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Home My WebLink AboutCVAG - Federal Railroad Admin Grant Pgrm ITEM 8A .,, _. Coache�la Va��ey Association o� Governments �� r • . Transportation Committee � �� -� Q�gust 25,2�,4 C`✓AG Staff Report Subject: Federal Railroad Administration Funding Opportunity for the Coachella Valley-San Gorgonio Pass Corridor Rail Service Contact: Allyn Waggle, Deputy Executive Director (awaqqle(a�cvaq.orq) Recommendation: Authorize Chair to sign letter in support of Federal Railroad Administration grant program. Backqround: RCTC has identified a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant program which, if successful, would provide $3 million toward completion of important elements of a planning and environmental study for a daily Los Angeles to Indio Amtrak passenger train service. This study is another of the prerequisites necessary before FRA will authorize construction to proceed on making daily passenger rail service a reality. The effort today is to gather the support for a letter-writing campaign in furtherance of this grant application process. RCTC has provided sample Letters of Support, and a list of Themes suggested to be followed, as well as specific Contents recommended to be included in the letters. The letters will be addressed to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation and to the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, but the letters will be sent to Aaron Hake, Government Relations Manager for RCTC. The attached data sheets should provide all the necessary information, but if you have questions, please contact Aaron Hake, or Allyn Waggle at CVAG. The deadline date for the letters of support to be received at RCTC is Friday, September 5th. This is a very important effort and CVAG will also be reaching out into the community to encourage support letters are written and sent to RCTC. Expect a follow-up phone call from CVAG staff to offer any assistance you may need to make sure the support letter effort is successful. CITY COUNCILv�TION APPROVED DENiF,D RECEIVED OTHER MCET AYES: r ' NOF.S: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: � - V�RIFIED BY: Original on File with City erk's Office ' Coachella Valley-San Gorgonio Pass Intercity Rail federal grant Letters of Support Logistical Details . Letter of Support Deadline to RCTC: FridavSeptember5 o Send to Aaron Hake,Gov't Relations Manager at ahake@rctc.org(call 951-787-7141) • Application Deadline: Monday September 15 . Addressees: The Honorable Anthony Foxx The Honorable Josesph C.Szabo Secretary Administrator United States Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave,SE 1200 New Jersey Ave,SE Washington,DC 20590 Washington,DC 20590 • Preferred letter length: 1 page(2 max.) Grant Details • Awarding Agency: Federal Railroad Administration(FRA) • Program: Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan(PRCIP) • Applicant: Caltrans(in partnership with RCTC,CVAG) • Amount sought: $3 million • Local Match by RCTC:$900,000 • Coachella-Pass rail is likel to be the only California applicant for this pot of funding • What the grant will do: o Complete planning and environmental study of LA-Indio daily Amtrak service. Evaluate best routes,stations,schedules;estimate ridership,costs and environmental impacts. Public outreach/input is also a component of the work to be done. • Why this grant(and study)is important: o This study is a prerequisite before proceeding to construction. It is necessary to know what improvements are needed to begin service,and the costs and benefits of those improvements. o RCTC and CVAG have devoted millions of dollars in local funds to get the study started;we need federal partnership to complete the effort. Without it,we can't move forward. Letter Contents ➢ Explicit statement of strong/enthusiastic/wholehearted support for LA-Indio rail service. ➢ Your organization's purpose and any compelling background/facts about your importance. ➢ Your direct interest in LA-Indio rail service:why you support the effort. ➢ Why your region is worthy of federal investment(present any useful facts,stats,demographics,trends you believe are compelling that tell the story of your region or sector). ➢ Expression of partnership w/RCTC,CVAG, local,state,federal,or tribal agencies,and private sector. ➢ Any history of working similar initiatives(e.g., planning,tourism,transportation,econ.dev.etc.) ➢ Thank the Secretary and Administrator for their consideration. Key Themes ✓ Increasing rail ridership ✓ Benefits to