electric street cars that made travel between Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside
counties possible. The Red Cars were in high demand and reached their peak in the late 1920s. But with
the increased popularity of the automobile, commuters' desire to ride the Red Cars began to wane. Southern
Californians' preferred method of transportation became the automobile, and by the early 1960s, the
popular Red Car Lines that connected communities ceased operations. But after three decades of people
pouring into Southern California and congestion on streets and freeways becoming unbearable, Southern
Californians once again turned to the railroad.
that became the first of a series of the public's endorsement of rail improvements that would drastically
change public transportation in Southern California for the better. In November 1989, San Bernardino
County residents followed suit and supported Measure
I. The next year in 1990, Los Angeles County residents
voted to approve the half-cent sales tax initiative,
Proposition C, while Orange County residents approved
the half-cent sales tax known as Measure M. During the
same year, California residents turned out to the polls
in large numbers to vote in favor of State Propositions
108, 111 and 116. Combined, the measures authorized
the sale of nearly $3 billion in general obligation bonds
that were designated for the creation of commuter rail,
intercity, light rail and subway services.
1989, Southern California transportation officials from the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside,
San Bernardino and Ventura seized the opportunity to build a much-needed commuter rail system. The
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (LACTC) began negotiations in February 1990 for the
purchase of the rights-of-way. The San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) and Ventura
County Transportation Commission (VCTC) would later join in on the negotiations. The LACTC, SANBAG
and VCTC were able to reach a $450 million agreement with Southern Pacific in October 1990 to purchase
the rights-of-way, despite a tense negotiation process.
also begun in February 1990 for purchase or acquisition of operating rights over 336 miles of track that
would allow future commuter train service from Los Angeles into Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside
counties. In July 1990, the five county agencies offered ATSF (now known as BNSF Railway) $300 million,
but the offer was met with silence. In March 1991, Santa Fe finally replied, demanding a hefty $1.3 billion.