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01-21-1992 - LACTC's Green Line Vote - Request for ReconsiderationCity of West Cmna Memorandum To City Council AGENDA FRO MCity Manager's Office ITEM NO. J-2 SUWECr. LACTC'S GREEN LINE VOTE - DATE January 21, 1992 REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION SUMMARY: ON DECEMBER 18,1991, THE LACTC VOTED TO CONTRACT FOR AUTOMATED CARS (DRIVERLESS) ON THE LIGHT RAIL'S GREEN LINE. THIS REPORT REQUESTS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECOMMEND THE LACTC RECONSIDER THIS ACTION. BACKGROUND: The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission:,(LACTC) is charged with developing and implementing tl$e 30-Year Integrated Transportation Plan for Los Angeles County at an estimated cost of $150.3 billion. The Plan incorporates three basic components: highway, ' bus, and rail projects. An example of an LACTC project is the BLUE LINE currently operating as a conventional (driver attended) light rail line. In October 1991•, the City of West Covina joined with 18 other cities to form the San Gabriel Valley Transportation Coalition. The purpose .of.the Coalition is to present a stronger voice in communicating to regional agencies (eg: LACTC) .regarding transportation issues. The Coalition developed eight points on the proposed 30-Year Transportation Plan which are aimed at urging the LACTC to take action and include them in the proposed plan. These.points are attached for your information. It is the Coalition's opinion that the eight points will significantly add.to transportation alternatives in Los Angeles. County, and the San Gabriel Valley. To this end the Coalition has communicated these items to the LACTC. The focus of this report is the LACTC's rail project called the GREEN LINE which is proposed to operate between Norwalk and El Segundo. While the Green Line will not directly affect West Covina, the cost and scope of the project will have a direct relationship on the available funds and the time frame that alternative transportation is initiated in our area of Los Angeles County. ,LACTC ACTION On December 18, 1991, LACTC voted to contract for an automated (computer driven) light rail line with a foreign vendor. While this is the latest technology in the field of light rail operations; the decision for an automated system has projected cost overruns of $250,000,000. Couple the projected cost overrun with a shrinking sales tax dollar, which funds the plan, and the result is service ,to cities and commuters being in jeopardy of not having sufficient funds to proceed with the 30-Year Plan in a timely fashion. Subsequent to the December 18 vote, there is a movement among the San Gabriel Valley Coalition and the LACTC Commissioners for the LACTC to reconsider their action. The reconsideration movement has several strong points: 1 - To determine if an automated light rail line is the best use of available resources. The projected cost overrun for the automated line is $250,000,000; 2 - Service to cities and commuters in parts of the county not served by the Green Line are jeopardized by this project's cost overruns and by the shrinking tax dollars; 3 - Lack of standardization in light rail technology (within the LACTC system) will cause a future explosion of costs for service, maintenance, training, fleet procurement, and inventory; 4 - There is no appreciable difference in service between the automated and conventional type rail lines; and 5 - Segments of the Green Line on both ends remain unresolved and stop short of their final destinations in Norwalk (at Amtrak) and Westchester. Attached to this staff report are communications form RTD, LACTC City Representatives, news articles and relevant information on this topic. In reviewing the recent vote and considering the impact that cost overruns would have on the 30-Year Plan it is in the best interests of the San Gabriel Valley community to request that the LACTC reconsider their vote to contract for an automated light rail line. i RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council authorize staff to communicate with the LACTC to request that the commission reconsider their December 18, 1991 vote to' contract for an automated Green Line. 1 Q " -,- -� Z L . .1 r 2''dyOr ministrative Analyst II attachments a The San Gabriel Valley Transportation. Coalition urged the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission to take the following actions on the proposed 30-Year Transportation Plant 1 - Adopt the Highway, Bus, Fundable Rail, and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Components of the 30-Year Plan. If the LACTC sets priorities among the candidate rail projects, rank the Blue Line extension from Pasadena to Azusa, the Route 60 light rail line and the Glendale light rail line as the top three priorities. 