Streetcar plan cleared by OCTA: Light-rail line would get $56 million from local Measure M taxes
BY NICOLE KNIGHT SHINE
Orange Co. Register
Aug. 24, 2015
"In a bid to win federal approval and matching funds for a new foray into light rail, the board of the Orange County Transportation Authority on Monday pledged $56 million in local sales taxes to the OC Streetcar.
With the commitment, the agency stands to gain up to $144 million from a competitive federal grant program called New Starts to spend on the planned $289 million light-rail line. The hop-on, hop-off service would would carry commuters, tourists and shoppers to jobs, stores and the Santa Ana train station, traversing four densely populated miles from Santa Ana to Garden Grove.
Supporters say the streetcar brings much-needed mass transit to car-centric Orange County. Critics contend that ridership estimates of 6,000 passengers per day seem optimistic, and say operating costs will be steep..."
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/o...ion-santa.html