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RTC Metrolink Extension Studies October 16, 2006 Page 2 of 3 also approved a five-year program of rapid transit projects using the existing Metrolink commuter rail corridor as the backbone of the Orange County's transit system. Additionally, on February 27, 2006, the OCTA Board approved a four-step process for City-Initiated Transit Extensions to Metrolink, now known as the Go Local program as shown below: • Step one allocates up to a total of $3.4 million for cities to develop a local transit vision and conduct initial planning. All cities are eligible to receive $100,000 grants, once they execute a cooperative agreement with OCTA. • Step two is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2008 and makes available the remainder of $30 million on a competitive basis to further develop the most promising projects. • Step three is planned to coincide with the availability of renewed Measure M funds, projects may move into project development and implementation, and the major projects will presumably advance into a federally funded preliminary engineering effort. • Step four focuses resources on transforming the Metrolink stations into major multi-modal transportation centers. Additionally, Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) has been working with City staff and has recently completed the Santa Ana Transit Master Plan (Exhibit 1). In Step one of the Go Local Program PB will be studying in more detail the transit feeder alignment concepts derived from the Transit Master Plan. The four transit feeder service alignments currently under consideration will connect the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC) with the Civic Center and Downtown area, Main Place, Bowers Museum District and the South Coast Metro Area. In addition options to extend this service to the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service alonq~ Harbor Boulevard via the former Pacific Electric (PE) Right-of-way, 17t Street, Bristol Street and Edinger Avenue, and the John Wayne Airport via Sunflower Avenue, Bear Street and Interstate 405 will be considered. Santa Ana will function as the lead agency for the South Coast Metro Area alignment study. As the lead agency, Santa Ana will receive the $100,000 allocated to Costa Mesa by OCTA for a Metrolink extension study and will be responsible for managing the consultant contract with PB. Santa Ana will also receive an additional $100,000 to study the Civic Center and Main Street transit feeder alignment concepts described above. Staff recommends that the City execute the cooperative agreement with OCTA and the partnership agreement with Costa Mesa. Staff also recommends that the City execute an amendment to the agreement with PB to 25A-2