2 - Include in the Expanded Rail Plan (rather that the Unconstrained Rail Plan) an extension of the Blue Line from Azusa to the Southern Pacific commuter rail line. 3 - Create a Blue- Line connection from Azusa to the San Bernardino County line along the 210 and 30 Freeways as a part of the Unconstrained Rail Plan. 4 - Include in the Unconstrained Plan a.rail.connection from Pomona at the Union Pacific commuter rail line to the proposed Orange County rail line at Brea or Fullerton. 5 - Include in the Unconstrained'Plan a rail connection from El'Monte south to Norwalk to link the Southern Pacific commuter rail with the easterly extension 'of the Green Line. 6 - Advance the timing of the Route 710 Freeway gap closure project from the start date of 2006 A.D. to.a start date of 2000 A.D. 7 - Advance the timing of the Route 60 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane to begin immediately upon. completion of the Route 57-HOV lane, in 1995 A.D. 8 - Advance the timing of the Route 10 HOV lane to be completed by 2000 A.D. RT® _ - -- - t1s { sty January 7., 1992 Mayor Richard N. Jennings & Councilmembers City .of West Covina 1444 W. Garey Ave. West Covina, CA 91790 Dear Mayor Jennings & Councilmembers: We believe that the recent award of a major, beginning contract to the Sumitomo Corporation to provide rail cars to the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission was the inappropriate thing to do. The award to a foreign firm over a qualified American .firm -- even when the American firm was the lower bidder by approximately $5 million -- and the transfer of American jobs to foreign workers paid for by your tax dollars defies any possible rationale. We believe that every city should go on record demanding that League representative Jacki Bacharach, Councilwoman from Rancho Palos Verdes, reverse her vote and keep American tax dollars and jobs at home. We commend Judy Hathaway -Francis, Councilwoman from La Habra Heights, for her vote in support of America. i Sincerely, ordana Swanson ., orri B Representative Carl W. Raggio, Jr. Corridor C Representative Charles H. Storing Corridor D Representative Southern California Rapid Transit District 425 South Main Street, Los Angeles, California 90013 (213) 972-6000 -==— ...Regional. Groups - Seek Rail Routes . ■ Transportation: Two coalitions want the _ -County Transportation Commission to ,approve links between Burbank. Airport and Los Angeles and from Pasadena to Azusa.IELVALLEY `By BERKLEY HUDSON ,TIMES STA" WRITER .. .. . - • .... Light -rail lines along the Foothill Freeway from eastern jPasadena to Azusa, along the Pomona Freeway and from Burbank•Airport to Los Angeles should be top priorities of ; transit planners, the San Gabriel Valley •i Transportation - 1 Coalition has concluded ; j The coalition, formed last• fall by government and j business leaders from 29 cities, listed a range of recommen- . idations about how officials should remedy traffic conger ti m during the next 30 years In submitting its suggestions to the Los Angeles County iTransportation Commission last month, the coalition also advocated stepping up the timing of construction of freeway lanes for high -occupancy vehicles on the Pomona 1(60), San Bernardino (10) and Orange (57) freeways. The commission is expected to set priorities by March for. i$150 billion worth of rail, bus and roadway projects over' 71 the next 30 years But the current controversy. about contracts for a high-tech driverless rail system for the Norwalk -to -El Segundo Green Line has delayed discussions on the ,30-year plan. And regardless of the outcome of the debate, commission spokeswoman Lupe Valdez said, it could delay Please an TRAINS, JS i LUS ANULLLS'11MUS LOS ANGELES TIMES:.. JANUARY 16', 1992 TRAINS: Coalitions Seek. OK of Raff. Plan Continued froru Jl projects proposed fur the San Ga. briel Valley. Last week, the Tri-City Trans- portation Coalition, which repre- sents Burbank, Glendale and Pasa- dena business and governmental interests, echoed two of the San Gabriel Valley group's.rail sugges. tions. The Tri-City group ranked the Burbank -Glendale line as the first priority and the Pasadena -to. Azusa extension as the second. In making their recommenda- tions, both coalitions emphasized that construction of a Pasadena . light -rail line, a Blue Line exten- sion scheduled to be built from Union Station downtown, should Proceed before any of the other projects. Construction of the Pasadena Blue Line was to have begun this year. However, an impasse in ne- gotiations between the county transportation commission and the, Santa Fe Railroad Co., which owns the rights of way, has delayed it. The rail line initially is planned to go along the Foothill Freeway (210)to eastern Pasadena, possibly , ending around Sierra Madre Boule- vard The Light -Rail Recommendations An extension of the Pasadena Blue Line to Azusa, another line along the Pomona Freeway (60) and a third from downtown Los Angeles to Burbank Airport should be priorities, the San Gabriel Valley Transportation Coalition said. The Pasadena Blue Line is also strongly supported by the coalition. 