Part of CenterLine Should Go Underground, Costa Mesa Says

The CenterLine light-rail system should travel underground through the heart of Costa Mesa’s high-rise business and cultural arts district, the City Council has concluded.

Costa Mesa’s decision goes to the Orange County Transportation Authority, which on Jan. 12 is scheduled to adopt a route for the $1-billion, 8.5-mile CenterLine project.

The Costa Mesa City Council said Monday that the light-rail trains should run underground half a mile through the South Coast Metro district to minimize noise, congestion and other effects on the neighborhood.

The underground portion, which would cost an additional $50 million to build, would run beneath Avenue of the Arts, between Sunflower Avenue and Anton Boulevard and near the Orange County Performing Arts Center and South Coast Repertory.

The city had previously approved an elevated route, but backed off because of heavy opposition from local business leaders, who said it would be too disruptive.

“People have to understand that Bristol Street is one of the busiest streets in the city, and the impact of this project is quite large because it takes up parking and many other things,” said Costa Mesa Mayor Gary Monahan, who on Tuesday met with business owners to discuss their concerns.

An elevated route would be cheaper to build, but an underground route would have less effect on the community, said Peter Naghavi, manager of Costa Mesa’s transportation services office.

CenterLine is proposed to connect John Wayne Airport and the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center. Future expansion would depend on support from other cities.

Because of political and community opposition, plans for the rail project have been scaled back from 28 to 8.5 miles.

Costa Mesa officials say that although they would still accept the elevated route through the South Coast Metro district, they strongly prefer the underground version.

If the county transportation agency adopts the elevated route, it will have to address “every and all the city’s concerns” regarding noise, traffic and impacts to local businesses,” Naghavi said.

“There are seven pages of impacts and they will have to answer every one of them.”

Construction of CenterLine below Avenue of the Arts would require the removal of the Lakes Pavilion shopping mall, which includes a restaurant, bar, dry cleaner, medical office and two vacant stores.

Eric Strauss, a spokesman for America West Properties, which manages the mall, said he met with the mayor and Naghavi on Tuesday to discuss the underground route.

“We’re not opposed to CenterLine, but we’re opposed to how it impacts the mall,” Strauss said. “We’re feverishly trying to save the [mall] from any imminent domain proceedings, and we’re looking forward with Costa Mesa and OCTA to reach some sort of an agreement to save the property.”

Representatives of the 238-room Wyndham Hotel have expressed concern to both OCTA and Costa Mesa officials about the effects of CenterLine’s proximity to the hotel.

“The hotel wouldn’t be displaced, but their concern is vibration,” said Michael Litschi, an OCTA spokesman. “We would work to mitigate any concern with the city about the hotel, and I’m sure that will be addressed during the final design stage.”