HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/15/2006, C5 - RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR EXPANDED PASSENGER RAIL SERVICES ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST RAIL CORRIDOR i
council .S°�
August 15,2006
agenda aEpont "®N s
CITY O F SAN LU I S O B I S P O
FROM: Jay D. Walter,Public Works Directo W �p
Prepared by: Timothy Scott Bochum, Deputy Dire ttrr of Public Works
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR EXPANDED PASSENGER RAIL
SERVICES ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST RAIL CORRIDOR
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution supporting expanded passenger rail services to connect Downtown San
Francisco with Downtown Los Angeles through San Luis Obispo along the Pacific Coast -
Rail Corridor.
DISCUSSION
Background
The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) has requested that all county
jurisdictions offer support for potential expansion of rail service to the Central Coast. The Coast
Rail Coordinating Council (CRCC) has been working for the implementation of this new
expanded service since the early 1990's. The CRCC is a coalition of transportation planning
agencies, local governments, Caltrans, Amtrak and the Union Pacific. Its main focus is to
increase the speed and frequency of passenger and freight trains along the coast. The three main
challenges for the proposed Coast Daylight train are:
1. Securing additional operating funds from the State.
2. Securing train equipment and capital funding for stations and facilities in downtown San
Francisco.
3. Gaining approvals for track access from the Union Pacific Railroad (i.e. requires funding
for track improvements).
Securing operating funds and train equipment, while very expensive, is the easy part. The Union
Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR) will not allow any additional access by Amtrak on its tracks
unless the existing and projected freight traffic is essentially unaffected. That is to say, any
increase in passenger trains may not cause delay for freight train service.
The results of rail capacity modeling indicate that millions of dollars of capacity improvements
will be required by Union Pacific if rail service in the coastal corridor is to increase.
Negotiations with UPRR have been stalled because there is no funding for capital improvements.
Statewide there is a transportation funding shortfall and there is no separate federal capital grant
program for rail improvements such as the ones that exist for highways,transit, airports.
Council Agenda Report—Support of Rail Service Expansion Page 2
However, there is some recently delivered good news. The State's Rail Plan recognizes the
"Coast Daylight" service as the next "new service" implementation priority. With the possibility
of new transportation bond funding (to be determined in the Statewide November elections)
discussions with UPRR are to be restarted to clearly identify which capital improvements are
needed and how much they will cost to improve coastal service. The intent is to supply
additional train service from downtown San Francisco to downtown Los Angeles through San
Luis Obispo County. This would increase the available train service to City and county residents
to access these two major metropolitan areas.
SLOCOG has asked each member jurisdiction that could benefit from this expanded service to
express their support for the concept of increased rail service along the coast. SLOCGO will
continue to seek funding for this service through the state and federal channels..
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There will be no impact to the General Fund as part of this resolution of support.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could choose not to offer support for the project. This is not recommended because
it is inconsistent with the City's goals of improving transit services to the City..
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution of Support
G:\Staff-Reports-Agendas-Minutes\_CAR\2007\Transit\SLOCOG Train\Caltrain CAR.doc
C's z
Attachment 1
RESOLUTION NO. (2006 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
SUPPORTING EXPANDED PASSENGER
RAIL SERVICES TO CONNECT DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO WITH
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST RAIL CORRIDOR
WHEREAS,the City of San Luis Obispo is committed to supporting alternative forms of
transportation for its citizens; and
WHEREAS,the "Coast Daylight" will provide direct train service between the two
largest population centers in the state, and close a key gap in the rail system; and
WHEREAS, local governments, residences and businesses support the re-establishment
of State-supported intercity rail passenger services to connect.northern and southern California
and provide new services to central coast cities; and '
WHEREAS,new rail services will promote economic development at stations along the
route, including benefits to California's freight movement; and
WHEREAS,local planning agencies have prepared all the necessary studies to initiate
the expanded train services and it is included in California's State Rail Plan for 2007-08; and
WHEREAS,there is strong ridership in the corridor; the train is projected to carry over
216,000 passengers in the first year, at a cost of about$7.4 million per year, and achieve a
farebox ratio over 45%.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo hereby requests the Governor, State legislators, and the California Department of
Transportation to fund the operation and required capital improvements to implement the Coast
Daylight Train in State Fiscal Year 2007-08.
Upon motion of seconded by
and on the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this 15th day of August 2006.
Resolution No. (2006 Series)
Page 2
Mayor David F. Romero
ATTEST:
Audrey Hooper
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Jonat P Lowell
City Attorney
Page 1 of 1
SLO Citycouncil-Support for Item%-=5-Expanded Passenger Rail Service
From: "Jerry Rioux"<jrioux@charter.neb
RECEIVED
To: <slocitycouncil@slocity.org>
Date: 8/14/2006 1:53 PM AUG 1 5% 1006
Subject: Support for Item C-5-Expanded Passenger Rail Service
C n ( .lTv rl M
Dear Mayor Romero and Members of the City Council,
I am writing to encourage you to vote in support of item C-5 on tomorrow's City Council agenda—
Resolution of Support for Expanded Passenger Rail Services Along the Pacific Coast Rail Corridor.
Improved passenger rail service will help the local economy by giving visitors an additional means of
travel to our community. It will also give local residents and businesses amore reliable means of travel
along the coast from San Diego and the San Francisco Bay area.
I have used Amtrak for business travel and would use it more if it was more reliable and offered amore
convenient schedule to the Bay Area.
Thank you.
Sincerely, .rli2D ,� rgiG
1 COUNCIL CDD DIR
Jerry Rioux RED FILE If CAO 91 P
FIN DIR
208 Trevino Drive MEETING AGENDA ATTORNEY �PW�ICRHIEF
Nipomo, CA 93444 DATE JZ� O&ITEM I;i CLERK/ORIG POLICE CHF
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