1 common recommendations, ., from the Tri-City and San Gabriel Valley coalitions represent an ac- knowledgment that the two re- gions share traffic congestion problems and should unite their political forces in influencing the solutions, members of both groups said "They're supporting us and we're supporting them," said Brad- bury Councilwoman Beatrice LaPisto-Kirtley, a steering com- mittee member of the San Gabriel group. Traffic congestion, she said. does not stop at city or county. lines. Alhambra City Manager Kevin J. Murphy, another steering commit - assassinr, Plan prgeets Three proposed real projects 111116491 favored by San Gabriel Valley Transportation Coalition Pasadena Slue Une aaaaari UgM Rail supported as prbrlty by coalition ......••• Comunuterrail lbws Transportation Workshops County transportation planners are holding a series of public workshops on proposed routes for a light -rail line from downtown Los Angeles to East Los Angeles and Monterey Park Places and Unless ■ East Los Angeles Service Center.133 N. Sunol Drive l to 3 p.m. today. ■ Los Angeles County Transportation Commission headquarters, 818 W. 7th St„ Los Angeles,11 am. to 1 p.m. Friday. . ■ White Memorial Hospital.1720 Brooklyn Ave., Ins Angeles, 9 ' a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday. More information is available, in English and Spanish, by calling (213) 244-6834. Lee member, said: "We're not going to be just looking strictly at the San 'Gabriel Valley. We're going to be ... to get what we need out here," she said, "and that is transportation . project on the Pomona Freeway in the Diamond Bar area looking at a holistic system of 'transportation."' east and west, north and south" The Pomona Freeway project is He said that Will include iooking As part of its organizational . efforts, the San Gabriel Valley not scheduled to begin until 1999. The coalition has recommended closely at the rail, highway and bus group hired a West Covina -based that the work begin In 1994, when proposals for adjacent areas of the .transportation consultant, For- the Orange Freeway lanes would county, such as the Burbank -Glen- sythe & Associates, to analyze the be completed. dale -Pasadena region, as well as 'draft of the transportation commis- One reason for the urgency of neighboring Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. sion's30-year plan. The Forsythe study concluded these high -occupancy vehicle lanes, said Diamond Bar Mayor Pro The San Gabriel coalition, Mur- that the region "has lagged behind TernPhyllis Papen, is that Orange phy said. is patterned after the Tri-City group, which was formed other portions of the county in � receiving Its fair share of transpor- County already is building similar lanes on the Orange Freeway and in 1989 and has lobbied actively on... - •,tation .:.: investment and.conges, they will be completed this year. behalf of its members' rta- � � tionrelief."• - -•. - - • . _.. The Forsythe report made one tioninteresuL..•. .-• In recommends a s eedier . Pasadena Councilwoman. Kath-.:. !constriction of freeway lanes for ryn Nack, president of Tri-City, high -occupancy, vehicles, the re - said the two coalitions can be a port said that work on the Orange + great help to one another. "It will Freeway., now proposed to start in take ail-the.support we can muster ••..4993,should be linked to a similar.. recommendation that the coalition did not unanimously forward to the commission. The county transpor- tation commission had suggested that work on. the Long Beach Freeway (710) gap between Al- hambra and Pasadena begin in 200(L Despite objections from South Pasadena representatives on the coalition, the report recommended that construction on the Long' Beach Freeway extension should begin by 2000. F i . ......... - Valley-o Icials--se'e-Green. Li.nea-dlling,nv_ Plan for automated eliminate light rail projects in about the Green Line and* its Blue Line tiom Pasadena to Azu- those in the San Gabriel Valley," other parts' of the county. proposed driverless cars isn't re- sa; which is scheduled to take '';Forsythe said. "Any dollars you cars seen as threat "If they spend $100 million to stricted to Diamond Bar. place around the year 2020, could 'spend now aren't going to be ' build a Disneyland -type ride, Bea LaPisto-Kirtley a member a .in jeopardy if