HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-03-23 - AGENDA REPORTS - HIGH SPEED RAIL ROUTE (2)CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
Agenda Item: 7
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval'.
Item to be presented by:
March 23, 2004
Mark Yamarone
CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAU, — RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING AN ANTELOPE VALLEY ROUTE ALIGNMENT
Transportation and Engineering Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council adopt a resolution supporting an Antelope Valley route alignment for the proposed
California High -Speed Rail system.
BACKGROUND
The California High -Speed Rail Authority (Authority) is the State entity responsible for the
planning, construction, and operation of a high-speed train system serving California's major
metropolitan areas. The Authority has prepared a program -level Draft Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/S) for a 700 -mile, high-speed train system
serving Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Inland Empire,
Orange County, and San Diego. The Authority is accepting public comments on the DEIR/S.
The DEIRJS includes route alternatives for the entire system, including the Los Angeles to
Bakersfield segment. Staff is currently reviewing the DEIR/S and will develop and provide
comments to the Authority prior to the May 14, 2004 deadline.
Due to the topography of the Tehachapi Mountains, one of the most challenging segments of the
proposed high-speed rail system is selecting a route alignment between Los Angeles and
Bakersfield. The Authority is currently studying two route alignments between Santa Clarita and
Bakersfield.
• Interstate 5 (I-5) Grapevine Alignment:
This alignment would generally follow I-5 through the Grapevine to Bakersfield. However,
the terrain on this route is challenging with steep slopes, requiring extensive tunneling and
Adopted: CCI 4)
structure construction. This alignment does not include a stop in the Santa Clarita Valley. A
proposed station location serving the Santa Clarita Valley would be at the Sylmar Metrolink
Station.
• State Route 14 (SR -14) /State Route 58 (SR -58) Alignment:
This alignment would generally follow SR -14 through the Santa Clarita Valley and the
existing Metrolink route through Soledad Canyon. The alignment continues north through
Palmdale and Lancaster along the existing rail right-of-way and follows SR -58's existing rail
route over the Tehachapi Mountains. This route crosses earthquake faults at grade. This
alignment does not include a stop in the Santa Clarita Valley. A proposed station location
serving the Santa Clarita Valley would be at the Sylmar Metrolink Station.
After discussions between the cities of Lancaster, Palmdale, and Santa Clarita, and the County of
Los Angeles, the SR-14/SR-58 alignment (described above) is supported by each of these
jurisdictions and by the North County Transportation Coalition (NCTC).
In January 2002, the City Council adopted a resolution supporting the Antelope Valley Route
Alignment.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no immediate fiscal impact from adopting the proposed resolution.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Route Map