Monorail Decision Could Move Bad Air Out of Orange County

The Irvine City Council recently gave the green light to the initial half-mile monorail link in a proposed five-mile loop through the Irvine Business Complex adjacent to the John Wayne Airport. McDonnell Douglas Realty Co. was awarded 195,000 square feet of high-rise density in exchange for construction of this $9-million monorail segment.

Can you envision walking outside in Orange County and taking a deep breath of air without choking on the toxic fumes? This is what we are proposing to eventually rid ourselves of: the pollution and congestion caused by hopelessly snarled traffic. Imagine taking a short walk from your home to the monorail station, quickly up the escalator and onto a sleek space-age vehicle that will silently move you in air-conditioned comfort to your office, the airport, shopping mall or other places.

Instead of gridlock and being in traffic, you can enjoy reading or contemplate the reopened view of nature. We are literally talking about the real quality of life here in Orange County.

Now, let’s look at the pragmatic side. Will the proliferation of high-rise buildings around John Wayne Airport continue? It certainly doesn’t look likely that there is any slowdown. I look out my office window and see high-rise cranes all over the airport area.

What are they presently contributing to the community besides additional smog-belching traffic? Nothing. So one way to view the density bonus that was awarded to McDonnell Douglas Realty is to see that there was an equal bonus received by the City of Irvine--a monorail demonstration project that is absolutely free to the taxpayers.

Was this a fair exchange, just looking at the economics of the deal? I think so. The $9-million monorail equates to $46 per square foot of density--a very fair price by any national standard. But, in addition, the developer agrees to operate and maintain the monorail until such time as it is donated to a transit authority.

This joint effort by the City of Irvine and McDonnell Douglas Realty entails some risk as well as vision. As Mayor Larry Agran said at the recent City Council meeting, “When we have a proposal that combines the public’s interest with the private sector’s needs and desires, then we have a real project.” I think he is right.

There is no free lunch or easy way out of our horrendous transportation problems. It requires the dedication and the hard work of both the public and private sectors to put something like this together, and despite all the obstacles, we won. No--on further reflection, the people won.

Perhaps it might have been a safer course to “study” the problem for years--as they have in Los Angeles since 1936--always waiting for the perfect solution. I think we are on the right course.

This train is moving. If we don’t look out, it may move some of the present lethargy and complacency right out of its path.

ROBERT R. YOUNG

President,

McDonnell Douglas Realty Co.