Another Light Rail Barrier: Awareness

So how do people in Orange County feel about light rail? The better question, if a study released Monday is any indicator, may be: Are Orange County residents thinking about light rail at all?

Only slightly more than one in four people polled had even heard about the so-called CenterLine project, a proposed 28-mile, $1.5-billion light rail line that would run from Fullerton to Irvine. The poll surveyed 551 registered voters in the county and was conducted last month by Calabasas-based Steinberg and Associates Inc.

Officials with the Orange County Transportation Authority expressed some surprise over the lack of awareness about CenterLine, particularly since the poll comes after an 18-month effort to get the word out about light rail.

Despite the relatively small number of people who know about the rail proposal, a majority of those surveyed--nearly 60%--said they favored light rail in the county. But only 16% rated a mass transit rail system as the most pressing transportation 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 favor the costly system if it meant losing a lane of traffic on already congested city streets, such as Main and Bristol in Santa Ana. Pollsters did ask respondents to rate the importance of the fact that CenterLine might replace existing traffic lanes, although specific streets were not named.

Transit officials said they believed the survey results bolstered their efforts. “I think we gave people in this poll a lot of detailed information, including cost and the fact that we might lose some traffic lanes, and they still supported light rail,” said transportation board member Sarah L. Catz.

“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,” she said.

The poll results come during county transit officials’ final push for light rail. A decision about the route--three possibilities have been sketched out--is scheduled to be made Nov. 8. The fact that 43% of those surveyed said that having John Wayne Airport as a stop on the route was “very important” and 35% said they considered it of some importance may play a role in the final choice. Only one of the routes under consideration goes directly to the airport.

Transit board members will vote in early December on the fate of light rail, choosing either to go to the next step of planning--at a cost of $30 million--or pull the plug after $6.5 million of study.

Transit officials have estimated that 65,000 people a day would use the line.

Many residents and business owners along the proposed routes have voiced opposition to the plans at public meetings held since last month’s release of the draft environmental impact report. At issue, especially for owners of small businesses, is the potential loss of hundreds of street parking spaces if a street-level system is the one selected.

While most poll respondents said they believed the train system would blend in with surrounding neighborhoods and would not reduce property values or make too much noise, those who live near the proposed routes believe otherwise.

“[CenterLine] creates a whole host of problems for the neighborhoods around it,” said Paula Manning, a resident of the Park Santiago area of Santa Ana and an opponent of the plan. “Parking, traffic, noise, vibration, all these problems.”

The issue of light rail was first presented to county voters as part of Measure M, the half-cent sales tax passed in 1990 for transportation improvements. By approving the sales tax, voters said they wanted further study of a light rail system, earmarking $340 million.

About 53% of those surveyed in the latest poll said they were not familiar with Measure M, and 39% said they were only somewhat familiar.

The debate about rail has heated up in recent months, with the deadline for the project fast approaching.

Those who oppose such a system argue that rail is impractical for still largely suburban Orange County, contending that the systems haven’t worked well even in cities with traditional downtowns.

Rail proponents counter by pointing out that most area freeways have already been expanded as much as possible. A train line that could move people among such destinations as Disneyland, the Pond at Anaheim, South Coast Plaza and UC Irvine is essential as population in the region booms, rail supporters say.

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Train of Thought

A majority of residents support light rail transportation in Orange County, although only one in four have actually heard of the 28-mile CenterLine project, which would run from Fullerton to Irvine, according to a poll conducted by the Orange County Transportation Authority. A look at the competing corridors, lines and trains:

“Which ONE of the following transportation alternatives for Orange County is MOST important to you?” (bar chart)

Widen freeways: 31.8%

Maintain existing street and roads: 28.1%

Build a new mass transit rail system: 16.2%

Improve the Metrolink commuter rail system: 8.9%

Improve the bus system: 8.2%

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“Have you heard or read anything about a proposed light rail transit system for Orange County which would use street cars and be called ‘CenterLine’?” (pie chart)

Yes: 25.6%

No/Unsure/Don’t know: 74.4%

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” ... Based on what you know about the center line project, would you favor or oppose it?” (pie chart)

Favor: 59.5%

Oppose: 26.3%

Need more info/unsure: 14.2%

Source: Orange County Transportation Authority