Link: Whittier-area cities reach tentative agreement with California High-Speed Rail Authority - Whittier Daily News
Whittier-area cities reach tentative agreement with California High-Speed Rail Authority
By Mike Sprague, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/09/2009 05:10:30 PM PDT
A group of cities and a state agency, which wants to build an 800-mile high-speed railroad in California, have reached a tentative agreement calling on both to work together to address local concerns.
The agreement calls on the California High-Speed Rail Authority to make commitments in 10 areas, including engaging with the cities on a variety of issues including aesthetics, noise, safety, vibrations from the train and the possible need to condemn homes or businesses.
The initial 30-mile route from Anaheim to Los Angeles would go adjacent to the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad that goes through La Mirada, Montebello, Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk and Pico Rivera.
"We're pleased that the officials of the authority have indicated a willingness to listen to the cities' concerns," La Mirada City Manager Tom Robinson said.
The actual memorandum of understanding is still being drafted and expected to go the authority's Board of Directors at its Nov. 5 meeting.
Once the authority has approved the agreement, it would go to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the cities that also include Anaheim, Buena Park, Commerce, Fullerton and Vernon.
The tentative agreement calls on the High-Speed Rail Authority to make a number of commitments to the cities, including:
Provide for a collaborative relationship between the cities, MTA and the authority.
Engage the cities in addressing all of the environmental
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and other issues involving the proposed line.
Coordinate public information and communication through the cities.
Ensure there is a "specific and meaningful engineering/design and land-use problem-solving process."
Fully disclose how and when the authority intends and will use the power of eminent domain regarding properties within the cities.
Provide financial and staffing resources to meet the needs of the cities.
Jeff Barker, deputy director for the authority, said the authority was happy to make the agreement.
"We need to partner with local governments," Barker said.
"We're doing that on the entire (route)," Barker said. "We aren't going to build this thing alone. We're definitely interested in cooperative agreements up and down the state."
Barker said the authority planned to ensure that any impacts from the proposed high-speed line from San Diego to Sacramento/San Francisco would be mitigated.
The agreement was reached during a meeting on Oct. 2 between the cities, the authority and MTA.
In addition, Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Santa Fe Springs, and staff from Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles, and Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood, were there.
Santa Fe Springs City Manager Fred Latham said the agreement works for the cities.
"It's a great tool as long as they will be faithful to it," Latham said.
Asked whether he thinks that will happen, he said, "It's yet to be determined."
Latham said he told the authority the cities are serious about their concerns.
"I said, `We don't want to sue you, but we can give you the example of where we sued Caltrans,"' he said, referring to an issue over the widening of the Santa Ana (5) Freeway.
The proposed high-speed system would carry more than one million passengers by 2030. Estimates are that it would reduce carbon emissions by 12 billion pounds a year by 2030.
A train would take about 22 minutes to get from Anaheim to Los Angeles.
The rail authority also is trying to secure a portion of the $8 billion federal stimulus money available for high-speed rail across the country.
In order to get that money, they've got a tight time frame. They need a final environmental impact report to be completed by September 2011 in order for construction to begin by 2012.
mike.sprague@sgvn.com
(562) 698-0955, Ext. 3022
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