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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />DECEMBER 2, 2014 <br />TITLE: <br />APPROVE SANTA ANA GRADE <br />SEPARATION PROJECT REPORT <br />EQUIVALENT (PRE) AND RECEIVE AND <br />FILE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE <br />(STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 5,4,6 and 6,1) <br />CITY MANAG <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />❑ As Recommended <br />❑ As Amended <br />❑ Ordinance on 1" Reading <br />❑ Ordinance on 2ntl Reading <br />❑ Implementing Resolution <br />❑ Set Public Hearing For <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />1. Approve the Santa Ana Grade Separation Project Report Equivalent (PRE). <br />2. Receive and file the Notice of Exemption (NOE) for this project dated June 23, 2014. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Santa Ana Boulevard is a six -lane east -west principal arterial and carries in excess of 20,000 <br />vehicles per day. Santa Ana Boulevard crosses the OCTA Metrolink Railroad at grade, causing <br />traffic flow interruption when the train is near station, with little to no pedestrian and bicycle safety <br />or protection at the crossing. <br />Due to increasing demand for inter- and intracounty rail services resulting from growth in <br />population and employment in the surrounding areas, a grade separation at Santa Ana Boulevard <br />and the OCTA Metrolink Railroad is needed to alleviate the current and potential traffic impacts <br />and hazards posed by the existing at -grade rail crossing. This project will minimize the potential <br />conflicts between trains and pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles while also providing better <br />connectivity, improving air quality, enhancing emergency response time and improving the quality <br />of life of the community. The grade separation would also accommodate a future extension of the <br />streetcar across the railroad should that be needed. <br />Approval of the project's PRE fulfills the city's responsibilities of analyzing the best geometric <br />alignment and developing a corresponding cost estimate, and filing the NOE completes the project's <br />environmental review requirements. Fulfilling these steps qualify the project for design and <br />construction funding. <br />The OCTA Metrolink Railroad is a north - south, two -track railroad. This railroad serves Metrolink, <br />Amtrak, Union Pacific (UP), and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), which connects freight and <br />residents of central Orange County with the outlying areas of nearby regions, including Los <br />Angeles, the Inland Empire, San Diego and beyond. Local passenger access to the trains is via <br />the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC). <br />19E -1 <br />