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02-06-2001 - Resolution in Support of Maglev Deployment Program0 • City of West Covina Memorandum TO: Daniel G. Hobbs, City Manager and City Council AGENDA ITEM NO. D-1 FROM: Douglas McIsaac, Planning Director DATE February 1 2001 Planning Department SUBJECT: RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF MAGLEV DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUMMARY: On January 30, 2001, the City Council and Planning Commission held a joint study session regarding the proposed MAGLEV high speed transportation system and the proposal to potentially locate a MAGLEV station in West Covina. The Council is now being requested to consider adoption of a resolution expressing the City's support for the California MAGLEV deployment program. BACKGROUND: The California MAGLEV Deployment Program is being sponsored jointly by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the California High Speed Rail Authority, and the California Business, Transportation & Housing Agency. The project proposes to develop a high speed MAGLEV (magnetic levitation) transportation system stretching from Los Angeles International Airport to the former March Air Force Base near Riverside. Intermittent stations are proposed at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley, and Ontario Airport. West Covina has been identified as a preferred location for the siting of the San Gabriel Valley MAGLEV station. MAGLEV refers to technology that uses electromagnetic forces to suspend, propel, and guide vehicles over a specially designed elevated guideway. MAGLEV trains are capable of achieving speeds of up to 300 miles per hour; however, operational speeds would likely be in the range of 140 to 200 miles per hour. The MAGLEV technology has currently been implemented in Germany and is now being sought for implementation in the United States. DISCUSSION: At this time, the consortium of agencies supporting the California MAGLEV Deployment Program are seeking a resolution of general support from the City. While support from West Covina is being particularly sought because of the potential for a station being located in the City, the draft resolution does not refer to or indicate specific support for a station in West Covina. At this time, no specific site has been identified or proposed for a station in West Covina. The essential requirements are that the site be capable of supporting a station and parking for 3,000 to 8,000 cars, and that it be proximate to the San Bernardino Freeway, which is one of two potential alignments for the MAGLEV system through the San Gabriel Valley. Before any decision is made regarding whether or where to locate a station in West Covina, extensive study and analysis would need to be conducted regarding the environmental, fiscal, and economic development impacts of locating such a station in West Covina. The possibility of being one of five stations on the MAGLEV route could pose substantial economic development benefits for the City, as well as provide convenient regional travel for residents. These benefits would need to be weighed against the environmental impacts, including a substantial increase in local traffic. It should also be noted that the station would be constructed and operated by the entity controlling the MAGLEV system and would not involve any direct contributions by the City. FISCAL IMPACT: As stated, a potential MAGLEV station in West Covina would likely have a substantial indirect fiscal impact on the City. At this time, however, it is not possible to quantify all of these impacts. ZACity Council\SFRPTSDM\Maglev.doc MAGLEV Deployment Program February 6, 2001 - Page 2 RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council adopt the following resolution: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA MAGLEV DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM. �r)1 LtE.Jo�Z LEFT T1,/C M T6 Prepared by: Douglas cIsaac Plannin Director ZACity Council\SFRPTSDM\Maglev.doc RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA MAGLEV DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM WHEREAS, Southern California's population is expected to increase by over 6 million people over the next twenty years — a 43% increase; and WHEREAS, the region's freeway system is already severely congested; and WHEREAS, this population increase is expected to add to congestion and almost double our average daily commuting time, severely add to local air quality problems, and constrain the region's economy; and WHEREAS, a high-speed rail system, based on state-of-the-art magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology offers tremendous promise to effectively transport residents of West Covina and of the entire Southland, as well as cargo, in an environmentally friendly and energy efficient manner at speeds over 200 miles per hour; and WHEREAS, Maglev would help maintain a vibrant economy, serve the mobility needs of a growing population, and provide a much -needed critical link among our region's airports; and WHEREAS, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has included high-speed Maglev as a vital component of its Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) for the future and for achieving federal air quality attainment standards; and WHEREAS, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), along with the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, and the California High Speed Rail Authority, have organized a cooperative effort called the California Maglev Deployment Program to develop and construct a high-speed Maglev system for the region; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of West Covina, does hereby resolve as follows: Section 1. Support of the California Maglev Deployment Program and encourages SCAG's efforts to complete further engineering, design, environmental analysis and financial planning for the proposed high-speed Maglev system in Southern California. Section 2. Based on the promise of improved mobility that the Program can bring to the City and to all of Southern California, the City Council of