8 New Trains for Orange County-L.A. Commute Proposed : Transportation: The plan would bring the daily total of round trips to 17. Seven stations would be added to the six already in service.

Orange County transportation officials on Monday unveiled a proposal to significantly widen the network of Los Angeles-bound commuter trains.

Under a yet-to-be-funded plan, prepared for the Orange County Transportation Commission by a consulting firm, eight new trains would give Orange County commuters a total of 17 daily round trips to Los Angeles. Seven stations--including one in Norwalk and Commerce--would be added to the six already in service.

Transportation officials used the release of the proposal to push for public support of Measure M on the Nov. 6 Orange County ballot, which would add half a cent to the county sales tax to raise funds for transportation projects.

The new service would supplement the trains that the Orange County commission inaugurated in May that currently carry up to 375 passengers daily. Eight Amtrak round trips between San Diego and Los Angeles also stop in Orange County.

The eight additional proposed commuter trains would allow for combined northbound and southbound stops at each station every 20 minutes during peak hours and every hour at midday.

For the plan to become reality, Orange County transit officials must find a way to raise more than $8.5 million in annual operating funds. Much of the $72.4 million required to buy the trains and other equipment would come from two state rail bonds approved by voters in June. However, one of those measures, Proposition 108, requires matching funds from counties, and Orange County has yet to find a source of funds for its share.

The ambitious rail plan was prepared for the Transportation Commission by Irvine-based Fluor Daniel Inc.

In addition to the Norwalk and Commerce stations, rail stops would be built in Mission Viejo, Tustin, Orange, Buena Park and Oceanside. Rail stops already exist in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, Santa Ana, Anaheim and Fullerton.

Construction of the Norwalk and Commerce stations would require a cooperative agreement with Los Angeles County transportation officials.

The proposed Norwalk station would be located just off Imperial Highway on a site used by the city maintenance department. The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission has voted to place a station there.

Orange County officials were ecstatic when they got their first look at the new commuter rail plan, particularly at a time when the Santa Ana Freeway is being snarled by a massive $1.6-billion widening project between Irvine and Los Angeles County.

Fluor Daniel officials acknowledged that the proposed commuter train service could not hope to recover more than 40% of its costs from fares, making state and local funding crucial.

“We feel that this is a fairly modest investment to make commuting easier,” Fluor Daniel representative Al Witzig said. “I don’t think there’s a greater nightmare than trying to drive the Santa Ana Freeway.”

Transportation Commission members said the new system would require buses and trams to meet passengers at the rail stations, similar to the 25-cents-a-trip shuttle service that transfers rail passengers from Union Station in Los Angeles to major office complexes in the downtown area.

“They’re absolutely essential,” Fluor’s Witzig agreed. However, officials said such service probably would have to be provided by individual cities along the 87-mile route.

Commuter Rail A new commuter rail plan proposed for Orange County envisions 14 stops from Oceanside to Los Angeles utilizing existing Amtrak stops, with six new passenger platforms in Mission Viejo or Laguna Niguel, Tustin or North Irvine, Orange, Buena Park, Norwalk and Commerce, all to be built at a combined cost of about $6 million. COMMERCE --Along existing tracks at East 26th Street. NORWALK --City maintenance yard at near intersection of existing tracks and Imperial Highway. BUENA PARK Two sites are under review: --North of Dale Street between Artesia and Malvern avenues, east of existing tracks. --South of Beach Boulevard between existing tracks and Cascade Way. ORANGE --Existing but unused, former Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe railway depot on Chapman Avenue beteween Batavia and Glassell streets. TUSTIN/NORTH IRVINE Four sites are under review: --North of Jamboree Road, east of Edinger Avenue, across from the Tustin Marine Corps Helicopter Station. --South of Jamboree Road, east of Irvine Center Drive, north of Harvard Avenue, west of existing tracks. --East of existing tracks between Harvard and Jamboree. --Southwest corner where Harvard crosses existing tracks. MISSION VIEJO/LAGUNA NIGUEL Four sites are under review: --South of Crown Valley Parkway and Cabot Road, west of the San Diego Freeway. --North of Crown Valley Parkway near intersection of Falls and Cabot Roads, west of the San Diego Freeway. --La Paz Road, across from Mission Viejo High School. --South of Alician Parkway, east of existing railroad track, behind Gateway Shopping Center. Source: Orange County Transportation Commission