Costa Mesa Seeks Tunnel for Light Rail

A battle may be shaping up between Costa Mesa and Orange County transit officials over whether to consider running a proposed light-rail line underground near South Coast Plaza.

Late last month, the Orange County Transportation Authority rejected that city’s request to examine the idea of a tunnel for less than a mile of the much-debated CenterLine project through the South Coast Metro area, which is crowded with shopping, office buildings and theaters.

Civic and business leaders in Costa Mesa have been concerned that the elevated line might interfere with business, reduce parking, and further congest the area.

The OCTA “might shoot itself in the foot over the long haul if they won’t study this,” said Costa Mesa Councilwoman Libby Cowan, who helped revive the stalled CenterLine project more than a year ago. “This needs to have a full hearing.”

Costa Mesa officials say retailers and property owners might sue if CenterLine remains above ground along Bristol Street and Anton Boulevard.

OCTA officials, however, have resisted placing any part of the system underground because of the cost and uncertainty. They say the authority cannot afford a $3-million study, and building a tunnel could add up to $200 million to the estimated $1.5-billion cost. Moreover, they worry it could harm the project’s chances for as much as $755 million in federal funds.

Tim Keenan, a Cypress city councilman who is chairman of the OCTA board of directors, called the tunnel idea dead.

“We have not polled the board, but it appears there is not a lot of support for it,” Keenan said.

The idea of building an underground segment is the latest hitch in the controversial project, which has been scaled back from its original 28-mile length.

Plans for CenterLine now call for an 11.4-mile light-rail system through Irvine, Costa Mesa and Santa Ana. It would start at UC Irvine and end at the Santa Ana train station. More than three-quarters of the route would be elevated, the rest at street level.

Even that proposal is in question, given a June 3 special election in Irvine that could scrap the CenterLine route in that city.

Though Costa Mesa officials support the project, they say they are disappointed that the OCTA won’t undertake the evaluation given that the overall project is very expensive and could seriously affect one of the county’s commercial and cultural hubs.

Peter Naghavi, the city’s manager of transportation services, called the OCTA’s position “shortsighted and a decision we might regret.”

In Costa Mesa, the line would traverse Anton Boulevard, then head north on Bristol Street, passing South Coast Plaza and the South Coast Metro area. That part of town is filled with shopping centers, office towers, hotels, and housing. South Coast Repertory and the Orange County Performing Arts Center are in the vicinity.

City officials say acquiring right-of-way for an above-ground system would be expensive in the South Coast area, where future developments worth billions of dollars are planned, including a hotel and additions to the theater district.

CenterLine’s overhead columns also would present practical and aesthetic problems for pending developments, city officials say, such as a pedestrian plaza.

“This is a huge project -- $1.5 billion. It should be thoroughly studied,” Naghavi said. “If it is not feasible to put part of the system underground, we will back off from this.”

Naghavi plans to meet with the Costa Mesa city manager to discuss the possibility of raising funds for the study, but, given the city’s budget, was not optimistic. Cowan said she also will meet with city officials and business leaders.

Favoring the study are C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, which owns South Coast Plaza and other commercial properties; Sakioka Farms, another major property holder; Commonwealth Partners, a developer; the Orange County Performing Arts Center; and the South Coast Metro Alliance, a group of business and property owners.

Paul Freeman, a spokesman for C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, said there are other possible routes for the South Coast Plaza area, including one along Sunflower Avenue. If a tunnel is built, he said, it might cost less than expected and be paid for, perhaps, by a public-private partnership.

OCTA officials, meanwhile, contend that CenterLine’s design and its cars will be aesthetically pleasing, and won’t detract from the South Coast area. No vehicle lanes would be affected on Bristol or Anton, they said, and no parking will be lost.

Keenan said the OCTA has spent at least $300,000 studying the issue over the last five months and concluded that there are no substantial benefits to taking the line underground.

OCTA officials also said the other routes are complicated by a flood-control channel and housing.