OCTA Approves Funds for Disney Garage : Transportation: The agency, which will collect parking revenue from the lot, pledges $32 million.

The giant parking structure designed to accommodate the Walt Disney Co.’s planned Westcot expansion moved closer to reality Monday when local transportation officials approved $32 million toward construction.

The funds were approved by the Orange County Transportation Authority and are contingent on the agency receiving about $131 million in federal money for construction. The total cost of the seven-story parking garage on Clementine Street between Freedman Way and Katella Avenue is estimated at $223 million.

The project is known as the Orange County Intermodal Transportation Center, and officials said it will be at least two years before OCTA receives additional federal funds and construction can begin. U.S. authorities also have to approve an environmental impact report for the project.

“Actually, two years is pretty optimistic. Disney can’t begin construction of Westcot until the (transportation) center is built, because Westcot is going to be built on what is now a Disneyland parking lot,” said Lisa Mills, chief deputy at OCTA.

The state approved $30 million in funding last month, bringing to $62 million the total earmarked to date for construction. Anaheim has promised to provide $10 million for the project, while Walt Disney Co. said it will contribute $20 million for construction.

Mills said that federal authorities have already approved $15.5 million to be used for the garage and for other projects on the San Diego and Costa Mesa freeways.

“But we haven’t decided how that money is going to be split,” Mills said.

Anaheim city officials, who see both the Disney expansion and transportation project as a boon to the city’s economy, voiced support for the OCTA board’s action.

“We’re very pleased with the intergovernmental effort of the project. When completed, it will have significant regional benefits and help alleviate transportation problems throughout Orange County,” said Tom Wood, Anaheim deputy city manager.

Disney officials were unavailable for comment.

Backers of the garage have brushed aside criticism that the project is using federal funds to benefit Disney, which is privately owned. OCTA officials argue that there is also a benefit to the public because the transportation agency will keep all parking revenue and commuters will also be getting a transit station.

Project supporters point out the first floor of the garage is designed for exclusive use by commuters. The first floor will include an elevated urban rail lane that is part of another project, pickup and drop off points for express buses and shuttles, and park-and-ride spaces for car-poolers.

The cost of the proposed Disney expansion is estimated at $3 billion. OCTA officials believe that the expansion will eventually take place and in February authorized the construction of freeway ramps on the Santa Ana Freeway leading to Disneyland. Like the garage, construction of the ramps is not expected to begin for at least two years.