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CC - Item 8A - Formation of High Speed Rail Working Group ByTthe San Gabriel Valley Council of GovernmentsROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER DATE: OCTOBER 12, 2010 SUBJECT: FORMATION OF HIGH -SPEED RAIL WORKING GROUP BY THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS ( SGVCOG) SUMMARY The City Council will discuss participation on a SGVCOG High -Speed Rail Working Group. The City Attorney has advised that under the Brown Act open meeting laws, up to two members of the City Council members may serve on the SGVCOG Working Group. Recommendation: Discuss participation in the SGVCOG High -Speed Rail Working Group by members of the City Council. BACKGROUND The attached letter from the SGVCOG dated September 27, 2010 advises that a High - Speed Rail Working Group will be formed to closely monitor this proposed project. In order to participate in this Working Group, an individual must submit his or her name to the SGVCOG by October 13 A list of interested volunteers from the SGVCOG cities will be presented for confirmation at the October 20 SGVCOG Transportation Committee and Governing Board meetings. It is anticipated that the Working Group will convene its first meeting sometime after October 20 The City Attorney has advised that under the Brown Act open meeting laws up to two members of the City Council may serve on such a Working Group. Attachment — Memorandum to SGVCOG Governing Board dated 9/27/10 UEM NO. Sk APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: M San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments 3452 cast Foothill, Suite 910, Pasadena, California 91107 -3142 Phone: (626) 564 -9702 FAX: (626) 564 -1116 E -Mail SG% @sgvco<g.orc DATE: September 27 2010 TO: Governing Board Delegates and Alternates FROM: Nicholas T. Conway, Executive Director RE: Formation of the SGVCOG High Speed Rail Working Group The California High -Speed Rail project was approved by California voters in 2008 with the passage of Proposition IA, which authorized $9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for the project. This project is being headed by the California High -Speed Rail Authority ( CHSRA). The CHSRA is currently tasked with completing final planning, design, and environmental efforts. Construction efforts are anticipated to begin as early as 2012 for the Phase 1 alignments. The Los Angeles to San Diego segment, which is included in Phase 2 of the project, is envisioned to be routed via the Inland Empire (San Bernardino and Riverside Counties) and include over 160 miles of trackage. Since 2009, COG staff has been participating on the CHSRA's technical working group (TWG) for the Los Angeles -San Diego segment of the project. Currently, the following alignments are under consideration in the San Gabriel Valley: • Within the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) right of way (ROW) • Adjacent to the UPRR ROW • Within the SR -60 ROW • Within the 1 -10 ROW, and • Within the Metro /Metrolink ROW Because of the nature of this project, there is potential for significant impact to our communities and their residential, commercial, and industrial properties. At their August meeting, the SGVCOG Transportation Committee adopted a position to oppose any alignment of the CHSRA project that does not minimize the impact on properties in the San Gabriel Valley. Furthermore, the SGVCOG sent a letter to the CHSRA urging them to continue studying all horizontal alignments within the San Gabriel Valley, as well as all possible vertical alignments, including above, below and at -grade options. On September 12` I met with Dan Leavitt, Deputy Executive Director of the CHSRA, as well as technical and outreach staff for the Los Angeles to San Diego Segment. At that meeting, there was an acknowledgment that, while there is not a preferred alignment, at this time, the 1 -10 alignment appears to be the most feasible and, for this reason, greater effort should be focused on developing this alignment in a way that addresses the surrounding communities' concerns. There was also discussion to indicate that, from the SGVCOG's perspective, the only way that the 1 -10 alignment could move forward is if the project remained within existing right of way Page 2 and close to the median. A copy of the CHSRA's correspondence following that meeting is included as Attachment 1. The CHSRA project was discussed at the SGVCOG's August 19` Strategic Planning session. Participants acknowledged the magnitude of this project and its potential impact on the San Gabriel Valley. Because of this, there was an objective developed to form a High Speed Rail Working Group that would closely monitor this project. The Working Group is open to any elected officials or staff members that are interested in attending. Please note, the Working Group is only intended to track progress on this project, and any official actions or positions on behalf of the SGVCOG would be brought to the full Governing Board. Because of the focus on the 1 -10 alignment, cities adjacent to the 1 -10 corridor are strongly encouraged to participate in the Working Group. These cities include: • Alhambra • Baldwin Park • Claremont • Covina • El Monte • Monterey Park • Pomona • Rosemead • San Dimas • San Gabriel • West Covina In order to participate in the Working Group, please submit your name to the SGVCOG offices by October 13` The list of volunteers will be presented for confirmation at the October 20` Transportation and Governing Board meetings. It is anticipated that the first working group meeting will be scheduled shortly thereafter. Should you have any questions on the High Speed Rail project, or wish to discuss it further, please contact me at (626) 564 -9702. Cc: City Managers Public Works TAC Planning Directors TAC Attachment 1 Curt PdngW. Cho mn Tom Um M, Vlee 0 r CALIFORNIA lYltno,rt Mr MWro tl,. pwM. h it �t'.4c David Cranes Rod ojdd , Sr Fran Romr Rk:hard Kati Judge Ouandn L. Kopp - Ly. Schenk `past chatr September 22, 2010 CALIFORNIA HIGH -SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY Nicholas T. Conway, Executive Director San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments 3452 East Foothill Boulevard, Suite 910 Pasadena, CA 91107 Dear Mr. Conway: Thank you for meeting with us last week to discuss the development of the High -Speed Rail (HSR) project