As metropolitan areas around California were building urban rail systems over the last few decades, one was a notable holdout: Orange County. But Orange County stuck by the car, constructing an extensive network of toll roads through the booming east and south county areas. “You can’t widen freeways forever,” said Miguel Pulido, a former Orange County Transportation Authority board member and former mayor of Santa Ana. In 1990, Orange County had just over 2.4 million residents. AdvertisementBrock Shingledecker, 23, who works at a coffee shop on Santa Ana Boulevard, is looking forward to the option of hopping on the rail line after work to grab dinner in downtown Santa Ana.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 07, 2021 12:02 UTC