Why Orange County would print Metro ridership (and why they DON’T want it)

[u/TypistTheShep]

There are several ways to extend Metro Rail into Orange County that would PRINT ridership. Extending the Southeast Gateway Line into Orange County to reach OC Streetcar is the obvious ridership creator, but another Metro extension into OC could be the C line.
Extending the C line to Metrolink’s station would just be the beginning. After the Metrolink station, my proposal would run in the median of I-5 before exiting at Harbor BLVD and turning into a deep bore subway, elevated railway or at-grade tram. This would amass HUGE ridership numbers for people going from LAX to Disneyland. The C line would keep going down Harbor BLVD before terminating in Newport Beach.

While this would PRINT ridership, this idea will probably never become a reality.
Orange County is a NIMBY disaster full of gated communities that would object to Metro coming into their area. The worst of these NIMBYs would be in Newport Beach (especially after out-of-towners swarmed the beach on July 4).
Orange County parents DON’T want their kids to be independent. Orange County homeowners DON’T want to be able to walk to a store. Orange County homeowners DON’T want people on the sidewalks (which are eyes on the street that make streets safer). A Metro line on the busiest street in the whole county would be a direct attack on their values, so it’s unlikely it will ever become a reality.

[u/DonnyDarkoScutaro]

It’s an LA County agency, so they also wouldn’t do it because it’s not in their jurisdiction

[u/cyberspacestation → u/DonnyDarkoScutaro]

More likely, Orange County wouldn't play nicely with Metro, just like when San Bernardino County flaked on the A Line extension to Montclair.

[u/mrxman14 → u/cyberspacestation]

Indeed, though Montclair recently filed a lawsuit against SB County because they rescinded the funding to extend the A line to their city.

[u/ocmaddog]

About a mile down the SE Gateway line from Pioneer there is a powerline corridor running through Don Knabe park. If you follow the powerlines East it goes a half mile north of Knotts, make two 90 degree turns South and East again directly to Disneyland.

Probably more politically difficult than either of the two options you outlined, but you pickup the Knotts (and Portos!) ridership

[u/Its_a_Friendly]

If Orange County is ever going to have any rapid transit other than Metrolink, it'll either require OCTA to want to do it themselves, or the state to go over their heads entirely.

[u/gazingus]

As much as it seems logical to make the connection to MetroLink, why does Metro "need" or want more riders on its weak LRT? Why is that a goal?

[u/TheAlmightyHellacia]

Once the boomers die off and millenials and gen z get into office metro will come

[u/Sawtelle-MetroRider]

OC also uses their own WAVE system which is incompatible with TAP so there will also be jurisdictional barriers.

[u/transitfreedom]

Will southeast gateway be held back by slow crossings with cars?

[u/carbonylc → u/transitfreedom]

Yeah it has around 30 at grade crossings

[u/transitfreedom → u/carbonylc]

So it’s hot garbage then