conventional --.around'in the future when you } t0 light -rail projects which is what they say they're ' of the San Gabriel Valley Coali- technology isn't used on the the need them for other projects.".. i1 going to do, then it will del tion, a group of elected officials Green Line, she said. But Neil Peterson, executive B Jose henzl everyone else s projects, Dia- committed to bringing light -rail "You have to make your dol- y p mond Bar City Councilwoman director of. the commission, dis• Stan writer and other transportation pro• lars stretch as far as you can, ' Phyllis Papen-said. puled claims that the Green Line jects to the San Gabriel Valley, particularly in a recession like — which has also been cr' ' ized Even though it's not located in - "Historically, the San Gabriel said thb Green Line could be a the one we're experiencing for. creating too few job Los the San Gabriel Valley trans or- Valley has been last on the list disaster to other regions if the now," LaPisto-Kirtley said. "I p when it comes to new construe• commission sticks to its ro os• Angeles County and to any tation officials here are keeping ,� p p don't think using this kind of overseas — could cause delays 3 a very careful eye on the Green tion projects, Papen said, and . al of using automated cars. technology on the Green Line is in other transportation projects Line. that could mean we'd be the first . "This project has had nothing a good example of that." because of its costs. :. And some of them say they ones to have things cut." but cost overruns, and I see Bill Forsythe, a consultant to ,.- don't like what they see. During Tuesday's council more coming in the future," the coalition, said the. Green "When we do something we While a majority of the Los meeting. Papen persuaded her LaPisto Kirtley said. "There ,is Line's estimated price tag — want to do it right," Peterson Angeles County Transportation -four fellow council members to only so much money in the pot nearly $1 billion — all but as- said in "defending the Green Commission 'see acomputer- write a letter to the commission, to go around, and I think the surer that other regions will be Line's huge price tag. "We will driven light rail system that's protesting its decision to use commission. has a responsibility forced to deal with. a money . `do the same thing in the San i second to none worldwide. Val- driverless cars on the Norwalk to see that all parts of the county ' shortage. Gabriel Valley, and it's • impor' ley officials see something that to El Segundo system. : are represented fairly." _ "All of the light -rail systems. . tant for people out�there to know is so expensive it could delay, or-" But skepticism in the Valley The proposed extension of the would be threatened, not just that." .... - CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS 1245 No. Hacienda Blvd. La Habra Heights, CA 90631 (213) 694-6302 January 7, 1992 To: Mayors and Council Members From: JWy Hathaway -Francis, Council Member, City of La Habra Heights LACTC City Repres=tative Subje= Green Line As your representative on the LACTC, it is imperative that I serve the best interests of all cities wim considering each issue before the Commission. For this reason, on Wednesday, December 1St I voted in opars tion to the compromise motion affirming the use of &.veriess cars and against the motion for construction of the cars by the Sumitomo Corporwicn. In both instances, the vote was 7 - 4 and I was on the losing side. Both km we receiving considerable public discussion. and I seek your support for LACTC's secatsiderztion of these utters. It was = =sy ax this late date to tam up the cause of conventional non -automated Blue Line z=;hno�, be major factors weigh heavily toward my decision: I_ T e vxm3d be no appreciable difference in service between the automated or ettu�ct�d type rail lines, 2 Cmsi ov== are already projected at over S250m; 2 Sew cf. the Green Lint cc both ends remain unresolved and stop short of their Er2i Baas in Nor%%-Jk (at Amtrak) and Westchester; 4. Serxi= am des and comma in parts of the county not served by the Green Line by this projects overruns and by shrinldng sales tax dollars; Lw3 &_=ae=1ization in IL-,bt rail technology will cause a future explosion of casts L3r=;ij=, m2intenance, Ling, fleet procurement, and inventory. Al JAY COLLIf.K 4!LJ:�Rfi"�..