65B - 2014 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM - Laserfiche WebLink

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densely populated city in the United States, and serves the Cities' densely populated communities, many of whom (17.8 %) do not own cars and currently use public transportation. The project is currently in the environmental analysis phase with the public review period of the Environmental Assessment /Draft Environmental Impact Report scheduled to begin May 2014. Adoption of the environmental document and selection of a locally preferred alternative is scheduled in Fall of 2014. The estimated cost of the project ranges from $238 million to $257 million depending on the alignment chosen. Potential Federal funding requests could be from a combination of Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) programs or New Starts /Small Starts programs totaling $125 million. If construction funding commitments are made by 2015, the SA /GG streetcar project could be operating by 2018. Grade Separations • Seek funding for Grade separation projects which allow incompatible mobility modes to intersect without impeding with one another. These types of projects work with existing transportation systems to greatly improve multimodal mobility and goods movement, and also result in reduced congestion, improved air quality, and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. Three separate grade separation projects are in or have completed the conceptual engineering and environmental analysis phase. The three projects are located on (1) Santa Ana Boulevard, (2) Grand Avenue, and (3) 17th Street. The three currently intersect with railroad tracks carrying Amtrak and Metrolink commuter traffic, and Union Pacific RR freight cars. Daily rail traffic is now 75 trains per day and is expected to increase to 110 per day by the year 2035. The grade separation projects are essential to allow for future and current commuter and goods movement, and maintain and improve train, pedestrian and bicycle mobility, and safety. The City of Santa Ana is the lead for the (1) Santa Ana Boulevard project. This is a unique Grade Separation Plaza because it allows and encourages mass pedestrian and bicyclist traffic to safely cross rail tracks adjacent to the Santa Ana Regional Transit Center (Amtrak and Metrolink station). It would also allow for the extension of the streetcar across the rail tracks without any additional infrastructure but the streetcar line. The Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Plaza is estimated to cost $60 million and the environmental clearance is scheduled for completion in February 2014. The environmental clearance will place this project on the state's priority list. The roadway carries over 20,000 vehicles per day within a very congested segment of roadway adjacent to an interchange with I- 5 freeway. In addition, 54 school buses and 309 passenger buses cross the rail tracks. Staff seeks Federal funding support either through OCTA or independently for 25% to 50% of the project construction cost through Regional Surface Transportation Program, CMAQ Demonstration, and Federal Section 130 funds. OCTA has been the lead agency for the planning and environmental studies of the other two grade separations at (2) Grand Avenue and (3) 17th Street. It's anticipated that they will seek funding to implement those two projects. Legislative Platform 65B_8 5/01/2014