in the San Gabriel Valley. We cannot emphasize enough how important we believe it is to coordinate with the cities throughout the State to ensure that as we design and construct this vital system, our track alignments and system operations are appropriate and take into account the many communities we will serve. To that end, thank you for your feedback during our discussion. Your comments about the project and its potential impacts in the San Gabriel Valley are consistent with a number of comments we have received from cities and other key stakeholders in the region. As you know, the Los Angeles to San Diego, via the Inland Empire Section is a Phase 2 section, which means it is slated for construction several years after the backbone of the system — San Francisco to Los Angeles /Anaheim — begins construction. As such, the section's engineers and designers are currently working on conceptual designs to identify viable HSR alignment alternatives. Over the last several months, the San Gabriel Valley has been very active in communicating preferences to the High -Speed Rail Authority (HSRA). In keeping with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and in alignment with the HSRA's commitment to process and transparency, the team is currently developing the section's Preliminary Alternatives Analysis, which will go before the Board sometime in the coming months. The staff will present recommendations to the Board about viable alternatives, as well as the feedback the local team has received, in order to identify alternatives for study in the EIR /EIS. Your comments and the comments of the corridor cities will be considered by staff and will be communicated to the Board and will be a key factor in the recommendations presented to the Board. As you know, the four alignments we are currently reviewing between the 1 -710 and 1 -605 are the 1 -10, SR -60, Union Pacific (UP) and an alignment that would be adjacent to the UP. The overwhelming comments we have received to date are as follows: 925 L Street, Suite 1425 • Sacramento, CA 95814 • 916.324.1541 • fax 916.322.0827 www.cahighspeedroJI.ea.gov Attachment 1 Union Pacific and Union Pacific - adjacent The UP has been very clear in several letters that they are not currently interested in working with the HSRA because it does not fit within the railroad's current business plan. There have been a number of meetings and numerous phone calls with key UP officials, and they are steadfast in their opposition to these two alignments. The cities along the UP alignment, most notably the City of Industry, have also expressed concern to the COG regarding the UP adjacent alternative. • State Route 60 Several cities and elected officials along the SR -60 have requested that this alignment be eliminated from further study. The primary reason for this position has to do with the transportation planning and land use commitments that have already been made within this corridor, including the potential Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension. Their comments have also identified other potential community impacts, environmental constraints, and the additional infrastructure the HSR system would bring to this tight corridor, and this Would hamper operations for the HSR system. COG staff concurs that these constraints Would likely make a HSR system along this alignment largely infeasible. • Interstate 10 The San Gabriel Valley COG has communicated to the HSRA that the 1 -10 is recognized as a regional transportation corridor, sustaining multiple modes of transportation in order to meet the needs of the residents and businesses located within the San Gabriel Valley. Because of this, the COG recognizes that that it is likely the most feasible alignment for further study. However, the COG and its member cities have also been clear about the need for the high -speed rail system to stay within the existing right of way (ROW), utilizing the median or another equally creative method to ensure the homes, schools and businesses along the corridor sustain minimal impacts. Based on our communications with the cities and the COG, staying within the ROW to the extent feasible is the approach the local HSRA team has been directed to take. As to all of these above potential alternative alignments, the HSRA and FRA will not be in a position to determine feasibility until further in the Alternatives Analysis process and as the CEQA /NEPA process proceeds. However the staff's recommendations to the Board and FRA will include your comments and preferences and will help guide these future decisions. In addition to the comments regarding specific alignments through the San Gabriel Valley, the COG and its member cities and key stakeholders have also made comments regarding the development of a station along the San Gabriel Valley section of the HSR alignment. The message has been clear that any station development must be planned and designed in coordination with the local city and take into consideration mitigation necessary to minimize impacts on homes and businesses adjacent to the station's ingress and egress. This philosophy is in line with the HSRA's station area development policy and the team will be working with local cities to identify an appropriate station location option or options. The COG has also emphasized the need for extensive community meetings throughout the San Gabriel Valley corridor. In keeping with the HSRA's commitment to a deep, regionally appropriate outreach effort, the local team will be working with you to outline a plan to ensure the San Attachment 1 Gabriel Valley's residents and business owners are engaged and involved in the system's development. This is our commitment to you and to the San Gabriel Valley. The California High -Speed Rail system is a safe, fast, convenient transportation system that will improve mobility, create jobs, and promote a clean environment. But as we work to create this vast, 800 -mile system, we do so with respect for California's communities. We continue to appreciate your involvement in this process and look forward to our continued partnership as we work collaboratively to deliver the nation's first high -speed rail system. Sincerely, A 4,� L Dan Leavitt, Deputy Director High -Speed Rail Authority Cc: Alex Clifford, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Matthew Gleason, Southern California Association of Governments