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Home My WebLink About1990-11-07 - AGENDA REPORTS - COMMUTER RAIL STATION (3)NEW BUSINESS DATE: November.7, 1990 SUBJECT: COMMUTER RAIL %S�TfA/T l/fi- 1 DEPARTMENT: Public Warks AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval Item to be presented by: John E. Medina BACKGROUND V Staff advised Council at the meeting of October 30, 1990 of the approval of a commuter rail system from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Clarita. It is essential that we move quickly to identify station sites to assist LACTC'S efforts in applying for partial funding of the City's commuter rail stations. The following are the minimum requirements for a basic station: • The property must be at least 3-5 acres in size. • 300 parking spaces is required with future expansion to 500 spaces (there are approximately 100-125 parking spaces per acre). • 425 foot platform. • Lighting and handicap accessible LACTC, on behalf of the City, has submitted an application for State Transportation Capital Improvement (TCI) funds which may be available for Cities to construct their commuter rail stations. The amount being requested for the City is $750,000 which is .approximately 25% of the cost for two basic stations. In order to increase the City's chances of receiving these funds, LACTC has requested that the City submit the following documents to support the TCI application: • Commuter Rail Station site application . . . . . due 11/30/90 • Council Resolution approving the site . . . . . due 12/11/90 • Schedule of environmental clearances . . . . . . due 11/30/90 The Public Works Department, with the assistance of Community Development, have conducted a study to.evaluate potential sites for the -City's proposed commuter rail station. It must be emphasized that applying for TCI funds does not commit the City to these sites. The following is a list of the prospective sites:, • BERMITE AREA (owned by the Whittaker Corp.) • SAUGUS SPEEDWAY (owned by the Rodeo Land Co.) • DRAYTON STREET (various owners) • CIRCLE J RANCH ROAD (owned by the Ridgedale Joint Venture) • SAN FERNANDO ROAD & 13TH STREET (owned by Glazer Guilford) • SAN FERNANDO ROAD & PINE STREET (owned by L.A. County & others) AgB%1d 4e4h: COMMUTER RAIL STATION Page 2 A central location is very desirable for providing a multi -modal station. Staff has been in contact with* the Uniden Valencia Inc., potential developers of the Bermite property who have expressed an interest in incorporating a rail station as part of their development. The following is a list of advantages and disadvantages that should be considered in selecting a site: I. BERMITE AREA Advantages • Centrally located. • Existing.open space. • Property is large enough to accommodate a station (approximately 23 acres). • A joint development looks promising for this site. • Near the proposed Civic Center. • Good access to Soledad.Canyon Road. Disadvantages • A signalized intersection would be required on Soledad Canyon Road. II. DRAYTON STREET Advantaces • Centrally located. • Identified by the General Plan. • Near the proposed Civic Center. • Access to Magic Mtn. Pkwy (SR 126). Disadvantages • This site is densely occupied with industrial structures/ High acquisition cost. • Limited open space. • This site has several ownerships. III. CIRCLE J RANCH ROAD Advantages • Near proposed Rio Vista Road. Disadvantages • Property is not large enough to accommodate a station. • This site is being .proposed for subdivision. COMMUTER RAIL STATION Page 3 IV. SAN FERNANDO ROAD & 13TH STREET Advantaces • Centrally located. • Good access to the proposed Rio 'Vista Road. • Sufficient open space with no buildings on site. • Property is large enough to accommodate. a station (approximately 28 acres). Disadvantages • Access may be a problem to San Fernando Road. • Street improvements will be required on 13th Street. V. SAN FERNANDO ROAD AND PINE STREET Advantages • Good access to S.R. 14. • Identified by LACTC'S study. • Good access to San Fernando Road. • The Old Saugus station could be used as a commuter rail station to preserve Newhall's old western tradition. Disadvantages • Santa_Clarita Valley Historical Society's approval would be required. • The property on Pine Street, which wouldbe needed for parking, is densely occupied with industrial buildings.' • This site has several ownerships. • High acquisition cost Staff feels that the Bermite site has strong potential for the City's first multi -modal transportation center and should be identified by LACTC. Additionally, a second station will be needed in the future to serve the Newhall/Valencia area. Various locations along San Fernando Road with advantages and disadvantages have not been clearly defined at this time. At first glance the Glazer property located at the northeast corner of San Fernando Road and 13th Street has a strong possibility as a second station site. Staff will continue to conduct further analysis and return to Council with recommendations. In summary, the Resolution that is due to LACTC on December 11 is necessary to apply for TCI funds. This Resolution does not, however, constitute a commitment on the part of the City regarding site selection. COMMUTER RAIL STATION Page 4 Staff recommends that: 1) The Council consider the sites identified and select the Bermite area as the primary location for the City's first commuter rail station. 2) Direct staff to continue study for a site along San Fernando Road. 3) The Council direct staff to prepare a Resolution for the Council meeting of November 13, 1990 for submittal to LACTC, identifying a station. ATTACHMENTS Attachment I - LACTC'S commuter rail station site application. Attachment II - LACTC'S sample resolution. Attachment III - Map of proposed station sites. /jcd `RAIL STATION / SITE i COMMUTER y K= P P I C' A T1 0 N � f h>�M A L (Attach Additional Sheets if Neccessary) =a , CITY CONTACT DATE PHONE SITE LOCATION (Cross Streets) SIZE OF AVAILABLE PROPERTY COST OF PROPERTY TO BE PURCHASED ANY RELOCATION REOUIREMENTS? (Explain) PLEASE LIST ANTICIPATED ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED (Traffic Lights, Street Widening, Property Ease- ments) ESTIMATED PARKING SPACES r GRADE CROSSING ELIMINATIONS PROPOSED TYPE OF TRANSIT (BUS) FACILITIES PROPOSED AT FACILITY FINANCING PLAN JOINT DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES JOINT DEVELOPMENT CONTACT PHONE DATE OF COUNCIL APPROVAL OF SITE APPLICATION (Attach City Resolution) CITY CLERK e *INCLUDE EXISTING AND PLANNED UTILITIES A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TO APPLY FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDS.FOR TRANSIT CAPITAL IMPROVE- MENT PROGRAM PROJECTS AS PART OF THE LOS ANGELES_' COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION'S APPLICATION WHEREAS, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) programs and allocates Transportation Planning and Development funds (TP&D) for Transit Capital Improvement (TCI) Projects; and WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation annually submits to the California Transportation Commission its resource allocation recommendations on Mass Transit Guideway projects; and WHEREAS, the CTC has estimated that.$40 million would be available in Fiscal Year 1991 - 92 for the TCI program; and WHEREAS, the CTC has solicited applications for the FY 1991 92 TCI Program; and WHEREAS, the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission has submitted an application for these funds to be used toward con- struction of commuter rail stations in Los Angeles County; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of , declares its desire for a Commuter Rail Station within its city limits, understanding that funding such a station is largely the responsibility of the City; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of ,condi- tioned upon the successful completion of the necessary environmen- tal clearance, declares its intent to provide a 50% match ($ _) for the construction costs of the commuter rail station devel- opment project identified by the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission in its TCI application for an Intermodal Transfer Sta- tion. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of , 1990. I. BERMITE AREA 2. DRAYTON ST. 3• CIRCLE J RANCH RD. 4. S.F. RD. 13 13TH ST. 5. S.F. RD. & PINE ST. PROPOSED COMMUTER RAIL STATION SITES m�� N N.T.S.