the City of West Covina hereby makes the Maglev project a high legislative priority, and also encourages other local and regional agencies, the State of California and the Federal Government to support the California Maglev Deployment Program to the level necessary to make the project a reality in Southern California. Section 3. That the City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of 2001. Mayor Steve Herfert ATTEST: Janet Berry, City Clerk I, Janet Berry, City Clerk of the City of West Covina; California, do hereby certify that the forgoing Resolution was dully adopted by the City Council of the City of West Covina at a regular meeting held on the day of , 2001, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: City Clerk Approved as to form: City Attorney I I fin i'll F., Tp liamml re boom WTTP�! M If a technology emerged capable of rendering time and distance irrelevant, what would be the possibilities? People could comfortably glide across a great region... upon a spectacular elevated monorail at fantastic speeds... breaking the bonds of time and distance and urban congestion. These are indeed the possibilities ... the vision... the hope of the California MAGLEV Deployment Program. California... Land of prosperity and progress. California is a great beacon of prosperity, progress and opportunity ... a powerful global economic engine and a land of inspiring beauty. More than 50% of California's citizens - 17 million in total - reside in Southern mag[ev renders time and Southern California's vast distances irrelevant. I Left unanswered, the quality of life implications are ominous... urban gridlock... eroding air quality... lost productivity and prosperity never gained. Should these ills persist, Southern California and the nation will fall into the swift currents of a competitive global marketplace. A bold new approach for moving people and goods in the 21st Century... Leading -edge technologies in high-speed transportation are Southern California's only hope for freeing its people from declining mobility. Which is why the Southern California Association of California... their minds and hands producing more than half of California's $1.2 trillion annual economic output. But what of her future? By 2020, Southern California will be the home of an astonishing 22 million people. Unprecedented passenger and freight demands from around the world will test her transportation assets beyond their Governments (SCAG) is pursuing Magnetic Levitation (MAGLEV) technology as an essential component of its Regional Transportation Plan. The journey begins with partnership... To leap the barriers. of time and space, SCAG has taken a determined step forward to bring a high- speed, intra-regional MAGLEV service to ;alifornia... in a !rative partnership with encies that share its MAGLEV will whisk her Passengers upon the barest cushion of air, at fantastic speeds of up to 240 miles per hour. 10 0 California MAGLEV Deployment Program LAX Proposed Intrareglonal High Speed System Gliding 20 feet above the ground on existing rail and freeway r gbts-of-way, vision for improved mobility... MAGLEV will whisk riders between LAX and Riverside in about 30 minutes. ...the Federal Railroad. Administration... ...the California High Speed Rail Authority... ...the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. SCAG and its partners... public and private... will stir the imagination of Southern California's people... and ultimately bring to them a fascinating reality that looks like this.... ...A MAGLEV train gliding 20 feet above the ground along existing rail and freeway rights -of - way... upon the barest cushion of air at speeds up to 240 miles per hour... safely whisking commuters, tourists, business professionals, and the curious across Southern California's vast expanse. At first MAGLEV would Iink.Southern California's major business centers and multi -modal transportation nodes... from Los Angeles to San 2020 Forecast for Population & Employment Growth (Millions) Population 1994 15.6 2020 22.4 Increase of 43% Employment 1994 6.6 2020 10.6 Increase of 61% Bernardino and Riverside Counties. It would streak eastward from Los Angeles International Airport, gateway to the global marketplace, to downtown Los Angeles. Then on it wil l race to the heart of the picturesque San Gabriel Valley... to Ontario Airport, the Inland Empire's major air terminus... then gliding on to March Air Field (Inland Port) in Riverside County and the region's future air cargo hub. where we could an--- MAG LEV will make the incredible 84-94 mile journey... stopping every 15 to 20 miles... in as little as 30 minutes, shrinking the once -limiting Southern California expanse. MAGLEV's ultimate destination... Once fully deployed, MAGLEV could transform Southern California. Ultimately, a 273-mile intraregional circuit would link Southern California airports into a truly integrated world airport... a collection of air terminals accessible in no more than an hour from any given point on the high-speed link. Building Partnerships to achieve the vision... The California MAGLEV Deployment Program has begun its journey... with $3.4 million in federal grants and $1.7 million in local funds for the conception of MAGLEV's future in Southern "-"' rnia... and a detailed blueprint mitted to the Federal Railroad Administration in June 2000. The Federal Railroad Administration's favorable consideration of the California MAGLEV Project Description triggers Phase iI... a $30 million engineering r minds and bands of Southern ifornians account for more than half of California's $1.2 trillion real economic output. lnnvL.c v w:u una 3outbern California's regional and international airports. and environmental analysis project capitalized through federal sources, local public monies and private capital. Once the California MAGLEV Project is selected by FRA, design and construction of the first 84-94 mile line would commence. The $4-$6 billion construction project - funded from operating revenues and federal funds authorized under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century - is expected to take seven years to complete and could begin transporting its first passengers and freight in 2010. The California MAGLEV Program demonstrating to the nation and the world the possibilities and" benefits of high-speed travel lr �� For more information, contacts , Albert Perdon &"Associates q a Al Perdon , M"`* . Phone (310) 871 1113 E-mail albertperdo4alber erdon com, Cerrell Associates, Inc a 1-Jeff Lustgarten h �A , z;.Phone: (323) 466 3445' E-mail: jeff@cerrell com; t ; Arellano Associates Genoveva Arellano , ��.