound | Lua error: expandTemplate: template "Amtrak color" does not exist. en route to San Diego-Union Station (Santa Ana) → Lua error: expandTemplate: template "Metrolink (California) color" does not exist. traveling toward Oceanside (Orange) → | |
| Side platform, doors open on the right side | ||
External links
- Transportation in Anaheim, California
- Amtrak stations in Orange County, California
- Bus stations in Orange County, California
- Metrolink stations in Orange County, California
- Buildings and structures in Anaheim, California
- Tourist attractions in Anaheim, California
- Transit centers in the United States
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 2014
- 2014 establishments in California
- Orange County Transportation Authority
- Government of Anaheim, California
- Proposed California High-Speed Rail stations