HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-11-09 - AGENDA REPORTS - CA MAGLEV ORANGELINE JPA (2)Agenda Item:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
NEW BUSINESS City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by: qRobeewman
DATE: November 9, 2004
SUBJECT: CALIFORNIA MAGLEV ORANGELINE DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY JOINT POWERS AGENCY
DEPARTMENT: Building and Engineering
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council receive a presentation from a representative of the Orangeline Development
Authority, and provide staff with direction concerning Santa Clarita's participation in the
Authority.
BACKGROUND
The Orangeline Development Authority (Authority) is an association of local cities pursuing the
vision of building an advanced high-speed magnetic levitation technology, or "maglev" transport
system, which addresses current transportation, housing, environmental, and economic issues.
The Authority is being organized initially to undertake detailed studies to determine the
feasibility of the Orangeline being built as proposed, providing frequent, high quality
transportation service to each of the stations along the 30- to 33 -mile route. Maglev vehicles
would travel at top speeds of 120 miles per hour or more. If the Orangeline was constructed
without stops, a trip from Anaheim to downtown Los Angeles could take as little as 20 minutes.
If stops were included, the trip could be made in 34 to 43 minutes, making it a highly attractive
alternative to using an automobile. In December 2000, a LAX to Palmdale High Speed Ground
Access Study was completed. This study confirmed the feasibility of a high-speed maglev
connection between North Los Angeles County, LAX, and the Los Angeles Union Station
Passenger Terminal.
Orangeline Development Authority member cities include the cities of Artesia, Bell, Bellflower,
Cerritos, Cudahy, Downey, Huntington Park, Los Alamitos, Maywood, Palmdale, Paramount,
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South Gate, and Vernon. Financial support has come from the City of Los Angeles,
Assemblyman Richman has held several meetings with representatives from the offices of
Congressmen McKeon, Senator Knight, and Supervisor Antonovich, in an effort to build
consensus on the proposed maglev link.
The Authority is pursuing federal, state, and local funding sources. As of April 21, 2004, the
Orangeline was identified in the House transportation reauthorization bill "TEA -LU" as a
national "High Priority Project," and had an initial funding earmark to help cover the cost of
future studies. Enactment of the final federal transportation reauthorization bill will determine
the level of federal funding support the Authority can anticipate during the next six years. The
Authority desires to secure funding from other sources as well, including private sources, to
expedite deployment of the Orangeline. One funding source is the requirement that member
cities make an annual contribution to the Authority.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. Direct staff to prepare documents authorizing Santa Clarita's entry into the Orangeline
Development Authority Joint Powers Agency Agreement (Agreement).
2. Direct staff to not prepare documents authorizing Santa Clarita's entry into the Agreement at
this time.
3. Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
A formula for establishing each member city's annual contribution has been approved by the
Authority. The basis for the formula is a city's population and the number of miles of Orangeline
track that will go through a city. Based on this formula, the City of Santa Clarita's contribution
for Fiscal Year 2004-2005 would be $29,688.00. A 30 -day cancellation period is offered, should
the City choose to withdraw from the Agreement.
ATTACHMENTS
None.