disadvantaged communities ✓ Integration/connectivity of rail/transit ✓ Economic growth/needs ✓ Livability/sustainability(TOD) ✓ Tourism ✓ Environmental benefit August X, 2014 The Honorable Anthony Foxx The Honorable Josesph C.Szabo Secretary Administrator United States Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave,SE 1200 New Jersey Ave,SE Washington, DC 20590 Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary Foxx and Administrator Szabo: [[Organization name]] [[strong/enthusiastically]] supports the California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans) application to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)for$3 million for the Coachella Valley-San Gorgonio Pass corridor. [[Brief overview of what your organization does]] Today there is no viable alternative to driving between the greater Los Angeles area and the Coachella Valley. [[Discussion of why connecting the Coachella/Pass region to L.A. is important to you]] [[Possible language: The Coachella Valley is a popular destination for domestic and international travelers,featuring world- renowned cultural events, recreation and open spaces,and growing medical and ciean-energy industries. Interstate 10 is the route that connects the nation's largest metro area east-to-west,where one of every five vehicles is a truck. Rail offers a safe,reliable, and efficient alternative to I-10 that makes the entire Southern California region a more attractive place to live,grow a business,or visit.]] [[Discussion of economic impacts]] Intercity rail has the potential to facilitate a two-way flow of economic growth across Southern California. One in every four jobs in the Coachella Valley is directly or indirectly supported by tourism. Increased tourism demand resulting from ease of travel will generate local jobs,while also opening Riverside,Orange County, and L.A.to the growing labor market in the Coachella Valley. With a service area covering 10 million people,the potential impact of rail service in this region creates enormous economic potential. [[Any additional unique detail to your perspective on the benefits of rail service,such as: quality of life, environment,jobs,etc.]] An FRA grant to this project will add momentum at the right time for this exciting project for our region. The grant will enable Caltrans and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC)to complete the studies needed to prepare a viable project and service plan. There is broad local support for this effort, including financial commitments from various government agencies. [[Any discussion of private sector or governmental partnerships/enthusiasm,etc.]] Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this important application. We look forward to a bright future for rail in Southern California. Sincerely, [[You]] � . . . . � � � � � . � r � �;� Corridor Rail Service �.�. - � �,� � �_— q F: �. �,,�. — _ _--- � _ ..: , . , , . „ . � ,� .� �'_ � �. �, �,. — . _ .. , � r" a -- �' � '. ,.�.. .. ,. _ , . �' y ,,,. .' _'` �� _ � r:� � �: _ .�:.... " , .. . iM ,,...._ew+ww• �.:...., . _ it. � )1 • . . . � ,.• ki �.�«�� • . � � � � � � � _. {. � -� ••* i� , �+�al��.. . . , . � � ,. .- .. • ,; ,f:.- �:�;<_ _ :._ � . . .- R �,, . �� .. .� • • • � • • ' � _ Connecting Southern California Los Angeles to Indio intercity rail service will provide an integrated, sustainable mobility alternative, providing economic opportunities and fostering more livable communities in Southern California's major urban centers. Fast Facts Sustainable Answer to a Market in Demand • Route length: 141 miles Today there is no viable rail option serving the Coachella Valley. International tourism • Population in service area: generates over a half-million visits every year, with many visitors from countries where 10 million rail is the primary mode of travel; domestic travel is even greater. Internationally- renowned special events keep the Coachella Valley busy year-round, from the • Proposed initial daily round- Coachella and Stagecoach Music Festivals, the Palm Springs Film Festival, BNP Paribas trips: 2 Tennis Open, and President Clinton's Humana Golf Challenge, to name a few. • Running time Los Angeles- Coachella Valley-San Gorgonio Pass rail service provides a regular, reliable Indio: 3 hours transportation atternative that could lead to greater investments in transit and transit- oriented developments to accommodate the large numbers of people who would • Host railroads: Union Pacific, rather be car-free in this unique, vibrant enclave of