LA, Orange Counties Collide on Freeways

As traffic congestion has worsened, so has the philosophical divide between LA and Orange counties in terms of how to address it.

1 minute read

November 18, 2009, 7:00 AM PST

By Alek Miller

"'L.A. is more transit-oriented; Orange County is more freeway-oriented,' said Peter Buffa, chairman of the Orange County Transportation Authority. But as congestion mounts, that attitude will probably change, he believes."

"Buffa said many of the major differences in the transportation approaches are because of the counties' differing populations. Rail customers in Orange County usually have cars and take the train to avoid congestion or to save money on gas. In Los Angeles County, however, there are more people without cars who must rely on the bus or rails.

L.A. County has 'more people, but also denser areas where trying to sell a rail line that goes down the middle of the street is a little easier than in some kind of wide open, very suburban, south Orange County city. . . . It's a political fight,' Buffa said."

FULL STORY: Counties diverge on plan to widen the 405 Freeway

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 in Los Angeles Times

Transportation California Southern California Freeways Commuter Rail

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