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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda Report - May 1, 1996 (86)0 O CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA TITLE: Letter to U.S. representatives regarding Altamont Express Commuter Rail Service and Transit Center in Stockton. MEETING DATE: Wednesday June 5, 1996 PREPARED BY: Kirk J. Evans, Assistant to the City Manager RECOMMENDED ACTION: That City Council approve a letter to Senators Boxer and Feinstein and Congressmen Pombo and Baker regarding Altamont Express Commuter Rail Service and a Transit Center in Stockton. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Council member Phil Pennino is Chairman of the Council of Governments. He has a comprehensive knowledge of these projects. Revenues generated by Measure K , Proposition 116, and projected passenger fares will finance roughly 75% (see attachments) of the startup costs of the Altamont Express Commuter Rail Service. The rest of the funding needed to get this project rolling, $10 million, is being sought from federal sources through the support of representatives such as Congressman Pombo. It should be noted Altamont Express is distinct from High Speed Rail Service for the State of California. Altamont Express Commuter Rail Service is expected to begin in 1997. It will provide service between Stockton and San Jose. If circumstances prove favourable, this service will be extended north to Lodi. The best estimate for High Speed Rail Service commencing is 2013. While it is preferred that it go through the Altamont Pass to the Bay Area, whether it does or not has no bearing on Altamont Express Commuter Rail Service. The San Joaquin Council of Governments has asked all local jurisdictions to prepare a letter for our U.S. representatives. The attached draft from the City of Lodi with Mayor Wamer's signature is submitted to City Council for consideration. FUNDING: N/A Krk J. Evans Assistant to the City Manager APPROVED: / H. Dixon Olynn -- City hfanager CITY COUNCIL DAVID P. WARNER, Mayor PHILLIP A. PENNINO Mayor Pro Tempore RAY G. DAVENPORT STEPHEN J. MANN JACK A. SIEGLOCK June 6, 1996 CITY OF LODI CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209)333-6700 FAX (209) 333-6807 Congressman Richard Pombo Congressman Bill Baker Senator Barbara Boxer Senator Diane Feinstein Dear (Senator/Congressman): H. DIXON FLYNN City Manager JENNIFER M. PERRIN City Clerk RANDALL A. HAYS City Attorney The San Joaquin County region is seeking federal funding assistance for two major transportation improvements. The City of Lodi is asking for your assistance and effort in supporting these requests. The San Joaquin region has embarked on a very aggressive public transportation system. In the near future this transportation package includes two significant projects: • Altamont Express Commuter Rail Project • San Joaquin Regional Transit District Transit Center Commuter rail transportation is a major program for this region. Federal assistance is needed to supplement local and state dollars in this effort. Local sales tax override revenues, passenger fares and private contributions will total $18.78 million - financing 44% of the cost of this project. Requested federal funding accounts for less than one quarter of the cost of this project. The transit center is also an important project for the metropolitan center of Stockton. This region is recommending funding of both projects totaling $15.5 million. However, as funds may not be available for that total amount, our first priority is the Altamont Express Commuter Rail Project. After the funding request for the Altamont Express Commuter Rail Project has been fulfilled, the transit center in Stockton is endorsed for funding. We urge your support in funding these projects. Thank you for your continued support in dealing with the future requirements of this region of California. Sincerely, David P. Wamer Mayor 05/24/96 C:\KJEW0RK\TRANSIT\ALTALET2.D0C RAIL CORRIDOR SERVICE PROJECT: Altamont Pass Rail Service Phase I 9b PROJECT SPONSOR: Reginnal Rail Commission PROJECT SCOPE: Phase I is a two year demonstration passenger rail service over the Altamont Pass onl�the Union Pacific tracks. Service is proposed from Stockton, through Lathrop/Manteca, Traicy. Livermore, Pleasanton, Fremont, and Santa Clara to San Jose, and includes two commute hour round trips per weekday. Phase I involves both capital and operating and maintenance costs. Other project related costs include Rail Negotiations, Advocacy, and Programming Planning and Management. The capital costs include track improvements, passenger platforms, and the leaselpurchase of rolling stock. Operating and maintenance costs for the Phase I Altamont Rail service includes operator costs (transportation expenses, maintenance of way and structures, maintenance of equipment, miscellaneous expenses) and administration and management (insurance, st0tion maintenance, ticketing sales/collecting, Altamont Pass Passenger Rail administration sand marketing). This: project anticipates the need for five passenger platforms. One would be located to serve passengers from the Tracy area, another would be located to benefit passengers from 66th Lathrop and Mantecar and a third platform would be located in Stockton. Two additignai platforms would be constructed outside of San Joaquin County: one in Livermore, the wither in Pleasanton. Schedule and cost information are from the Altamont Pass Passenger Rail Corridor Std Phase II. Track improvement costs, as well as track access fees, are subject to negotiation and may change. The informartion assumes that the demonstration service will begin in January, 1997, with 4 daily train trips. Initiation of service by January, 1997 is dependent on timely completion of capital improvements and negotiated agreements with other service beneficiaries on issues of operating costs being shared, service oversight and management and track usage rights Related Projects: Altarnont Service Enhancements provides capital and operating support to passenger rail service in the Altamont Corridor beyond the Phase I service. Another related praject titled Service Extensions provides support for planning activities related to; 1 } Coordinating the enhancements and extensions of Intercity rail service to benefitithe residents of San .Joaquin County and the San .Joaquin Valley 2) Integrating Altamont Commuter service with the State's Intercity rail services; 3) Extending Altamont Commuter rail service to Sacramento, Modesto and San Franc sco. _L� RAIL CORRIDOR SERVICE PROJECT COST ESTIMATES ($1995): Track Improvements (Design, Preconstruction) ...... ......... $ 150,00-0 Track Improvements {Construction) ...................... 