�`.'iYe IUDIrH W. H.Arm)WAY-HUNCIS DIANE KANE IOHN R. WISLE..M.D. NOEUA F. CMAP.A ��a�.x �,yy,m.a,,,-.T Gz+nt�innember Councilmember Councnime"Ibef Ciry Mang r, Your constituents can best be served by a complete countywide mass transit system up and operating quickly and efficiently. The commuter does not care if the line is automated; he wants a safe, clean, and dependable source of transportation that is not priced beyond his means either by its fare or his taxes. Since my election to the Commission in January, 1991, Commissioners have repeatedly called for the retooling of Southern California's automobile, aerospace, and defense plants and jobs for their professionals, skilled workers, and their dependent suppliers. I concur completely_ We must eater the international competition for design and building of rail cars and bases. My vote against Sumitomo was for California and America. Presently we depend u al , Germany, and Japan for major components for our � upon Canada, Itally, future county transportation system. (With the present thinking encourager) by LACTC staff and vcked by the Commissione's December vote for Sumitomo, this will continue. America has been the place for entrepreneurs') imagination and invention, a place where people like the Wught Brothers dared to dream beyond bicycles. The facts are.there to justify American companies being awarded the Green Line rail car pradaxlion. Our economy, our industries, our workforce deserve this opportunity. Please make your concerns kanown to the Commissioners quickly. The next and crucial Con _mom meeting will be 3; nuary; 22, 1992. r Mayor JOHN C. MdTAGGART Mayor Pro Tern SUSAN BROOKS Councilwoman JACKI BACHARACH Councilman o I r- V r-N T. NU T mr-INUMLL Councilman-ROBERT E. RYAN rr! Ile, January 14, 1992 TO: MAYORS AND COUNCILINEEMBERS FROM: JACKIBACHARAC ouncilwoman, City of Rancho Palos Verdes, LACTC Representativt RE: Metro Green Line I am concerned, as"I am, sure you are, with the information being disseminated about the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission's decisions' to support automated technology for the Metro Green Line and award the contract to build the fully automated, driverless Metro Green'Line cars to Sumitomo Corporation, While the issues are receiving considerable public attention, it is unfortunate that much of the information being disseminated is incorrect. #1 The Green Line technology is proven #2 The local business I requirem ent I e ent instituted by the commission was the first in the county and Sumnitorno exceeded it. #3 The e LACTC has stood alone as the only agency aggressively addressing local preference in our contracts. #4 Our commitment to & countywide rail network remains unaltered. It has been stated inaccurately, that the driverless trains we intend to put into operation on the Green Line are,unproven. Such technology has been in operation for the past 5 to 10 years in London, Vancouver and Lille, France. Automati6n provides flexibility and greater frequency of service, and cities getting into the rail business such as Honolulu and Dallas are looking seriously at this technology. MEMORANDUM January 14, 1992 Page 2 First and foremost, the decision of the cc predicated on safety. Given the highly tE commission's primary objective was to se perform the work. It is our obligation to safe and will be built on schedule. Becat iisks in awarding the v.-aiicie wE experience .and capability to perform the Sumitomo was selected over the Boise, Ic This decision was delayed for one month bids from both firms. These six experts reviewed all of the factors involved in bL came back with an even stronger,. unanin (Sumitomo. imission to award the contract to Sumitomo was ;hnical nature of an automated system, the ect the most technically competent firm to :he public to build a transit system that works, is ;e of the nature of automation, we would not take had to ,select a firm.wi . the right combi.-ation of ,ork. For reasons of technical superiority, tho based firm; Morrison-Knudsen. while an independent panel of experts reviewed the ad no contact with the commission staff while they .ding vehicles for an automated system. They )us recommendation to award the contract to In saying that it could not technically support the Morrison-Knudsen proposal, the panel of experts stated, "the potential risks ... are too great to be technically acceptable." The deciding factors include that Sumitomo had been in business for 96 years and Morrison-Knudsen for k only 10. Sumitomo had built and delivered more than 40,000 cars worldwide while Morrison-Knudsen has yet to complete a single rail car. All of Sumitomo's contracts were delivered on schedule. The ability of MoImson-Knudsen to meet its projected schedule is as yet unproven. Furthermore, Sumitomo will establish a local assembly plant in Los Angeles county and has committed to train our workers to transfei the technological siuliS to the U.S. l�.orr.