OCTA Weekly Update: Irvine-Corona Expressway tunnel, train grade separations, HSR funds
Submitted by Steven on 7 February, 2010 - 10:18am
OCTA's weekly update was posted a few days ago. Just a few highlights I've found interesting with my opinion in italics:
- California Awarded $2.34 Billion In High-Speed Rail Funding.
- San Clemente Considers Wayside Horn System at Rail Crossings: could this be another "transit" project to benefit homeowners in the area?
- Orangethorpe Rail Corridor near Placentia and Anaheim to grade-separate 5 different crossings: could this be another "transit" project to benefit motorists in the area?
- OCTA's still throwing a few million dollars away in studies to evaluate building a several-billion-dollar freeway/tollway tunnel beneath the mountains separating Corona and Irvine. I'll post more about this later.
- OCTA will likely cut deeper into bus service in September. More about this later.
The Weekly Update follows:
California Awarded $2.34 Billion 
The California High-Speed Rail project received more than $2.3 billion in federal stimulus funding last week. The project would zip passengers from Anaheim to San Francisco in less than three hours.
During a press conference in Fresno last Thursday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joined federal and state officials to announce that California will receive $2.34 billion, the largest amount for any state, in federal economic stimulus funds to develop a high-speed rail line running from Anaheim to San Francisco. This, coupled with $9.95 billion in Proposition 1A funds, jump starts California’s high-speed rail program with a total of $12.29 billion, making high-speed rail in California a reality. Overall, the Obama administration is distributing $8 billion for work on 13 rail corridors. Those include a Midwest line from Chicago to St. Louis and one in Florida running from Tampa to Orlando. Trains on the proposed Anaheim-to-San Francisco line would zip passengers more than 400 miles in less than three hours. The project would take a decade to complete with planned extensions to San Diego and Sacramento. “This award is fantastic news for California and for our state’s high-speed rail project,” said Director Curt Pringle, also chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority in a statement last week. “It is an award that will lead to the creation of tens of thousands of quality jobs in the near term and to continued economic strength and an enhanced transportation network in the long term.” An additional $2.5 billion was included for high-speed rail in the recently approved transportation spending bill, and federal lawmakers have talked about including as much as $50 billion for such transit in a multiyear bill that will be written later this year. Transit Forum on Friday Seeks Solutions to Transit Crisis After suffering from massive cuts to transit, Southern Californians are mobilizing Friday for what may be one of the largest gatherings to tackle the vexing issue that impacts people and jobs.  More than 400 people including leaders from government, business, labor unions, transit advocates and the public are participating in a daylong Southern California Transit Forum at Chapman University as they seek solutions to a statewide crisis facing public transportation. “I am pleased that transit-focused advocates and leaders are coming together to discuss the Southern California problems and solutions,” said Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez who along with Chapman University, Teamsters Local 952 and OCTA are spearheading the event. “The transit forum will focus on the issues at hand — residents who face the prospect of losing the only means of transportation to get to and from work and our transportation workforce facing the loss of jobs. Solutions are imperative.” Elected officials taking part in the transit forum include: Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Congresswoman Laura Richardson, State Sen. Alan Lowenthal, Assemblyman Jose Solorio, Assemblyman Mike Eng, Tustin Mayor and OCTA Chairman Jerry Amante, Orange Mayor and OCTA Director Carolyn V. Cavecche and Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, also chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority and a member of the OCTA Board of Directors. OCTA CEO Will Kempton is providing an update on the local impact of the state crisis and Director Peter Buffa is facilitating a discussion with top transportation officials. The forum also is scheduled to cover legislative and legal options for preserving transit funding, proposed ballot initiatives, federal funding opportunities, economic impacts and stakeholder perspectives and information on the California high-speed rail project. The event will broadcast via live-streaming video with public participation with live Twitter updates where people can post comments and questions at #transitforum. For a complete list of speakers and topics, click here. San Clemente Considers Wayside The city of San Clemente has eight pedestrian railroad crossings lining its beach trail that allow users to access the coastline safely. In an effort to reduce or eliminate train horn noise at these crossings, the city in partnership with OCTA is pursuing the implementation of a Wayside Horn System. The City of San Clemente is considering the implementation of wayside horns at their eight rail crossings. For more Transportation in 2 videos, visit OCTA’s YouTube channel.
