Anaheim : Council Moves Toward Setting Up Bus System

Anaheim may one day find itself with a futuristic-looking “people mover” outside the perimeters of Disneyland.

City Council members Tuesday took an initial step toward creation of a 2.8-mile-long elevated bus system in the commercial-recreation area, which includes Disneyland and the Convention Center.

The council’s action, however, is not an endorsement of “Transpark,” a proposed above-ground bus system to relieve traffic congestion around Disneyland. With its vote, the council accepted a study and set aside $15,000 to prepare documents to create a parking authority.

A $50,000 study co-sponsored by the Orange County Transportation Commission and the Southern California Assn. of Governments concluded that an elevated bus system is feasible and could alleviate traffic congestion.

The cost of the 2.8-mile system with nine stations is estimated at about $71 million. The cost of the buses, which are expected to last between 12 to 15 years, is $78 million. Annual operations and maintenance would run about $800,000, the study determined.

Transpark is the brainchild of Herb Leo, retired chairman of the board of an Anaheim-based food-processing company.

Allan B. Hughes, who is president of Transpark Inc. and Chamber of Commerce executive director, said the project has been in the works for several years.