Cut in Federal Aid for Garage Could Affect Disney Expansion

A federal transit agency will contribute only $17.5 million toward building a $223-million parking garage next to Disneyland because the seven-story structure would mostly serve the amusement park and its proposed expansion, officials said Friday.

Development of the garage has long been considered key to the Walt Disney Co.’s planned $3-billion park expansion, tying in to a countywide intermodal transportation center for cars, buses and light-rail trains.

Orange County transportation officials had expected the federal government to pay $131 million of the cost of the 12,000-space garage, with Disney kicking in about $20 million.

But in a letter sent last month to the Orange County Transportation Authority, federal officials objected that the garage appears intended “primarily for Disneyland,” and they noted only 1,000 spaces will be available to public transit users, mostly park-and-ride commuters.

The federal agency’s position raises new questions about Disney’s Westcot expansion and the Orange County transit agency’s ability to fund the controversial garage project.

Lisa Mills, the agency’s chief deputy, said Friday she remains optimistic that the local transportation authority eventually will get all the federal money it hoped for and called the proposed parking facility “a model.”

“I don’t believe that we will only receive $17.5 million,” Mills said. Mills denied that the facility is intended for Disneyland’s benefit.