PLACENTIA

City Council members on Tuesday unanimously approved the $250-million railroad lowering option for the 4.2 miles of tracks along the Orangethorpe Avenue corridor. Lowering the tracks eliminates the need to condemn businesses and homes to build overpasses or underpasses, will decrease noise pollution and improve safety, city officials said. The Orange County Transit Authority had earlier recommended standard grade separations. The city now will begin to secure project funding from the local, state and federal level; that process may take five years.