OC Register - Anaheim council to consider streetcars

ANAHEIM – The city has spent $6.1 million toward a $319 million streetcar system yet to win City Council approval, which could come today when the council decides whether to push forward with the railway between the new transit hub near Honda Center and tourist destinations, including Disneyland.

 

If approved, city planners will set their sights on securing the additional $294 million in funding needed to build the Anaheim Rapid Connection and have streetcars operating by 2018. So far, they have $24.6 million.

 

"We think this is a great project that has tremendous potential to connect Anaheim's major destinations in a way that makes getting to them seamless," said Natalie Meeks, Anaheim's director of Public Works.

 

Ten streetcars would run on a 3.2-mile track from the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center – the $188 million, under-construction hub known as ARTIC – primarily along Katella Avenue to the Platinum Triangle residential and commercial development, Disneyland Resort, Anaheim GardenWalk outdoor mall and Anaheim Convention Center.

 

Meeks said she understands criticism about spending so much money to plan an uncertain project. But creating a strong plan up front – one that analyzes strengths and potential pitfalls – is necessary to convince federal and local officials that the project is worth pursuing, she said.

So far, no funding has come from city coffers.

 

After the county's CenterLine rail project fell apart in 2005, Orange County cities each got $100,000 to study projects that would connect residents with Metrolink, considered the county's spine of public transit. In all, Anaheim received $6.1 million from the original Measure M, the county's half-percent transportation sales tax, to look at ways to connect employees and tourists to popular destinations.

 

The funding plan breaks down this way:

 

•The city would apply for New Starts money from the Federal Transit Administration to cover 50 percent of the cost, $159 million.

•An additional 40 percent – $128 million – would come from the county's renewed half-percent sales tax and would need to be approved by the Orange County Transportation Authority.

•To cover the last 10 percent – $32 million – the city would seek additional federal or state grants. At least some could come from a special 2 percent tax hotel guests pay in the resort area and the Platinum Triangle.

All along, the city has been in contact with federal staffers. An FTA spokeswoman described the process as "very competitive" and said that projects need to show local support and a strong financing plan before federal officials will consider funding. Ultimately, Congress must approve the money; up to $1.9 billion is available each year for transportation projects.

 

U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, who grew up in Anaheim and represents the area, said she would support New Starts funding for a streetcar system if that's what Anaheim council members support.

 

"I'm excited about a streetcar that could encourage tourists not to rent a car and employees not to drive to work," Sanchez said. "Anaheim is a world-class city, and a hallmark of any great city is a great transportation system."

 

The streetcars have support from Disney, Anaheim's largest employer, other local businesses and potential riders.