A wayside horn is a stationary horn system at railroad crossings that sound off a warning, directed towards pedestrians, when a train approaches. While in place, it substitutes for the sound of a train horn. OCTA is joining the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the California Public Utilities Commission to conduct a sound study in coordination with the City of San Clemente to determine if wayside horns are appropriate for the proposed pedestrian railroad crossings. The study will analyze the possibility of reducing FRA mandated wayside horn volumes at pedestrian crossings in order to enhance the quality of life for surrounding residents. A preliminary report of the study is anticipated to be completed in March 2010. CEO Meets with City Managers Regarding Grade separations allow traffic to move smoothly and safely past railroad crossings. OCTA is planning to construct five grade crossings in next few years. For more Transportation in 2 videos, visit OCTA’s YouTube channel.
CEO Will Kempton met with the city managers and senior staff members Tuesday for the cities of Placentia, Fullerton, Anaheim, Yorba Linda and Brea to discuss the potential acceleration of the grade separation projects along the Orangethorpe rail corridor. The city staff members expressed concern about a possible schedule acceleration that could result in simultaneous street closures at Placentia Avenue, Kraemer Boulevard, Orangethorpe Avenue, Tustin Avenue/Rose Drive and Lakeview Avenue. 
OCTA plans to build five grade crossings on Placentia Avenue, Kraemer Boulevard, Orangethorpe Avenue, Tustin Avenue / Rose Drive and Lakeview Avenue.
Kempton responded by outlining the process to study a variety of risk factors and his commitment to work with the cities during construction. He offered to reconvene the group to share the technical information that will be the basis for the staff recommendations prior to the next Highways Committee meeting on March 1. Metrolink Announces New Schedule New Metrolink schedules will go into effect on Monday, Feb. 15. The Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County Line weekend schedules will change the following Saturday, Feb. 20. This schedule change will incorporate the service reductions approved by the Metrolink Board of Directors at the Jan. 8 board meeting and include minor changes to a number of other weekday trains in response to current operating conditions on the system. Orange County Line Weekend Service (Oceanside – San Juan Capistrano – Los Angeles) will be reduced from eight trains to four trains. Click here to see the new schedule changes. CEO Completes the Orange County Tour  Less than six months after becoming OCTA’s new CEO, Will Kempton completed his goal of introducing himself to the elected officials and community members of all 34 cities in Orange County. Kempton visited La Habra Monday and completed his Orange County tour in Fountain Valley Tuesday night. “While it took longer than I thought it would, I am proud to say that I can name every city in Orange County and that I have been to every city hall,” Kempton said during the city council meeting. The former director of Caltrans took the reins as OCTA’s CEO in August 2009. Since his arrival, Kempton has overseen major transportation projects such as the groundbreaking of the Riverside Freeway (SR-91) lane addition, tackled OCTA’s budget crisis and most recently welcomed $2.34 billion in funding for the California high-speed rail project. 
Oversight Committee to Conduct Public Hearing Tuesday, Feb. 9 – The Measure M Taxpayers Oversight Committee is conducting its 19th annual public hearing at OCTA headquarters at 6 p.m. The committee will review OCTA’s administration of Measure M, the one-half percent transportation sales tax, activities during the past year. Contact Alice Rogan at (714) 560-5577 or arogan@octa.net. Advocacy Trip to Provide Insight on OCTA’s State Legislative Priorities March 3 and March 4 – The annual OCTA Sacramento advocacy trip will provide an opportunity to advance the organization’s state legislative priorities. The agenda will be comprehensive and include meetings with Orange County’s state representatives, members of the Senate and Assembly leadership and high-ranking members of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Administration. Contact Maureen Figueredo at (714) 560-5677 or mfigueredo@octa.net by Feb. 5. APTA to Hold Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. March 13 to March 16 – APTA will hold its annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. to focus on legislative issues facing the transportation industry and to advocate for transportation on Capitol Hill. Contact Allison Cheshire at (714) 560-5490 or acheshire@octa.net. 
Jan. 29 – The Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times both wrote articles about California receiving $2.25 billion in federal economic stimulus funds to develop a high-speed rail line running from Anaheim to San Francisco. 
Environmental protection is one of the goals of Renewed Measure M with funds for habitat preservation. Picture courtesy of vanSairs.