414,393,00() Negotiations ......................................... $275.000 Operatians/Maintenance ............... .............. 58,480,000 RcIling Stock (Lease or Purchase) ....................... S14,7()0,00() PtatforruslParking .................................... 31,807,040 Advocacy ........................................... $355.000 Planning, Project Management ............... ......... $1.904,000 Total Cost ............... —.— ....... ........... $42.664,000 EXPECTED REVENUE SOURCES ($1995): Measure K for Capital .............................. $8,235,000 Measure K for Operation .................. ............ 05,710,000 Measure K for Advocacy ............................. $224,000 Measure K for Negotiations ............................... $275,000 Measure K fGr-Prennina & Program Managremen .............. $1,258,000 Total Measure K ................................... $15,702,000 Local: Private Sector Contributions .............................. $42,000 Fares ........................................... $2,660,000 State: Proposition 116 Altamont Commuter Rail (PUC 99644) ....... $12,000,000 Federal: Congestion Mfgation & Air Quality ...................... $2,210,000 Pending Discretionary Funding Grant .... ............... 010.000.000 I I L Total Revenues ....... $42,664,000 Short -Fall $0 RAIL CORRIDOR SUIVICS PROJECT SCHEDULE: Start Date Completion Dace Track design, prelim. engineering: Oct. 1995 June 1996 .i Track improvements. construction: Jul. 1996 :i Oct. 1997 OperationsfMaintenence: Oct. 1997 Sept. 1999" Negotiations: Jul. 1996 Sept. 1999" Rolling Stock (LeaseMurchase): Jul. 1996 June 1997 platforms: Feb. 1997 Oct. 1997 Advocacy. Jan. 1994 Sept. 1999• These tasks are ongoing and continue into the Measure K Rail Corridor Service Project titled: "Altamont Service Enhancements." ISSUES: • Cash flow projections assume that demo project will begin in FY 1997-98 (October 1997), and track improvements will be needed in year prior. • Negotiations are currently underway between the Regional Rail Commission and Pe Union Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads concerning the implementation of this project. Actual costs. route alignment and operating schedules are all subject ta': these negotiations. -I I • The pending merger of the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads may have a significant impact on this project. A final agreement between the Rail Commis#n and the railroads for implementing this service may not be reached until after thei Interstate Commerce Commission (IM takes action on the proposed merger. ICS action may not occur until August, 1996. It is estimated that once an agreementis reached with the railroad, operations can begin within 18 months. • The "Altamont Pass Passenger Rail Corridor Study --Phase Il Report" suggests that Alameda County contribute $3.2 million to this service. Alameda County has not made a firm commitment of funds to support this project. Until such a comma _ fl-nt is made, these funds are not shown. When the commitment is made, it will offset funding commitments from San Joaquin Measure K funds. Ifiervised 5treteoc Plan Charts - May 24, 19961 D -Z SUS TRANSIT PROJECTS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO STRATEGIC PLAN PROJECT; Downtown Transit Center 49a PROJECT SPONSOR! San Joaquin Regional Transit District PROJECT SCOPE: This project includes the design, construction, and related environmental requirements far; a passenger transit center in downtown Stockton and pedestrian/transit friendly street improvement along a major corridor of the Central Business Distract. The project will consist of construction of a passenger waiting and bus staging area, landscaping, sidewalk improvements and passenger amenities in downtown Stockton. It is important to distinguish between the downtown transfer center functions and those of a muitimodaltrall station. While the two may be compatible, rail corridor and local bus servile routes may require two separate locations. For example, the SP Depot is about seven bloAs east of the primary convergence of downtown SMART bus routes. I •! Related Project: Two transfer centers are proposed for the SMARTfClty of Stockton service area. The Weberstown/Sherwood Mall transfer center would provide enhanced passenger waiting areas and roadway improvements to improve bus circulation for the thirteen rouies serving the shopping malls. PROJECT COST ESTIMATES ($1995): Planning & Project Management $200,000 Phase 1: Planning Activities ans Site Selection $1215,000 Phase 2: Environmental Review $115.000 Preliminary Engineering 0100,000 Phase 2: Land Acquisition $1,600,000 Architectural, Engineering and Construction Contractor Services $4001000 Phase 4: Construction $4.260,00 is aUS TRANSIT PROJECTS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO STRATEGIC PLAN I' Total Cost $7.000,000 1= EXPECTED REVENUE SOURCES 01995I: Measure -K for Capital (see issues) Mgasurr.K for Planning & Procurement (20%) City of Stockton Federal: Section 9 Section 3 Tota! Revenues Xa~ ratal Cast Surplus/lShortfailE $1,100,004 $25,000 $275,000 $100,000 $5,500,000 $7,000,000 $7,000,000 $0 BUS TRANSIT PROJECTS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO STRATEGIC PLAN PRCMCT SCHEDULE: Starr Date CQ Im—ionDate Phase 1: Planning Activities and Site Selection May 1996 Sep 1998 Phase 2-- :Environmental EnvironmentalReview Sep. 1996 Dec. 1996 I, Preliminary Engineering Jan. 1997 Mar. 1997 ! ; Phase 3: ' Land Acquisition Feb. 1997 June 1997 AIE, Construction Contractor Services Apr. 1997 July 1996 Phase 4: Construction Oct. 1997 July 1998 ISSUE: e SMART has proposed to change the project scope to a Downtown Transit Center. That proposal includes a request for increased Measure K allocation. i'•