CC - Item 9A - Supervisor Antonovich's Alternative Plan for High Speed RailA
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER 104
DATE: SEPTEMBER 27, 2011
SUBJECT: SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH'S ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR
HIGH SPEED RAIL
SUMMARY
The City Council will consider taking a position in support of an alternative plan
advanced by Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich relative to high speed
rail. Earlier this month, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) has
taken a similar position of support for this alternative plan which would essentially
upgrade the Metrolink commuter rail system rather than building a brand new high
speed rail system through the Valley along the 1 -10 Freeway or SR -60 Freeway
corridors.
Recommendation:
That the City Council consider and provide direction relative to this matter.
BACKGROUND /ANALYSIS
In November of 2008, California voters approved Proposition 1A authorizing the
issuance of $9.95 billion in bonds to establish a high -speed train system linking San
Diego and Southern California, the Sacramento /San Joaquin Valley, and the San
Francisco Bay Area. The project will cost some $40 billion and funds are being sought
from federal government and the private sector to fill the substantial gap.
The Rosemead City Council has taken a strong position against the California High -
Speed Rail Authority's preliminary conceptual plans to construct the system within the I-
10 Freeway corridor with an elevated, above -grade profile. To date, the City Council's
position is to: OPPOSE the California High -Speed Rail project unless it is to be
constructed within the freeway median in an at -grade or below -grade manner.
Essentially, the alternative plan advanced by Supervisor Mike Antonovich proposes to
utilize Proposition 1A bond proceeds to upgrade the Metrolink commuter rail system
rather than building a brand new high speed rail system through urban corridors in
Southern California. Metrolink currently operates through the San Gabriel Valley at a
maximum speed of 79 miles per hour. Through system upgrades higher -speed trains
City Council Meeting
September 27,2011
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can operate at 90+ miles per hour. The upgraded Metrolink system could ultimately be
linked to a future northbound and southbound California High -Speed Rail system
outside of the Southern California urban corridors. (Attached is information provided by
the Office of Mike Antonovich.)
The proposed Antonovich alternative contemplates "double- tracking" the Metrolink lines
to increase efficiencies. Such double- tracking would be relatively simple between
Covina to Pomona; however, "double- tracking" of the Metrolink system along the 1 -10
Freeway through Rosemead to Los Angeles would be extremely costly and would
require major structures (elevated or trench) to avoid right -of -way takes outside the
freeway footprint.
On September 14, 2011 Mayor Pro Tern Armenta and Council Member Clark
represented the City Council at the SGVCOG High -Speed Rail Working Group. At that
meeting the Working Group voted to recommend that the SGVCOG Governing Board
support Supervisor Antonovich's Alternative Plan for High -Speed Rail. On September
15, 2011, the SGVCOG Governing Board voted to support the Antonovich Alternative
Plan. Most recently Mayor Steven Ly, who serves as Vice Chair of the SGVCOG
Transportation Committee, has requested that this matter be placed on the City Council
agenda.
If the City Council wishes to register its support of the Antonovich alternative plan, staff
would suggest that such support be stated as an addition to the Council's current
position relative to the California High -Speed Rail project. In that event, a suggested
position would read as follows:
The Rosemead City Council's position relative to the California High -Speed Rail
Authority project is to OPPOSE the project unless it is to be constructed within
the freeway median in an at -grade or below -grade manner. Further, the
Rosemead City Council is in SUPPORT of Los Angeles County Mike
Antonovich's alternative plan for high -speed rail, which is to upgrade the
Metrolink commuter rail system rather than building a brand new high -speed rail
system.
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