September 8, 2010 To: From: Subject: Transportation 2020 Committee Will Kempton, Chief Executive Officer Go Local Fixed-Guideway Program Update Overview The Go Local Fixed-Guideway Program continues to move forward. As part of Go Local Step Two, the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana, in partnership with the City of Garden Grove, are underway with project development for each city s respectivee fixed-guideway projects. Staff has prepared an overview of progress made to date and the current status of each project for Board of Directors' review. Recommendation Direct staff to continue monitoring project development activities for the Anaheim Rapid Connection and Santa Ana/ /Garden Grove fixed-guideway as both projects progress through Step Two of the Go Local Program. Background In early 2006, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) initiated the Go Local Program to encourage cities to develop transit extensions to the Metrolink corridor. In 2008, the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana, in partnership with the City of Garden Grove, each submitted a fixed-guideway project concept as part of the Go Local Program that proposed a connection between the cities respectivee Metrolink stations to nearby destination/activity centers. In May 2008, the OCTA Board of Directors (Board) determined that the project concepts were consistent with the Go Local evaluation criteria and awarded each city $5.9 million for additional planning and project development, including an alternatives analysis (AA), conceptual engineering, and state and federal environmental clearance. In January 2009, the City of Anaheim initiated the AA process for its project concept. The cities of Santaa Ana and Garden Grove began the AA process for their project concept in September 2009. As part of with both the Go Local Step Two, OCTA entered into a cooperative agreement cities that outlined key milestones within the detailed planning effort Orange County Transportation Authority 550 South Main Street / P.O. Box 14184 / Orange / California 92863-1584 / (714) 560-OCTA (6282)
Go Local Fixed-Guideway Program Update Page 2 in which the Board would review progress made to date. Prior to the Board s review of the cities first milestone completion, staff has prepared a status update of the Anaheim fixed-guideway (named the Anaheim Rapid Connection) and Santa Ana/Garden Grove fixed-guideway projects. Consistent with prior Board direction, OCTA has been working closely with both cities to ensure that all planning work is done consistent with federal funding eligibility requirements, specifically the New/Small Starts programs. An update on this coordination effort with Federal Transit Administration is also provided. Discussion Anaheim Rapid Connection (ARC) The City of Anaheim is underway with evaluating a proposed 3.5 mile east-west transit connection between the multi-modal transit station, Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC), The Platinum Triangle, and Anaheim Resort. The project is envisioned to operate as a high-capacity system, providing ease of transfer to the Metrolink commuter rail system, Amtrak, local fixed-route bus, future bus rapid transit (BRT), and high-speed train services connecting at ARTIC. This system will provide residents, employees, and visitors a connection between the Metrolink commuter rail system to Anaheim s major employment and activity centers in The Platinum Triangle and Anaheim Resort. Based upon a screening framework developed around the goals of the project and input of the community, the City of Anaheim is evaluating a refined set of alternatives which will advance through the state/federal environmental clearance process. The project alternatives being studied include: No-Build Alternative Includes all planned and programmed transportation improvements in the greater project area through the year 2035 and does not include any elements of the ARC. Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative Focuses on low-cost improvements to the project area s transportation system, such as enhanced local bus service, skip-stop and express service, improved traffic signal timing, and incentivized carpooling. Semi-Exclusive At-Grade BRT Alternative Calls for BRT service operating at-grade on local city streets in exclusive lanes where sufficient right-of-way exists, as well as in mixed-flow traffic where existing right-of-way does not allow for a dedicated lane.
