HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-01-06 - AGENDA REPORTS - VENTURA COUNTY RAIL (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
INTEROFFICE MEMORA
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City
FROM: Jeff Kolin, Deputy City Manager, Public.Works
DATE: January 6, 1993
SUBJECT: VENTURA COUNTY RAIL CORRIDOR
The Ventura County Transportation Commission recently completed the second phase of
study and analysis regarding a possible Ventura County Rail Corridor. The phase two study
followed a phase one study which determined that commuter rail service between the
Ventura/Oxnard area and the Santa Clarita Valley was feasible. Phase two addressed
possible alignments for the rail corridor and established preliminary engineering and cost
analysis guidelines.
The concept developed by the Ventura County Transportation Commission is for a commuter
rail service similar to that operated by Metrolink between Santa Clarita and downtown Los
Angeles. Service would begin in the Ventura/Oxnard area and travel along existing railway
tracks to the Santa Clarita employment centers and commercial amusement attractions.
Reverse service from the Santa Clarita Valley to Ventura County beaches and visitor areas
would be established at a later date during the weekend days. The initial analysis was made
with the assumption that heavy rail technology similar to the Metrolink system would be
incorporated in the Ventura County corridor. The study also recognized that existing
railroad tracks are still owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad company from the
Ventura/Oxnard area to Piru. The right of way from Piru to Santa Clarita has been
abandoned and has been purchased by the Newhall Land and Farming Company.
The alignment from Piru to Santa Clarity is critical to the success of the Ventura County Rail
corridor. This section of the alignment will provide a possible connection to the
Palmdale/Lancaster area and to the existing Metrolink service to the San Fernando Valley;
Glendale, Burbank and downtown Los Angeles areas. This section of the right of way, as
mentioned above, has been abandoned and is now in the private ownership of the Newhall
Land and Farming Company.
The preservation and acquisition of this portion of the alignment and right of way are critical
tasks which must occur before development precludes access through the Santa Clarita area.
Alignment options have been developed and have significant differences in terms of costs,
such as bridges, the need for above or below grade crossings, and environmental buffering
such as sound walls.
Agenda Item: 3
City Manager and City Council
Ventura County Rail Corridor
January 6, 1993
Page 2
A number of alignment options are possible and vary according to the technology options
selected for the rail service. Heavy rail equipment like that used for the Metrolink train
service requires a wider right of way and more gradual turns. Alternative technologies such
as DMUs or diesel rail cars require a slightly narrower right of way and can accommodate
sharper turns and a third option of an electric trolley or red car type of system can operate
on shared use right of ways and incorporate still sharper turn radiuses.
Ventura County will be applying for ISTEA enhancement funds to purchase their share of the
right of way in fiscal year 1993. Preserving right of way in Santa Clarita will be most
critical since the only missing piece is located here. Although actual service is several years
off, and preserving the right of way would seem to be a simple task of setting aside or
acquiring land, there is a need to understand future service options when securing right of
way. Should the rail line hook up with the current Southern Pacific main line heading
towards Los Angeles, toward Palmdale, or toward both? Will the line be worked with
Metrolink equipment or DMUs (diesel rail car)? Should the right of way be planned to
incorporate future high speed rail through the Santa Clarita Valley area? These and other
questions are all pertinent to raise and discuss prior to the selection of a final right of way.
The final right of way, or alignment will also have impacts on the City's decision on where
to locate the next Metrolink rail station. It is safe to say that whatever right of way is
preserved, a connection with the main Southern Pacific route through Santa Clarita is
critical. If no new additional stations are planned, then it would be important to connect to
the existing Metrolink station adjacent to the Saugus'Speedway. If a connection to the San
Fernando and downtown Los Angeles areas is a priority, then the placement of the next rail
station would most likely occur in the Newhall area. ` If service between Palmdale, Lancaster
and the Ventura County area is the priority, then a station to the east of the existing
Metrolink station at the Saugus Speedway would be of critical importance.
The Newhall Iand and Farming Company has proposed several possible alignments in
response to the Ventura County Transportation Commission rail corridor study. Each of the
three alignments proposed by Newhall Land and Farming share a common alignment from
the I-5 Freeway to McBean Parkway. From McBean east to the south fork of the Santa
Clara River, there are two options, a north and south alignment. The north and south
alignments then split into three possible alignments. The north alignment which proceeds
east across the south fork of the Santa Clara River and continues along the south bank of the
main Santa Clara River to the proposed Rio Vista Road crossing where it crosses Soledad
Canyon Road and proceeds behind the Saugus Speedway to the Metrolink Rail Station. The
second possible alignment would proceed south along the east side of the Santa Clara River
across the Valencia Boulevard and Bouquet/San Fernando Road where it would connect into
the Southern Pacific main line.
City Manager and City Council
Ventura County Rail Corridor
January 6, 1993
Page 3
The third alternative alignment would not cross the south fork initially, and would proceed
south along the west side of the south fork of the Santa Clara River crossing Valencia
Boulevard, then crossing the south fork of the Santa Clara River at the Magic Mountain
Parkway bridge where it would then proceed across Bouquet Canyon Road/San Fernando
Road and then connect into the Southern Pacific main line.
Each of the three proposed alignments have impacts on the Santa Clarita Valley. These
impacts include; increased noise, interruption of vehicular traffic and at grade crossings at
major arterial roads including McBean Parkway, Valencia Boulevard, Bouquet Canyon Road,
San Fernando Road and Magic Mountain Parkway. The proposed alignments also have
significant impacts on the Santa Clara River, Each of the alignments proposed incorporate
an alignment adjacent to the south side of the Santa Clara River. The plan calls for a hard
channel design in order to protect the rail improvements. Placing the rail right of way
adjacent to the river would effectively sever public access to this area and would be in
conflict with the aesthetics and design and environmental standards identified through the
Santa Clara River study. Newhall Land and Farming has also proposed the location of a
road known as Avenue Scott adjacent to the north side of the Santa Clara River from
McBean parkway to Bouquet Canyon Road. Placement of both the road and the rail line
would impact both sides of the river putting two high impact transportation improvements
next to an environmentally sensitive area of the City.
i
It is recommended that the City Council review the three proposed alignments for the
Ventura County rail corridor through the Santa Clarita Valley and provide feedback to staff
as to their preferred alignment and their concerns with the impacts of the rail corridor on the
Santa Clarita Valley.. It is further recommended that the City Council direct staff to continue
to work with the Ventura County Transportation Commission and the Newhall Land and
Farming Company to identify a preferred alignment from Piru to Santa Clarita which
minimizes noise, traffic and environmental impacts.
JK:gmm
ventum.jk