Transit Rail Heavily Supported in Survey : Transportation: Nearly two-thirds favor commuter network in poll, and even more would support public subsidies for it.

Nearly two out of three people--63%--polled in Orange County say construction of a mass transit rail system should be a high priority and an even greater number would back public subsidies of the network, according poll results released Tuesday by county transportation officials.

Results of the poll commissioned by the Orange County Transportation Authority also showed that county residents want a far more ambitious elevated urban rail network than originally envisioned, prompting authorities to consider doubling the size of the initial system to 47 miles of track.

But poll results also showed that a majority of people are not too confident that the Orange County Transportation Authority will spend the $750 million earmarked for rail transit wisely and efficiently.

In addition, 50% said they aren’t very confident in cost and ridership projections being made by consultants studying the viability of the rail lines.

Overall, however, the poll findings seemed to provide solid support for the Orange County Transportation Authority’s efforts to provide a rail alternative to the region’s crowded freeways.

Transportation officials are eager to put additional passenger trains on existing railroad tracks between Orange County and Los Angeles, begin new service connecting Riverside County and build an urban rail network lacing together various communities across the county.

To that end, transportation officials have commissioned studies, conducted a variety of public forums and conducted the poll to gauge public sentiment.

The poll by J. Moore Methods Inc. of Sacramento was conducted during the last week in August and involved 600 registered voters in Orange County contacted by telephone.

It found that 59% of those polled felt a new mass transit rail system would be a very effective way to reduce traffic congestion plaguing the region, compared to 24% favoring expanded commuter bus service and 18% saying freeways and streets should be widened to help ease congestion.

Asked to prioritize how the county should use the $750 million in mass transit money gleaned from Measure M, the half-cent sales tax hike approved by voters last year, 41% gave highest priority to beginning commuter rail service with Riverside County and 39% favored expanding the existing service to include Los Angeles County.

The idea of a 23-mile elevated urban rail network running through six cities in central Orange County, a proposal officials in those municipalities have been pursuing since 1989, garnered only 13%.

But support for urban rail grew when the project is expanded to include other parts of the county and link up with the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. In another question, only 30% of those polled strongly approved the 23-mile proposal. However, support jumped to 66% for an urban rail network that was connected to the Los Angeles trolley.

“That connection to Los Angeles and the idea of having a regional system was a very high priority,” noted Stanley T. Oftelie, the transportation authority’s executive director. “But the poll also emphasizes that we need a building block approach to this. The first block is commuter rail. We have to emphasize commuter rail and get it up and running and have a success story there before we’ll get broad public backing for urban rail.”

Transportation Survey

The Orange County Transportion Agency conducted a poll of 600 residents to gauge public opinion on a variety of transportation issues.

“What do you think the chances are of Orange County’s rail system needing to be subsidized by local taxpayers?”

High: 54%

Medium: 26%

Low: 16%

No opinion: 4%

“Would you support or oppose subsidizing the Orange County mass transit rail system?”

Support: 69%

Oppose: 23%

No opinion: 8%

“How confident are you that the Orange County Transportation Authority will spend the $75 million of Measure M money wisely and efficiently? Are you...”

Very confident: 5%

Somewhat confident: 34%

Not too confident: 57%

No opinion: 4%

“How confident will you be of the accuracy of any cost and ridership projections made by the transportation consultants: Are you generally...”

Very confident: 6%

Somewhat confident: 39%

Not too confident: 50%

No opinion: 4%

In percent answering that the option should be given a “high” priority:

“Should the option to--------------be given high, medium or a low priority?”

Widen the existing freeways: 35%

Expand commuter bus services: 29%

Build a mass transit rail system: 63%

Widen local streets and roads: 19%

Sources: JMM Research, Orange County Transportation Authority