Few Residents Aware of Light Rail Plan

Only about one in four people in Orange County have heard about the so-called CenterLine project, a 28-mile, $1.5-billion light rail line that would run from Fullerton to Irvine.

A poll surveyed 551 registered voters in the county and was conducted last month by Calabasas-based Steinberg and Associates Inc.

Orange County Transportation Authority officials expressed some surprise over the lack of awareness about the project, particularly because the poll comes after more than a yearlong effort to get the word out about light rail.

Despite the relatively small number of people who said they know about the proposed rail line, a majority of those surveyed--nearly 60%--said they supported light rail in the county.

Only 16%, however, rated a mass transit rail system as the most pressing need, after widening freeways (32%) and maintaining existing streets and roads (28%). Not asked, however, were a number of critical questions, including whether those surveyed would be in favor of the costly system if it meant losing a lane of traffic on already congested city streets such as Main and Bristol streets in Santa Ana.

“It shows people understand that 20 years from now our transportation system is going to be horrible if we don’t have alternatives to a car,” said board member Sarah L. Catz.

The poll was release during transit officials’ final push for light rail in the county. A decision about the train’s route--culled from three alternatives--is scheduled to be made Nov. 8. Only one of the alignments currently under consideration goes directly to John Wayne Airport.