�o - Knudsen is an outstanding company for civil work and car re -manufacturing. On the Blue Line project, the LACTC contracted out more than $175 million worth of work to Morrison- Knudsen. However, since Morrison-Knudsen has never built a single rail car, the commission had to go with Sumitomo. r Talks are now underway between Morrison-Knudsen and Sumitomo to joint venture this contract. The transportation commission has clearly heard the concerns expressed by the public andelected representatives concerning the Metro Green Line_ and, specifically, the rail car procurement. Serious pegotiations are underway between Sumitomo and Morrison r MEMORANDUM January 14, 1992 Page 3 0 Knudsen to establish an arrangement that will make Morrison-Knudsen, the American company, a serious and substantive partner in building the Metro Green Line car. I believe that such an agreement would be the best solution for all parties. Sumitomo would be able to directly use their skills in partnership with Morrison-Knudsen to create a new industry in the U.S. Because the cars will be highly technical, our U.S. firm will have specialized skills to compete internationally on building rail systems of the future. We would no longer have to rely on Italy, Japan or Canada to purchase our rail cars. The commission has already approved a local business- enterprise policy. We have always understood the need to assist American firms and not perpetuate the awarding of contracts to non -American firms because of their lack of experience. Our commission has been at the forefront of promoting local and minority involvement in our projects long before it became politically expedient to focus attention on. our sagging economy. The Green Line contract included a local assembly provision that required 15 % of the contract award to be spent locally. An addition 10 % requirement for minority business award.,was also included. No other rail car contract has had this high a DBE component or any local component at all. Sumitomo met and exceeded all of the requirements we set forth. Clearly, what is left out of this entire discussion is that the commission has already approved a local business enterprise policy that will become even stronger when state legislation enables us to provide an advantage to local businesses bidding on our projects. We consider it a part of our mandate to do everything we can to put our considerable funds to use in our own backyard. The automation_ decision will not imoact delivery of expanded transportation programs The political "red -herring" on this issue is local jobs. The Green Line will_create 19,000 local jobs, of which 77% are construetion-related. Only 370 of the jobs will come directly and indirectly from the vehicle contract, which represents just 12% of the total Green Line budget. The combined rail, highway and bus projects we are building in the Los Angeles area will result in the creation of 1.4 million local construction -related jobs over the next 30 years. This will also -have a rippling effect in creating jobs and pumping dollars into the five -county MEMORANDUM January 14, 1992 Page 4 region and even the national economy ° countywide. jeopardizing or delaying proposed projects There are those that would have you believe the automation decision will prevent delivery of expanded transportation services to parts of the county. That is just not true. In fact, the commission has taken great care to insure that funds programmed for projects will remain. For example, the Riverside to Los Angeles commuter rail project is on schedule, in addition to projects planned for the San Fernando Vaiiey, Suuth Bay and East Los Angeles areas. Critics will not be able to cite a single example of projects being abandoned dne to automation. Los Angeles County is leading the nation iiri terms of projects planned for the region and the commitment on behalf of its residents to provide financial resources to see those projects through fruition. We'are also leading the nation in the types of technological advances we are employing to get these projects done. I The Metro Green line will be the first fully - automated system in the country. The benefits of this type of system include decreased operational costs over the life of the system, in addition to schedule flexibility. Given the benefits over the long-term, I 1 will agree that the commission made the both the residents and cities of Los Ange the day when all residents can point to th The commission has and will continue -to transportation service to the residents of transportation dollars to benefit the local -ve that once all the facts are weighed, you too it decision. As a commissioner who has served county for more than 9 years, I look forward to countywide system of transportation with pride. rsue its goal of providing unequaled Angeles county and maintain its goal to use our nomy and create jobs. If there are any questions you may -have, I would be more Ulan happy to discuss this issue with