Countywide : OCTA, Riverside OK Rail Service Accord

Settling a three-month dispute, officials from Orange and Riverside counties have agreed to run four commuter trains a day between Riverside and Fullerton and Riverside and Irvine as soon as July, 1994--five years ahead of schedule.

The Orange County Transportation Authority had originally said it would not have enough money for such rail service until 1999. But Riverside had threatened to withhold $23.7 million needed for the purchase of rail rights from the Santa Fe Railway if Riverside service was not given a higher priority.

Under the proposal likely to be approved Monday by the OCTA board, four trains would leave Riverside each weekday morning. Two trains would travel to Fullerton and on to Los Angeles. The other two trains would travel through Orange to Irvine. One of the Irvine trains would then travel north to Los Angeles. The remaining train would lay over at Irvine or Oceanside until the work-to-home commute.

“This gets people in Riverside from their homes to industrial areas much faster,” said OCTA Chief Executive Officer Stan Oftelie.

“I think we’re pretty close to a deal here,” said Riverside County Transportation Commission Executive Director Jack Reagan. “Our counsel is in the process of writing up such an agreement.”

Oftelie said OCTA will share operating costs and provide one train for the new service--the one that will proceed to Los Angeles after arriving in Irvine.

A formal contract binding on both counties is expected to return to the OCTA board for final approval next month.