Subcommittee pulls plug on Southern California rail proposal

A proposed 9.3-mile light rail line called the CenterLine was put to rest by a subcommittee of the Orange County (Calif.) Transportation Authority (OCTA). The committee voted 7-0 to abandon the project, which racked up $63 million in study costs over the past decade and lacked wide public support. According to the Orange County Register, the board will consider other options. Among the alternatives are a bus rapid transit program and extension of the Metrolink commuter rail system. Key among the hurdles facing the CenterLine project is a lack of funding. Local officials believe that congressional support of the necessary $483 million in federal funding is inadequate. The full OCTA board is scheduled to vote on the CenterLine project on Feb. 14, but the outcome will likely match the subcommittee's.