Go Local Fixed-Guideway Program Update Page 3 Elevated Fixed-Guideway Alternative (with alignment variations and technology options) Considers a variety of automated fixed-guideway transit technologies, such as an automated people mover, monorail, and low-speed maglev for use along the alignment. Currently, the City of Anaheim is developing the technical studies and reports required to support the AA and environmental clearance. OCTA staff has been working closely with FTA and the City of Anaheim to ensure that all planning for the ARC project is completed consistent with federal funding eligibility requirements. Specifically, FTA has been engaged in the review and comment of key project deliverables, including the Purpose and Need Statement and the Corridor Mobility Problem Report. OCTA continues to work closely with the City of Anaheim to ensure that all comments from FTA are addressed in the planning process. Also, FTA has been involved in the development of the ARC project s ridership model to ensure that the model accurately captures the unique visitor travel market within the corridor. Key upcoming activities for the project include the comparative analysis of final alternatives, project cost estimates, traffic analysis, refinements to the conceptual engineering alignment plans, as well as refinement to the project schedule to ensure consistency with the FTA approval process for projects to be eligible for New Starts funding. Santa Ana and Garden Grove Fixed-Guideway The cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove are underway with AA and environmental clearance of an approximately 4-mile fixed-guideway transit system that would provide a new east-west transit connection between the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC) and Harbor Boulevard. Specifically, the cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove are studying the potential for a 2-mile initial operating segment that would run from SARTC to Bristol Street with a couplet in the downtown Santa Ana/Civic Center area. This alignment would provide a linkage between SARTC and key areas along the corridor, including the Station District, Civic Center, historic neighborhoods, and downtown Santa Ana. Consistent with the goals and objectives of the project as well as input from the community, the cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove are currently evaluating the following alternatives: No Build Alternative Consists of existing transit plans and programmed transportation improvements that have already obtained cities project environmental approvals within the project study area.
Go Local Fixed-Guideway Program Update Page 4 TSM Alternative Focuses on relatively inexpensive projects, operational improvements, or policy actions such as increases in existing bus service, improved signal timing, and incentives to carpooling. BRT Alternative Consists of a new BRT route that would provide a travel experience comparable to the fixed-guideway rail alternative. The service would operate in exclusive running lanes where possible without requiring right-of-way takes or causing impacts to existing traffic, as well as in mixed-flow travel lanes where space and traffic constraints do not allow for dedicated running lanes without right-of-way takes. At-Grade Fixed-Guideway Rail Alternative This alternative consists of a fixed-guideway rail system that operates on tracks embedded in the street pavement. The service would operate on tracks within a mixed-traffic street environment typical of urban streetcar systems. In June 2010, the cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove conducted public scoping meetings to satisfy state environmental clearance requirements and to identify federal environmental issues. The scoping meetings included four separate workshops along the corridor where approximately 40 members of the public provided input on the alignments and technologies being evaluated for the project. In addition to the public scoping meetings, city staff also presented project information to several key stakeholders, including the Downtown Santa Ana business association and various neighborhood associations. More than 50 stakeholders provided comments on the project at these meetings. Similar to FTA s involvement with the ARC project, FTA staff has participated in the review and comment of project documents for the Santa Ana/ Garden Grove fixed-guideway project, specifically the purpose and need document, which is a fundamental element of the AA process as it proceeds through the New/Small Starts pipeline. Key upcoming activities for the Santa Ana/Garden Grove fixed-guideway project include refinements to the reduced set of alternatives, a final purpose and need report and ridership and cost estimates. In late September, the Santa Ana City Council will hold a study session to consider and select a reduced set of alternatives. FTA Coordination Early involvement from FTA has historically proven to be a successful approach for improving the likelihood of receiving federal funds. Consistent with this approach, FTA has accepted OCTA s offer to participate in a workshop hosted
Go Local Fixed-Guideway Program Update Page 5 by OCTA in September that will focus on the ARC and Santa Ana/Garden Grove fixed-guideway projects. This workshop will be an opportunity for FTA staff from Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Region IX in San Francisco to get further engaged in the projects as well as to tour both corridors. To assist the cities in preparation for this meeting with FTA next month, OCTA held a pre-workshop in July to continue to refine the projects schedules, purpose and need documents and alternatives definition/screening documents. The meeting served as an opportunity to address questions and comments that may arise from FTA. Summary Project development continues for the Board-approved Anaheim Rapid Connection and Santa Ana/Garden Grove fixed-guideway projects. Staff has provided an update on both projects for Board review. Attachment None. Prepared by: Approved by: Kelly Hart Senior Transportation Analyst (714) 560-5725 Jim Beil, P.E. Executive Director, Capital Programs (714) 560-5646