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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda Report - January 20, 2010 D-11AGENDA ITEM b400 CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION ,m AGENDATITLE: Consider Authorizing the Mayor To Enter A Memorandum Of Understanding With Public Agencies From Merced To Sacramento County To Jointly Plan And Develop Improved Regional Passenger Rail Transportation MEETING DATE: January 20,2010 PREPARED BY: Community Development Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: Consider authorizing the Mayor to enter a Memorandum Of Understanding with public agencies from Merced to Sacramento County to jointly plan and develop improved regional passenger rail transportation. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has been created to prepare a plan and design for the high speed rail system, conduct environmental studies, obtain necessary permits, and undertake the construction and operation of a high-speed passenger train network in California. This system will eventually connect Sacramento with Los Angeles via the Central Valley. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pertains to the various agencies that make up the anticipated alignment from Merced to Sacramento. Moreover, the CHSRA has agreed to incorporate a regional services concept into the overall planning and environmental process in order to streamline and coordinate the service development, provided there is an active and committed regional partner which is the role that this working group will provide. From the City of Lodi's perspective, it is this regional service potential that we are most interested in. Conceptually this system could provide the mechanism for commuter rail to connect Lodi with downtown Sacramento and locations to the south. Council Member Johnson has participated in the group thus far as the City's representative to the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission. FISCAL IMPACT: N/A K adt Bartlam Community Development Director KB/kjc Attachments: Memorandum of Understanding APPROVED: Blair ity Manager MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BY AND BETWEEN COUNTY OF MERCED CITY OF MERCED MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS COUNTY OF STANISLAUS CITY OF MODESTO, CITY OF TURLOCK STANISLAUS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS SAN JOAQUIN REGIONAL RAIL COMMISSION SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY CITY OF STOCKTON, CITY OF LODI AND CITY OF MANTECA SAN JOAQUIN REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT SAN JOAQUIN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO CITY OF SACRAMENTO, CITY OF ELK GROVE AND CITY OF GALT SACRAMENTO REGIONAL TRANSIT SACRAMENTO AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING A WORKING GROUP TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY TO PLAN AND DEVELOP IMPROVED PASSENGER RAIL TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE REGIONS OF MERCED AND SACRAMENTO WHEREAS, the agencies listed above (herein referred to as the "Parties") share the goal of improving and increasing passenger rail service interconnecting their communities and the regions, and; WHEREAS, the Parties have been working together since February 2007 on a planning study to determine the feasibility of commuter rail service between Merced and Sacramento, and; WHEREAS, California voters approved Proposition 1A, the Safe, Reliable High Speed Passenger Train Bond Act on November 4, 2008, requiring that the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) prepare a plan and design for the high speed rail (HSR) system, conduct environmental studies, obtain necessary permits, and undertake the construction and operation of a high-speed passenger train network in California, and; WHEREAS, included in the CHSRA work is planning for HSR service between Merced and Sacramento and a complementary and connecting service between the Central Valley and the Bay Area along the Altamont Corridor, with CHSRA acting as a lead agency in preparing project level environmental impact reports (EIR) for each corridor, and; WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Parties and CHSRA to coordinate the desires for high speed rail and for regional rail service into one planning effort, and to the extent possible, identify one ultimate Corridor with layered services, and; WHEREAS, CHSRA has agreed to incorporate the regional services concept into the overall planning and environmental process in order to streamline and coordinate the service development, provided there is an active and committed regional partner, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Parties agree to engage in a planning process with CHSRA, recognizing local, regional and statewide needs for regional and high speed rail service in a shared service Corridor, identified conceptually on the attached Merced to Sacramento Section Map, and further agree as follows: 1. The parties agree to continue to work cooperatively throughout the preparation of the CHSRA technical studies and the project level EIRs/EISs in the region, and other directly related planning and project development activities. 2. The parties agree to the following general planning principles: a. The shared objective is dedicated passenger trackage for HSR and regional rail service, between Merced and Sacramento, including segments which may provide early independent utility. b. The Merced to Sacramento Corridor will be connected with the Altamont Regional Corridor, Intercity rail services and local and regional transit networks in order to leverage the investment in the corridor. The intention of the planning work is to create seamless connections for the traveler and utilize other transportation services for the broadest coverage. c. Ultimately, high speed rail segments in the region will be fully grade separated, electrified, and suitable for operation of the high speed trainsets which will be used in all portions of the statewide system, and will require that regional service utilize compatible, lightweight trainsets. d. Improvements may be phased so that in the near term, Central Valley regional rail service can be initiated using readily available trainsets. e. Consideration for high speed rail station locations include local support and development strategies, access to other transit connections, regional service markets, interregional service markets and the statutory schedule requirement between Los Angeles and Sacramento. 3. The parties agree that the purpose of this MOU is to continue and expand cooperation among the parties. It is understood that the development of the Corridor may have local implications which will need to be resolved at the local level. The Parties agree, however, that these local discussions and resolutions will be rolled up into the Working Group discussions in order to achieve a smooth Corridor and service transition between the jurisdictions. 4. Each Party agrees to provide leadership and support for the Corridor planning and development process within their respective communities and across jurisdictional boundaries. This may include, but not be limited to, speaking at public meetings, advocating for state and federal funding, executing letters of support, participating in media events, encouraging public awareness and public involvement in the planning process and participating in conflict resolution strategies in the event of project impediments. 5. This MOU is intended to be the first in a series of agreements, each of which is expected to be more specific as planning work progresses and becomes more focused. In addition, this MOU itself is not intended to remain unchanged, but may evolve in the future as the parties confront various problems. All or portions of the MOU may be modified to accommodate the needs of the Parties as planning work progresses, either through direct amendment of this MOU or through supplemental memoranda, as deemed appropriate by the parties. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this MOU has been approved by the Parties with an effective date of March 1, 2010. This MOU is in effect and shall continue in effect until and unless terminated by all Parties through mutual written agreement. Any Party may withdraw from the MOU upon 20 days' written notice delivered to the remaining Parties. The Parties have executed this MOU by their signatures on the following page. Chair, Merced County Board of Supervisors Mayor, City Of Merced Chair, Merced County Association of Governments Mayor, City of Turlock Chair, Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors Chair, San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Chair, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission Mayor, City Of Stockton Chair, San Joaquin Regional Transit District Mayor, City of Galt Mayor, City of Sacramento Chair, Sacramento Board of Supervisors Mayor, City of Modesto Chair, Stanislaus Council Of Governments Mayor, City Of Manteca Mayor, City of Lodi - Chair, San Joaquin Council of Governments Mayor, City of Elk Grove Chair, Sacramento Regional Transit Chair, Sacramento Area Council Of Governments T -ft To"bl CALMRaFVM POOR -SPEED fid AUTMORPTY ftd& ocadw Sw , w] �J Cu�hnM U4mArea Batmwnmd C M M atlonal.W F.,,st HSTAIPI*M �i C PUEY ldn6s � Alartenl [urtlor Axil PrpJca `, Shop P-6 0 swtl ow Sova YAW • PolarfW sugw 1? w6pe9m70Ca bn.a tV.-ft CM.0.ld a., p(WlwmpfiMMXP4 aa'aC aM. 79, '•:• MygNpiWrce.' iS Cm.nbOq gwxv: CLb of FA, 4-19 rdllpiwq Rol m]90q [lYmYllel�if Igeq' {yln Rpra 79'C; GGmC dFaY �MQ�e 1999 ,,U5,Nmdmed OI Tmnsp0rlation Fsdml RdbvW