HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-10-10 - AGENDA REPORTS - COMMUNITY BASED TRANS GRANT (2)Agenda Item:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by: Dave Peterson
DATE: October 10, 2006
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN
APPLICATION FOR THE 2007/2008 CALIFORNIA STATE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY-BASED
TRANSPORTATION GRANT
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council adopt a resolution for the 2007/2008 California Department of Transportation
Community Based Transportation Grant application and authorize the City Manager to execute
the application.
BACKGROUND
The California Department of Transportation has identified $3 million from its State Highway
Account and made it available to fund Community Based Transportation Grants. The deadline
for the current grant cycle is October 13, 2006. Individual grant applications can be as high as
$300,000. Eligible projects include studies that examine a variety of transit related issues,
including the efficient use of multi -modal transportation planning to reduce vehicle traffic and
the creation of transit oriented "transit village" developments.
Specifically, this grant application would implement a feasibility study of a light rail system
using the existing rail right of way and Metrolink stations as a way to link transit oriented
villages within the City of Santa Clarita. The first Transit Village would be the result of planned
transit oriented development in the Newhall area as a part of the Downtown Newhall Specific
Plan. The second transit village will be as a result of future development in the River Park
development and Whittaker-Bermite development near the Santa Clarita station. The third
would involve the relocation of the current Via Princessa station to the Lost Canyon area. This
development is in the early phases of discussion with the Community Development Department.
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hi the future there may be the potential of developing a station and transit village in the vicinity
of the old Lang Station in Canyon Country.
The proposed study would examine locations of future alignments throughout the City and to
create linkages to future rail right of way in the Newhall Ranch development and existing Santa
Paula branch.
The study would seek to address the following issues:
• Identify and quantify benefits of light rail on the existing transit services;
• Determine the feasibility of using existing rail right-of-way;
• Identify optimal light rail alignments beyond the existing core rail infrastructure;
• Identify potential links to Newhall Ranch and the Santa Paula branch;
• Create design guidelines for use in new transit villages;
• Identify potential new light rail stations;
• Identify "green" power sources for light rail trains;
• Identify infrastructural and operational needs of the program including train maintenance
and storage;
• Identify future locations for additional transit villages;
• Identify funding sources;
• Identify partnership opportunities with other key agencies.
The study would also conduct an extensive public outreach campaign to receive feedback and
information on a light rail system in Santa Clarita. At least three public meetings in conjunction
with a community survey would be conducted to achieve these ends. The feasibility analysis
would include all data gathered during public outreach.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other actions as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The amount of the grant application is $250,000. A twenty -percent match ($50,000) is required
by the City. One-half of the match ($25,000) can be in-kind services while the balance must be
in local funds. Grant payments would be made as reimbursements to the City of Santa Clarita.
Since award announcements will not be made until Spring of 2007 at the earliest, it is estimated
that requests for any City funds required would be made during the City's Fiscal Year 2007/2008
annual budget process.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution