Panel OKs Impact Study of Rail Plan

A proposed urban rail system for Orange County would provide access to Edison International Field of Anaheim, the Pond at Anaheim, South Coast Plaza and the Irvine Medical Center for an estimated 50,000 to 62,000 daily riders, if transportation planners have their way.

The 28-mile so-called “Center Line” would connect six cities and include 26 stations from downtown Fullerton to the Irvine Spectrum beginning as early as 2008.

The question remains whether such a rail system--at a cost of at least $1 billion--will ever become reality, but Monday’s vote by transportation board members to go forward with an environmental impact study of the tentative routes keeps the process on track.

“This starts one of the most important chapters in the whole thing,” said John Standiford, a spokesman for the Orange County Transportation Authority.

A vote on the rail project is scheduled for the end of the year. If approved, construction of the ambitious project--paid for largely with state and federal funds--could start as soon as 2003.

The proposals vary dramatically in cost and look. The most expensive is a $1.86-billion elevated system. Two less expensive alternatives would lay tracks on the ground at a cost of $1.27 billion and $1.5 billion. Supervisor Todd Spitzer said the cost of the project continues to be a concern. Spitzer, who has not made up his mind on the feasibility of building a rail system in the county, said Monday he was shocked to learn that the current estimates for construction do not include the costs of buying land along the proposed routes.

“The cost of this project is much larger than what we’ve seen on paper because they have not taken into account right-of-way acquisition,” he said.

Transportation officials say they are still exploring the idea of a rail system, stressing that plans are not set in stone.

One proposal is not to build a rail system at all but rather to improve the roads in the area and expand bus service and Metrolink commuter rail service in the county.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Train of Thought

A pair of potential routes for a light rail line with nearly 30 stops between Fullerton and Irvine were approved Monday by Orange County transportation officials. A look at the competing corridors:

Source: Orange County Transportation Authority