you. I look forward :to hearing from you soon. ' NJ 1/ 14/y6 l.i : V9L LA ❑ADRA riG 1 kArl'1 a W_.I vva CITIZENS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST (310) 459.8876 FAX I (310) 457.1386 To Members and the Media Jan. 14th, 1992 Progress.in Developing Support for Reconsideration of the Green Line Contract on Jan. 22nd 1. ASTONISHING VOTE FOR RECONSIDERATION IN THE STATE; AScEMBLY- -Led by the Chairman of the Transportatlon Committee, Richard Katz, the State legislature has voted UNANIMOUSLY(70-0) to ask the L.A. County Transportation Commission to R4consider the: Con- tract on the Green Line.The Assembly expressed concern about the high cost of the driverless care -approved by the Commission and asked for the bids to be ze:--opened to include less expensive manually run equipment. 2.. MAYOR-BRADLEY CALLS ON COLLEAGUES ON THE LA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TO CHANGE THEIR VOTES AND SUPPORT AMERICAN COMPANY TO BUILD DRIVERLESS TRAIN. The Mayor wrote a strongly worded statement saying he was firmly opposed to reconsidering "driverless trains" and would oppose an effort to reconsider and have traditional cars on the Green Line.However, he did express his hope that LA County Transportation Commis- sioners would Join him in voting for reconsideration of the con- tract which. -was awarded to Sumitomo. 3..Commissioner Judith Hathaway- Francis Supports Reconsideration As a representative of the League of Cities on the L.A. County 'Transportation Commission she is working,with the 81 cities in Los Angeles County to inforra.them of the serious problems associ- ated with the Green Line contract as it currently stands. In a letter which Ns. Hathaway- Francis sent.out to all the cities she notes that the automated system as approved is much more costly, does not improve service, and. jeopardizes service to cities 'in other parts of the county.She calls for the devel- .opmcnt of a rail transit ind'ostry in California. and the united States. 04..SUPPORT GROWS AMONG CITIES FOR RECONSIDERATION Pasadena# Burbank and Glendale have formed a Tri-City coalition to reguest reconsideration and will testify on Jan. 22nd. Monrovia and Arcadia also support reconsideration Votes are pending in Alhambra, West Covina , Claremont, Beverly Hills and others. S..Individual city Council Members in various Cities express con- cern about the vote cast by the other League of City representa- tive on the COmrtlSsicn. A letter has been sent by three Councllmembe'rs.in Las Angeles County( from Rolling Mills, Glendale and la Puente) critielzing. Jackie Bachrach of Rancho Palos vezdes for her vote in support of an automated train contract for Sumitomo. S..Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Executive Committee approves resolution supporting reconsideration of the Green Line. The AFL-CIO resolution Cites coneezns that, as planned ,Lhe Green Line 1s not integrated with the Blue Line. It calls on the . _ ._ ... _. •--• 1078 Napoli Dr. - _ -•-- Padfit Palisades, CA 90272 01i14i92- . 13 : 04• _ LA HABRA HE I GHTS 003 CITIZENS FOR; PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST (310) 459.8876 fAX I (310) 459.1286 elected officials to support a pzoposal that will employ a aiy- nificant number of Los Angeles County residents. 7.. Nine Congzessmembers ask for re --consideration of contract for Green Line In a letter to the LACTC the nine) Congressmembers said "we seriouslY question LACTC's selection --at a time when we should be encouraging U.S. businesses...we cannot ignore the fact that LACTC's decision will.cost Los Angeles residents more money a'nd cost this country jobs." 9..CURRENT STATUS ON RECONSIDERATION- SIX VOTES NEEDED TWO TRACKS FOR RECONSIDERATION ARE EMERGING Molina,. arabinski and Hathaway- Francis have publicly stated their support for an effort to reconsider driverless Lrdins and develop a less expensive technology with greater emphasis on developing local inidusrty. Sup. Edelman is thought to be leaning in support of reconsideration with thin emphasis.This is the direction emphasized by the unanimous vote in the State Legisla- ture. Mayor Bradley has stated support for another form of reconsideration --that is stiCking1with the driverless technology but reconsidering whether the contract can be let to an American firm. It is unclear whether 'Bradley has asked h13 appointees on the Commission to support his effort for reconsideration based on this perspective. CURRENT ACTIVITIES BY CITIZENS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Calls have been made to Supervisors Hahn, Antonovich and Dana with requests for appointments toldiscuss the matter. Calls have also been made to Tolbert and 'Alatorre's office requesting appointments to discuss the.issue.and ascertain if they will be supporting Mayor Bradley's positionor taking a more independent stance. LOCAL -JOB .