HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-28 - AGENDA REPORTS - SCRRA VIA PRINCESSA MTRLNK LTR (2)CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE:
Agenda Item: 11
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by:
October 28, 2014
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Michael P. Murphy
SUBJECT: APPROVE LETTER TO BE SENT FROM THE CITY MANAGER
TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REGARDING THE VIA
PRINCESSA METROLINK STATION
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council approve the draft letter to be sent from the City Manager to the Chief Executive
Officer of Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) inquiring as to the feasibility of
continuing operation of the Via Princessa Metrolink Station upon commencement of service at
the Vista Canyon Metrolink Station.
BACKGROUND
At the regular City Council Meeting of September 23, 2014, the Council directed that an item be
agendized regarding a letter to be sent from the City to the Southern California Regional Rail
Authority (SCRRA) inquiring as to the feasibility of continuing the operation of the Via
Princessa Metrolink Station upon commencement of service at the Vista Canyon Metrolink
Station. A draft letter was presented to the City Council at the meeting of October 14, 2014. The
Council requested modifications to the originally presented draft letter, with a new draft to be
returned to the Council for consideration.
Currently, it is planned that the Via Princessa Metrolink Station will close upon the
commencement of service at the Vista Canyon Metrolink Station. The intent of the letter is to
explore the feasibility of having both locations as operational Metrolink stations. The letter also
seeks to clarify that it is the desire of the City Council to move forward with the Vista Canyon
Metrolink Station, as previously approved by the Council in May 2011.
A draft letter is attached for the Council's consideration to be sent from City Manager Ken
Striplin to Michael P. DePallo, Chief Executive Officer of the Southern California Regional Rail
Authority, which inquires as to whether there is an the option for continuing the operation of the
Via Princessa Metrolink Station upon commencement of service at the Vista Canyon Metrolink
Station.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. City Council not approve the draft letter
2. City Council return the draft letter to staff for further modification
3. Other action as determined by the City Council
FISCAL IMPACT
No additional resources, outside of those included in the adopted FY 14/15 budget, are required
for the adoption of the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft letter to Michael P. DePallo, Chief Executive Officer, Southen California Regional Rail
Authority
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city of
SANTA CLARITA
23920 Valencia Boulevard • Suite 300 • Santa Clarita, California 91355-21%
Phone: (661) 259-2489 • FAX: (661) 259-8125
m .santa-darita.com
October 29, 2014
Michael P. DePallo, Chief Executive Officer
Southern California Regional Rail Authority
One Gateway Plaza, Floor 12
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Subject: Via Princessa Metrolink Station
Dear Mr. DePallo:
I am writing at the direction of the Santa Clarita City Council to inquire as to whether it is
feasible to continue having the Via Princessa Metrolink Station as an operating station upon
commencement of Metrolink rail service at the Vista Canyon Metrolink Station.
The proposed Vista Canyon Metrolink Station is part of the 185 -acre Vista Canyon Ranch
property, located between Via Princessa and Sand Canyon Road off of SR -14. The project was
approved by the City Council in May 2011 and its design elements include construction of
multimodal facilities, including a new Metrolink Station, bus transfer station, and park-and-ride.
Additionally, the Vista Canyon project will include 1,100 residential units, 900,000 square feet
of commercial space, and recreation amenities. This project exemplifies the transit oriented
development goals articulated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(Metro) and other regional agencies. The project is expected to break ground in 2015, with
construction of the Vista Canyon Metrolink Station anticipated to begin in 2016.
While the Vista Canyon Metrolink Station was originally envisioned to replace the Via Princessa
Station, the City's goal is to ensure that various options for maximizing Metrolink service in
Santa Clarita are explored. To be clear, the City is asking whether it is feasible to have the Via
Princessa Metrolink Station continue to remain operational upon commencement of service at
the Vista Canyon Metrolink Station.
The City of Santa Clarita remains strongly committed to the Vista Canyon Metrolink Station, as
approved by the City Council in 2011. The City is committed to working with the Southern
California Regional Rail Authority, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority and other entities, as appropriate, in securing full funding for construction of the
station project and initiation of rail service at the Vista Canyon Metrolink Station at the earliest
opportunity. Regardless of the determination regarding the feasibility of retaining the Via
Princessa station as an operational Metrolink station over the long-term, the City seeks to ensure
3
Michael P. DePallo, Chief Executive Officer
Southern California Regional Rail Authority
October 29, 2014
Page 2
that this inquiry will have no impact on funding already committed to the Vista Canyon
Metrolink Station nor reduce the Vista Canyon Station's priority in future funding or operational
considerations by your agency.
Thank you for your consideration of my request on behalf of the Santa Clarita City Council.
Should you or your staff require any additional information regarding this inquiry, please do not
hesitate to contact me at (661) 255-4905, or by email at kstrinlin@santa-clarita.com.
Sincerely,
Kenneth W. Striplin
City Manager
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cc: Members of the City Council
Frank Oviedo, Assistant City Manager
Robert Newman, Director of Public Works
Tom Cole, Director of Community Development
Michael P. Murphy, Intergovernmental Relations Officer
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Member of SCRRA and Metro Board of Directors
Councilmember Ara Najarian, Member of SCRRA and Metro Board of Directors
Art Leahy, Metro Executive Director
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