Transportation

The City of Lake Forest has many transportation options including public transportation, as well as active transportation options like biking and walking. There are also incentives available from partner agencies for electric vehicles.

Public Transportation

OCTA

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is responsible for projects, programs and services that affect the daily quality of life for Orange County’s nearly 3.2 million residents in 34 cities and countless others who commute or come to Orange County for recreation. OCTA services include bus and rail transit, rideshare, environmental programs, active transportation and express lanes and freeways. Link: https://octa.net/

Bus routes serving Lake Forest’s residents:

·         Route 82: Foothill Ranch to Rancho Santa Margarita via Portola Parkway/Santa Margarita Parkway.

o   Weekday service and no Weekend service.

·         Route 86: Costa Mesa to Mission Viejo via Alton Parkway/Jeronimo Road.

o   Weekday service and no Weekend service.

·         Route 89: Mission Viejo to Laguna Beach via El Toro Road/Laguna Canyon Road.

o   Both weekday and weekend service.

·         Route 177: Foothill Ranch to Laguna Hills via Lake Forest Drive/Muirlands Boulevard/Los Alisos Boulevard.

o   Both weekday and weekend service.

·         Route 480: Irvine Metrolink Station to Lake Forest via Alton Parkway/Bake Parkway/Lake Forest Drive.

o   Weekday service and no Weekend service.

Trip Planner

Plan your transit trips on the web using Google Transit or OCTA’s trip planner, via their Routes and Schedules webpage. Link: https://www.octa.net/getting-around/bus/oc-bus/routes-and-schedules/routes-and-schedules/

Fares and Passes

OCTA offers a variety of passes and fares, including reduced prices for seniors, disabled passengers, youth residents, specialty passes for college students, and perk passes through eligible employers. Link:  https://www.octa.net/getting-around/bus/oc-bus/fares-and-passes/overview/

Shuttle Services

Although OCTA does not provide a shuttle service in Lake Forest, residents can still access the bright green and blue iShuttle services at the nearby Irvine and Tustin stations, located north past Lake Forest. Link: https://octa.net/getting-around/bus/oc-bus/routes-and-schedules/specialty-routes/ishuttle/

Amtrak

Amtrak is a national rail operator providing intercity passenger train service throughout the nation with several stops throughout Orange County and Southern California. The City of Lake Forest does not have an Amtrak station. The nearest Amtrak stations are located at:

·         Irvine Station, located at 15215 Barranca Parkway #1, Irvine, CA 92618.

·         San Capistrano Station, located at 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675.

Link: https://www.amtrak.com/home

MetroLink

Metrolink is a commuter rail system throughout Southern California, providing Southern California counties an opportunity for safe and convenient alternative to driving.  There are convenient MetroLink stations for residents and employees including the Irvine, Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo, and Tustin stations located just to the north and south of the City. Link: https://metrolinktrains.com/schedules

Bicycle Trails

Bicycle facilities are categorized into four types, as described below.

·         Class I Bikeway (Bike Path). Also known as a shared path or multi-use path, a bike path is a paved right-of-way for bicycle travel that is completely separate from any street or highway.

·         Class II Bikeway (Bike Lane). A striped and stenciled lane for one-way bicycle travel on a street or highway. This facility could include a buffered space between the bike lane and vehicle lane and the bike lane could be adjacent to on-street parking.

·         Class III Bikeway (Bike Route). A signed route along a street where the bicyclist shares the right-of-way with motor vehicles.

·         Class IV Bikeway (Separated Bike Lane). A bikeway for the exclusive use of bicycles including a separation required between the separated bikeway and the through vehicular traffic. The separation may include, but is not limited to, grade separation, flexible posts, inflexible physical barriers, or on-street parking.

Bicycle facilities in Lake Forest include:

·         A Class I facility running along Aliso Creek between Santiago Canyon Road and Laguna Niguel. The bicycle lane is near the OC Park Trail Serrano Creek.

o   Link: https://www.ocparks.com/sites/ocparks/files/2021-04/Orange%20County%20Regional%20Trails%20Brochure.pdf

·         Class II bicycle lanes on the City’s arterial roadways including Portola Parkway, Alton Parkway, Bake Parkway, Ridge Route Drive, Trabuco Road, Jeronimo Road, Muirlands Boulevard, Los Alisos Boulevard, and Rancho Parkway.

·         Class II bicycle lanes on portions of the City’s arterial roadways including Lake Forest Drive (Muirlands Boulevard to Portola Parkway), Toledo Way (Bake Parkway to Lake Forest Drive), and Rockfield Boulevard (Ridge Route Drive to Cavanaugh Road and El Toro Road to Los Alisos Boulevard.

·         Near the Serrano Creek Trail, there is a class II bicycle lane on portions of Bake Parkway.

o   Link: https://www.ocparks.com/sites/ocparks/files/2021-04/Orange%20County%20Regional%20Trails%20Brochure.pdf

·         In the Foothill area northeast of SR-241, there is a class II bicycle lane on Glenn Ranch Road near several OC Park Trails in the Whiting Ranch Wilderness Area, such as Live Oak Trail, Serrano Road, Coyote Brush Road, and Raptor Road.

o   Link: https://www.ocparks.com/sites/ocparks/files/2024-07/Whiting%20Ranch%20Wilderness%20Map.pdf

·         Non-motorized bridges and underpasses along the Aliso Creek bikeway, Serrano Creek Trail, and other paths and trails.

OC Bikeways

View maps, bikeway classifications and get information on the locations of bike lockers and shops throughout Orange County. Link: https://octa.net/getting-around/active/oc-bike/overview/

Residential EV Charging Incentive Program

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) has established a residential Electric Vehicle (EV) charging incentive program to offset Level 2 (240v) EV charger hardware costs. This program will be available to residents within the South Coast AQMD’s four-county jurisdiction, including Lake Forest residents.

The program will provide an incentive to buy-down the cost of residential chargers, which typically range from $400-$800. The program is administered on a first-come, first-served basis and provides up to a $500 rebate for residents who demonstrate proof of low-income qualification through an utility assistance program (the first page of the utility bill dated within the last 12 months showing CARE or FERA low-income utility rate) or a current CalWORKS or TANF membership card.

Link: https://www.aqmd.gov/home/programs/community/community-detail?title=ev-charging-incentive

Replace Your Ride Program

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) has established a program where Qualified Replace Your Ride program applicants can receive up to $12,000 to replace their own older, high-polluting vehicle with a newer vehicle, upgrade to a Plug-In Hybrid, Battery, or Fuel Cell (Hydrogen) Electric Vehicle.

In lieu of a replacement passenger vehicle an applicant can select an e-Bike or an alternative public transportation charge card. This program is available to vehicle owners residing within the South Coast AQMD Jurisdiction who meet the income and vehicle requirements.

Link: https://www.aqmd.gov/home/programs/community/community-detail?title=ryr

Vanpool

Vanpool is a great way for Lake Forest residents to save money and time while also reducing their carbon footprint. Link: https://www.octa.net/getting-around/rideshare/oc-rideshare/overview/