-CREATION,- I6 EMERGI NO AS CRITICAL ELEMENT IN FUTURE CON- TRACTS. Richard Katz announced that he will be proposing State legisla- tion that will insure that in the'tuture special preference Will be givewn in bidding to companies Ithat guarantee local job crea- t1un. Mayor pradley has announced that he has asked the LACTC to propose legislation that will extend a local busir,aas pr.eferPnce. Other political leaders have also !spoken in support of moving 1-n this direction.- n j ti • CITY OF Q�aar�ao��� 16600 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE BELLFLOWER, CALIFORNIA 90706-5494 (213) 804-1424 January 13, 1992 Honorable Mayor and City Council Members City of West Covina 1444 West Garvey Avenue West Covina, California 91790 Dear Mayor and City Council Members: BELLFLOWER USA' The recent decision on the Metro Green Line has raised eyebrows over how major transportation contracts are awarded in_Los Angeles County. Yet, despite the public outcry and discussion that has taken place, we are still left with unanswered questions: o Why is the LACTC using. an unproven technology to experiment with our tax dollars? o Why was the award to build the cars for the Green Line given to a Japanese firm when a qualified American firm bid $5 million less? o Why are our tax dollars being used to do business with a company that has a business address in South Africa? Commissioners say they are unwilling to take a chance on an inexperienced American company, and that the decision on automation was "political." Isn't an investment in America the type of chance our government entities should be willing to take? As we continue to expand our rail and bus system in Los Angeles County, we•need to be assured that the debacle taking place over. the Green_Line contract award will not be repeated. Politics is no excuse for making poor policy decisions. This decision also shows that a mega -agency, operating without a system of checks and balances, can make decisions without regard to the public interest, or even what is recommended by its own experts. An agency making decisions of this magnitude must come under scrutiny or decisions like the one made on the Green Line will become more frequent. We need to insure better performance than this from a reorganized transportation agency in Los Angeles County. Page 1 of 2' W.J. "BILL" PENDLETON BOB STONE JOHN-JOHNNY- ANSDELL JOSEPH E. CVETKO RANDY BOMGAARS Mayor Mayor Pm Tern Councilman Councilman Councilman Honorable Mayor and City Council Members January 13, 1992 i Page 2 of 2 The LACTC has sent proposed legislation to Sacramento that does not meet the commitments the joint policy boards of the LACTC and SCRTD reached on December 4, 1991. We cannot attain our transportation goals for this region if a few individuals are able to ignore the policy making body and proceed with their own agenda. This .action is inexcusable andit shows a reckless disregard for the policy direction that a joint proposal be sent to Sacramento. I feel strongly that the issue of reorganization should be put to further discussion and .consideration before we build a monster we cannot control. Please do not hesitate to call me if you would like to discuss this issue or any other matter of mutual concern. Sincerely, Bob Stone Mayor Pro.Tem City of Bellflower BS:gkb • '92 �� # i o' Al i .37 CITY OF SIGNAL HILL 2175 Cherry Avenue • Signal Hill. California 90806 ry • (213) 426-7333 • FAX (213)4V=3276"�`" January 13, 1992 Los Angeles County Transportation. Commission Rail Construction Corporation 818 West Seventh Street, Suite 1100 Los Angeles, CA 90017-4606 Dear Commissioners. - .As Mayor and on behalf of the entire City Council of the City of Signal Hill, I am writing to express our concerns regarding the controversy surrounding the recent contract discussions for the construction of rail cars for the Green Line. As a decision -making body, we are aware of the difficulty and complexity associated with the award of a large construction bid, and we also understand how A controversy such as you are experiencing can develop .through the bidding process'. We are confident in your ability to conduct your business and choose wisely. However, due to the public outcry .regarding this project, we would encourage you to hold a public hearing to reconsider this matter. In addition, we would encourage you to make supporting documentation readily available to the public so .that the reasons behind the Commission's final decision will be easily identified.. Thank you for considering our concerns as you address this important regional issue. Since ely, Jessie M. Blacksmith MAYOR cc: Cities of'Los Angeles County