Southern California. BNSF Railway Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) is investing in one of the largest • Stations being studied: Up to 9 active transportation projects in the nation: CV Link, a 48-mile multimodal pedestrian/ bicycle/NEV path connecting the entire valley. Intercity rail, CV Link, and existing and • Current phase: Planning/ planned investments by SunLine Transit Agency will make it easier for visitors and ` Alternatives Analysis residents to enjoy the Coachella Valley without a car. + Local investment to-date: $1.7 million committed to Economic Opportunity current study. $5.0 million Nearly one in every sixjobs in the Coachella Valley is in the tourism industry. Intercity in prior studies and station rail service will increase economic productivity of land and labor in the Coachella Valley investments by increasing the ease with which domestic and international visitors can access the • Request: $3.0 million from desert and fuel the local economy. Federal Railroad Administration Reliable intercity rail service also opens up new employment markets for economically to be matched with $900,000 in disadvantaged communities in the Coachella Valley. Connecting the desert to the local funds urban cores of Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange County, and Los Angeles provides "ladders of opportunity" to access higher-paying jobs that today may be out of reach for many families. „� �AIL PLA� �" s - � .. . � b . . �tl�+M��w«��f.'Q.� � "� � '4r�F� i' "9F iWYWV _. ##,4��;,�;1;'�,.'^'^h�� A4��'n� � � . ,. `L :.,� ' _ � .��b... .p U8V� "°.*�ri94,Y., � � r ,.> . _ 4.�� 1 „ �„„.s,: ��"w, � ,.+�,, ?r; , u1�. � ^•w y ^ ��_._.. � . ' .+". � 'r �y+ . ,�[�•;,� /�/1 �A� .�,.1.. �� ' 1 � _ ,�' ��+;�'F«� •l�F�r� r 1�,�p� . ..y..J 1�.�^' rmrside(eudfflraeporb6ai(rimh4w �� . • i , § f. a '�y�� y��,�1�,�a1Y� j�.�"�J�'• ��t^�°,jr��q,�M�� eud CVAG �� . Ab ,w 1, �°�. 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Recent achievements include: ��' ✓ Included in 2013 California State Rail Plan; rw��:,�;�,; � . . . ✓ Initial planning study performed by Caltrans; � • • • • • � ✓ Local business and civic support; � . . � � . . ✓ Ongoing loca) funding source in a Coachella Valley bus/rail funding split and state bond funding for post study construction; and ✓ Phase 1 service development plan underway. Already Funded . . • - - Local Coachella Vailey Define Project Approach �dentify Stakeholder Outreach Transportation Development Act $200,000 W (TDA)funds identified for rail as part � of a bus/rail split _ . ' . . . . • - . ' _-.■ -. n' Identify Service Patterns/ Develop Ridership and California Prop 1B PTMSIEA Public $1.5M Alternatives Cost Pro ections Transportation Modernization, ) Improvement, and Service Enhancement Account Grant Funding Request . � . . EnvironmPntal Outreach Identify Impacts and F�H Fossenger�ail Corridor $;P� W and 5coping Mitigations Mvestment Plan Grant grant request N Q - - � - - . . - - Finalize Plannin Documents to be Eli ibie for Federai Funds �°�`��',°'"n`"�i��`�'ii'��'T�,,-.f''t,d` �900,000 a g g identified for rail as part of a local match bus/rail split "Track" Record: RCTC-State-Federal Partnership for Sustainable Transportation in Southern California - Perris Valley Line 91 Project "' RCTC is constructing the Perris RCTC is constructing the 91 Project Valley Line(PVL), a commuter rail _ with the aid of a $421 million TIFIA $ extension of Metrolink service �:;°„ '��. loan.This$1.3 billion multi-modal i��'� to Los Angeles Union Station via .Y.;�"�j'�> ° •� project will offer commuter choices Orange County and Riverside. ��,ti�,.� through one of Califomia's most � e1 • PVL received a $75 million Small �':�� '�a congested corridors. !� � Starts rant from FTA. � '�'�'�� . g - . �� - � �� """�' " LOSSAN (Los Angeles-San Diego) Colton Crossing , � RCTC is a member of the LOSSAN RCTC was a partner in the Colton � intercity rail JPA,which will soon be Crossing, a rail-to-rail grade separation ;��.. � responsible for operating Pacific of Union Pacific and BNSF,which Surfliner Amtrak service between received a TIGER grant in 2010. This _i� San Luis Obispo and San Diego via �''- project has alleviated one of the nation's Los Angeles. LOSSAN is a model most significant freight rail bottlenecks, ^� ' of regional cooperation in Southern , improved air quality,and greatly _._. , California to make rail service easy improved the effectiveness of passenger �',"`�- and convenient for riders. - rail service in Southern California. . .. . . - . •