Growth Pressures Rail System

Commuter rail may be a way of life in the East, but until fairly recently it was something of a novelty in Orange County. But the suburban growth of the region, fueled by changing patterns of living and working, has altered the dynamic in a period of less than a decade. Groundbreaking for a new station in Tustin planned for this month, the first of four new Orange County MetroLink stations, will come not a moment too soon.

Much of the current pressure in central Orange County arises from the overflow situation at the Irvine station, which long has had a heavy burden of commuter traffic. The new Tustin station, and one planned for Mission Viejo-Laguna Niguel, can relieve some of this demand in central and southern parts of the county.

According to MetroLink, the Orange County commuter line remains the fastest-growing route on the entire system. This ridership is expected to grow 43% in the next four years, and 137% by 2010. Demand also has been affected in recent months by high gasoline prices. During the first 20 days of March, for example, ridership on MetroLink trains increased by 13%.

The effort to bring new station capacity online has its own set of hurdles. Cost estimates last year for the new Laguna Niguel station nearly doubled. That station was supposed to open in June. City officials recently voted to give up control to the Orange County Transportation Authority in the hope of getting work done more economically.

Longer commutes arising from inadequate parking and problems with debris on tracks prompted MetroLink to say it would spend much of the $25.7 million in state funds it was awarded recently to ease congestion. It plans to lay more track, improve ticket machines and add passenger cars by early next year. It also has said that it wants to obtain funding by 2003 to add a second set of tracks from Orange to Santa Ana and from Mission Viejo to San Juan Capistrano.

Clearly, the system is feeling pressure from growth. The Tustin station is the furthest along of the stations planned. The others are Buena Park, Yorba Linda and the combined Mission Viejo and Laguna Niguel location.

All of this is evidence of the growing importance of rail in the mix of transportation alternatives for the region.