Jan. 29 – The Corona Del Mar Today published an article explaining a letter sent to residents from OCTA identifying areas that could be conservation sites in order to offset the impact from 13 freeway projects built with Measure M sales tax funds. Jan. 29. – The Orange County Register ran an article about government and business leaders, labor unions and transit advocates seeking solutions to the statewide financial crisis facing public transportation during an upcoming transit forum at Chapman University. Jan. 30 – The Orange County Register ran an article about the damage caused to local streets and roads after the rainstorm last week. Jan 30. – The Orange County Register wrote an article about train service south of Irvine being suspended Sunday to make way for construction on the railroad tracks. Jan. 30 – The Orange County Register published a story about Amtrak and Metrolink reducing rail service in Orange County. Feb. 1 – The Orange County Register printed an article about OCTA offering a new set of “commuter coupons” to keep customers visiting the I-5 Gateway construction zone shopping centers. Jan. 29 – The Daily Pilot wrote an article about the city of Costa Mesa reducing the number of street improvement projects the city can work on each year due to budget cuts. 
Orange County and Riverside officials decided that an 11.5 mile-long tunnel between Corona and Irvine, similar to the one above, is too costly for the public agencies. Picture courtesy of Biofriendly.
Feb. 2 – The Riverside Press Enterprise andOrange County Register both published articles about a proposal to connect Irvine to Corona with an underground tunnel that may be technically possible, but likely too costly for transportation agencies. Feb. 2 & Feb. 3 – The Orange County Local News Network and the Orange County Registerboth included stories about the planned March bus service cut of 150,000 revenue vehicle hours, the corresponding employee reductions and the possibility of implementing an additional 150,000 revenue vehicle hour reduction as early as September. Feb. 3 – KOCE’s “Real Orange” hosted OCTA Chairman Jerry Amante to discuss his goals for the year. Feb. 4 – The Orange County Register published an article about the San Clemente City Council ratifying an amended agreement with OCTA to extend the deadline for the OCTA to complete the $1.5 million project to improve the crossing gates at two railroad crossings. Feb. 4 – The Orange County Local News Network posted a story about a Chinese government-controlled bank agreeing to loan $7 billion to help fund the “maglev” train, the proposed high-speed connectionbetween Anaheim and Las Vegas. |
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Comments
"California Awarded $2.34
"California Awarded $2.34 Billion In High-Speed Rail Funding."
The project has hit a speed bump, and this time it's serious. The MTC apparently changed some ridership data without telling anyone, including the firm that did the study.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14348826
"San Clemente Considers Wayside Horn System at Rail Crossings: could this be another "transit" project to benefit homeowners in the area?"
No one has the balls to tell San Clemente to pay for it. Entitled homeowners win again.
"Orangethorpe Rail Corridor near Placentia and Anaheim to grade-separate 5 different crossings: could this be another "transit" project to benefit motorists in the area?"
Nobody has the balls to tell Anaheim and Placentia to pay for them. Another entitlement for drivers. And this wouldn't be so bad if drivers weren't criticizing subsidized buses. Hypocrites.
"OCTA's still throwing a few million dollars away in studies to evaluate building a several-billion-dollar freeway/tollway tunnel beneath the mountains separating Corona and Irvine. I'll post more about this later."
It's not a fight over cutting government spending. It's not a fight over smart spending. It's not a fight over cutting the subsidized, wasteful buses and allowing free-market freeways that pay for themselves (lol) to thrive. It's all about who gets the subsidy.
Homeowners, drivers, conservatives and Republicans want those subsidies too and they want them bad, and they are willing to lie about the nature of government spending to get them.
Inland Empire corridor into Orange County
You are right, something stinks on this issue. The best solution still is an above ground link that avoids the over built 91 running through Corona. That is very expensive land if anyone is proposing a widening of the 91 again.
The best value connects the 215 (near MAFB) and the 15 near Cajalco Rd, and would present a great economic boom to this depressed area. Not to mention the business' that would jump on the opportunity to better utilize MAFB and the surrounding areas. Why go underground when the land is relatively cheap with multiple vistas all the way into OC. That would be a beautiful and relaxing drive that would also offer a great option for business trucking. I have never heard a good reason to avoid this idea as it really presents the most options for solving all known objections.
I’m sure the money is an incentive for many to try and control the outcome, but we know that also brings out the crooks and tempts our elected officials to disregard what would really be best for the people and business’ in the area. Get rid of the stink & greed and we can get this solution started.
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