O.C. Light-Rail Plan Gets Officials’ Support

ORANGE COUNTY — In the most important step thus far in building an Orange County light-rail system, transit officials on Thursday recommended a $1.5-billion, 27-mile line that snakes through the center of the county. But opponents say they will fight the route through their cities.

The CenterLine would run along elevated and street-level tracks from downtown Fullerton to the Irvine Metrolink station, and make 33 stops, including Edison Field, the Pond at Anaheim and John Wayne Airport.

The recommended alignment, which could be refined before a decision on the future of light rail is made by Orange County Transportation Authority board members Dec. 13, didn’t appease critics, who say it’s a waste of money and threatens businesses and residential neighborhoods.

At issue, in part, is the decision to run the line down more than six miles of two busy major streets in Santa Ana. Some residents and business owners complain that traffic will be diverted into neighborhoods, and parking will be eliminated.