Countywide : Hearings to Focus on Rail Service Prices

Orange County commuters will have a chance next week to influence the price of passenger tickets for Southern California’s new Metrolink rail system.

A public hearing on proposed fares is scheduled at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Amtrak station in San Juan Capistrano, 26701 Verdugo St., near Camino Capistrano.

A second hearing will begin at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at the Amtrak station in Fullerton, which is at the northwest corner of Santa Fe and Pomona avenues.

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority, which oversees Metrolink, will offer four proposed fare plans, ranging from $1.10 to $2.50, with zone surcharges ranging from 75 cents to $2.

The public will be allowed to comment after the staff reports.

The regional rail board will make a final decision in June.

Metrolink will offer rail service for commuters, with nine round trips featuring stops in several cities, compared to the longer-distance rail service offered by Amtrak. The first double-decked, periwinkle-and-white Metrolink cars arrived in Los Angeles from the manufacturer last month. Initially, service will be offered from Ventura County, Santa Clarita and Pomona to Union Station. Service to Orange County will begin next year.

In addition to Amtrak service between Orange County and Los Angeles, the Orange County Transportation Authority currently offers an additional, one daily round-trip commuter train between San Juan Capistrano and Los Angeles that stops in Irvine, Santa Ana, Anaheim and Fullerton.

The 2-year-old service will become part of the Metrolink system late next year, when service will be expanded to nine daily round trips, with additional stops in San Clemente, Mission Viejo, Tustin, Orange and Buena Park.

Metrolink service from San Bernardino to Los Angeles is scheduled to start this fall.