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LAGUNA NIGUEL / MISSION VIEJO LAGUNA NIGUEL -- The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Metrolink, and representatives from the cities of Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo officially opened Metrolink's newest commuter rail station today. The station, Metrolink's 10th in Orange County, will serve a total of 19 trains per day and will help relieve congestion at the popular Irvine and San Juan Capistrano stops. The $9.8 million facility is located on Forbes Road, near the intersection of San Joaquin Hills Toll Road (73) and the I-5 Freeway. Its construction was funded by OCTA with Measure M 1/2 cent sales tax funds, and financial assistance from Caltrans and the cities of Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo. "The new Laguna Niguel / Mission Viejo Metrolink station will provide much-needed relief for overcrowding and parking challenges at our neighboring Metrolink facilities," said OCTA Chairman & County Supervisor Todd Spitzer. "This is just one of several projects OCTA is facilitating in its effort to expand Metrolink service in Orange County." Both Metrolink's Orange County Line, which runs between Los Angeles and Oceanside, and its Inland Empire / Orange County Line, which runs between San Bernardino and Oceanside, will serve the new facility. The station features 323 parking spaces, four electric-vehicle charging stations, a pedestrian underpass, and two 600-foot rail platforms. Additional amenities include bicycle racks and lockers, benches, an information kiosk, automated ticket vending machines, trash cans, newspaper racks, landscaping and outside lighting. OCTA and Metrolink plan to open two additional stations in Buena Park and Yorba Linda in the spring of 2004 and 2005, respectively. Earlier this month, OCTA marked the start of Metrolink's new "91 Line", which provides direct service between Riverside - Fullerton - Los Angeles and becomes the third Metrolink line to serve Orange County. Metrolink is the Southland's regional commuter rail system operated by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), a joint powers authority formed in 1991. It services the six counties of Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, San Diego and San Bernardino, traveling across more than 416 miles of rail -- 87 miles of which are within Orange County.
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)
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