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Home My WebLink AboutE-9 Staff Report - Gold Line Letter of SupportCONSENT ITEM E-9 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: DON PENMAN, INERIM CITY MANAGER FROM: DANIEL BOBADILLA, P.E., DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER DATE: DECEMBER 18, 2017 SUBJECT: APPROVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE METRO GOLD LINE FOOTHILL LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION TRANSIT AND INTERCITY RAIL CAPITAL PROGRAM (TIRCP) GRANT APPLICATION SUMMARY: The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority are submitting a grant application to the State of California’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) for the next phase of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Light Rail Project from Glendora to Montclair. The proposed actions will approve a letter supporting the project. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the City Council take the following action: 1)Approve a letter of support for the Metro Gold Line Foothill Light Rail Extension Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant application. DISCUSSION: The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority are submitting a grant application to the State of California’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program for the next phase of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Light Rail Project. The next phase of the Gold Line project broke ground on December 2, 2017 and is scheduled to be completed in 2026. The project will extend the light rail system 12.3 miles from Glendora to Montclair, adding stations in the Cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont, and Montclair. Construction of the Glendora to Montclair segment is estimated to cost $1.476 billion and take approximately nine years to complete. The majority of the project will be funded with the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan (Measure M) funds along with residual funds from the Pasadena to APPROVED CITY COUNCIL 12/18/2017 Letter of Support for Metro Gold Line Foothill Light Rail Extension TIRCP Application December 18, 2017 Page 2 Azusa segment that was completed under budget. Although construction commenced on December 2, 2017, the project still has funding gaps. Grant funds from the TIRCP will secure the funds necessary to fill the project’s funding gap. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority are requesting the City’s support with this grant application by submitting the attached letter of support. The letter expresses the City’s support of the next phase of the Gold Line light rail project and the numerous benefits it will generate for the City and San Gabriel Valley as a whole. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action. Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved: Daniel Bobadilla, P.E. Louie F. Lacasella Director of Public Works/City Engineer Senior Management Analyst Reviewed and Approved: Don Penman Interim City Manager Attachment: 1) Letter of Support - Metro Gold Line Foothill Light Rail Extension TIRCP Application December 14, 2017 The Honorable Brian Kelly Secretary, California State Transportation Agency 915 Capitol Mall, Suite 350 B Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: Support for the Metro Gold Line Foothill Light Rail Extension TIRCP Application Dear Secretary Kelly: On behalf of the City of Azusa, I am writing to support the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant application submitted by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority for the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail project. This important regional project will add miles of light rail service to our region’s transit network, in an area with some of the state’s worst congestion and air quality. It will link millions of new users to the network of rail lines via bus and rail connections. The extension will increase ridership on a line that has exceeded expectations, eliminating hundreds of thousands of vehicle miles traveled and associated greenhouse gas pollutants. This transit extension is already the catalyst for economic development, with significant growth in housing and jobs underway within a ½-mile of the future stations; and will connect direct access to nearly two dozen universities and colleges within a short walk, bike or bus ride of a future station. It will connect hundreds of thousands of workers currently driving the I-210 Freeway to job centers in the San Gabriel Valley and downtown Los Angeles, and will offer direct connections to major regional destinations, like the Los Angeles County Fairplex that serves millions of visitors each year. Importantly, it will deliver a future link for Los Angeles County residents to Ontario International Airport; a connection that is currently being studied by the Southern California Association of Governments and San Bernardino County Transportation Authority. The Foothill Extension project will address existing and future traffic congestion by providing a cost-effective alternative travel option for millions of residents, students, workers and visitors; as well as new opportunities to live and work near transit. It will improve mobility, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create new connectivity and corridor safety, and benefit numerous ATTACHMENT 1 disadvantaged communities – and is therefore exactly the type of project the TIRCP funds should go to support. Thank you for your consideration of the application. Sincerely, The Azusa City Council Joseph Romero Mayor Edward J. Alvarez Angel Carrillo Councilmember Councilmember Uriel Edward Macias Robert Gonzales Mayor Pro-Tem Councilmember