^ � - t 4 ' j Phone (9.09) 627 2474f r E-mail*arellanmVaol,.com "'- 4 Funding The preparation of this r. part financed in s part through grants from fhe United States`Depar4tnent of Transportation rederal Railroad Administration and s u �•+ the Riverside County Transporiatfor Commis�slon under ,x provisions of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Additional Financtafassistance was provided by: the California State Department of Transportation. ,, MEMORANDUM DATE: December 13, 2006 TO: Daniel Hobbs, Executive Director FROM: Bill Kirchhoff, Agency Consultant // Benjamin Kim, Project Coordinators; SUBJECT: MAGLEV Deployment Program Proposal Overview At the request of the City Manager's Office, a "Red Team" was organized in order to evaluate the concept of locating a MAGLEV (magnetic levitation) station in the City. The Red Team consists of representatives from the Redevelopment Agency,, the Planning Department, the Public Works Department, and the Chamber of Commerce. The Red Team's discussions and findings will be discussed later in this memorandum. However, the following is a list of the salient issues discussed: 1. MAGLEV station would create synergy for economic development opportunities, including office, retail and mixed -use developments. 2. MAGLEV station would create certain environmental impacts, such as traffic, noise and air quality. Thus, it is foreseeable that demand for City services will increase. 3. MAGLEV proposal is in the preliminary stage and its actual conception is uncertain. Introduction The proposed MAGLEV Deployment Program involves the use of electromagnetic energy to propel a train -like vehicle along a. monorail guideway at an estimated cruising speed of 200 miles per hour. The MAGLEV train is able to achieve such high speed because of the frictionless, contactless interaction of the vehicle with the guideway. MAGLEV Deployment Program December 13, 2000 Page 2 The California MAGLEV Deployment Program is a joint venture of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency (CBTHA) and the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). California and six other states (Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, and Pennsylvania) are _ now in competition to procure $950 million in TEA-21 Federal funds for design and construction of the MAGLEV system. It is estimated that an additional $3 to $5 billion is needed to build the MAGLEV system. It is proposed that such additional funds be raised from a combination of federal grants, state and local revenues, and private -sector bonds. As currently envisioned, the MAGLEV system will connect Los Angeles International Airport to March Field in Riverside County. Stops along the way have been identified at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, the City of West Covina, and the Ontario International Airport. With stops included, the MAGLEV can travel the R4-94 mile m„tP ;„ aa l;++ie .,. 2n .,.....,tee . Under the current schedule, construction of the project would commence in 2002 and would be completed in approximately eight years. The MAGLEV system could become operational as early as 2010. West Covina MAGLEV Station The Red Team developed a "pro. and con" list (attached) in order to identify and evaluate the potential benefits and negatives of locating a MAGLEV station in West Covina. The Team's first concern was for the potential impact that a 7,000 to 8,000 stall MAGLEV parking structure would have on the community. Examples of the Team's. concerns identified in the "pro and con" list are as follows: 0 Traffic congestion 0 Identification of West Covina as a traffic congested city and a parking lot site 0 Air and noise impacts 0 Additional demand on City services (Police, Fire and Public Works) 0 Use of a prime property (possibly the K-Mart site) as a parking lot 0 Unknown definitive economic development potential and benefits 0 The actual implementation of the project is questionable, given the scope and the resources needed MAGLEV Deployment Program December 13, 2000 Page 3 In order to determine the potential benefits of the MAGLEV station, staff met with Mr. Richard D. Thorpe, Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro 'Blue Line Construction Authority, who is an expert in public transportation projects. It was the opinion of Mr. Thorpe that a MAGLEV station would potentially offer significant economic development opportunities to the City. As a reference, Mr. Thorpe described an upcoming blue line station in Pasadena (Sierra Madre Villa Station) where the new station created a demand for a new office development project. It was believed that a MAGLEV station would create a new development demand to the surrounding area, but on a larger scale. The Red Team has identified many potential opportunities .that a MAGLEV station may offer, which are listed in the attached "pro and con" list. Examples are as follows: 0 Possible parking fee revenue and traffic impact fees/improvements 0 Infusion of consumers to the City and establishment of West Covina as a destination point 0 Demand for new developments adjacent to the station, resulting in new jobs, sales taxes and an increase in property values 0 Creation of a central business district or downtown Recommendation There are many foreseeable impacts that a MAGLEV station would have on the City. However, the potential benefit that a station would create could be significant. Therefore, it is recommended that the City retain the opportunity to pursue the MAGLEV project and to mitigate as possible the project impacts. At this stage in the MAGLEV project, the following is recommended: L A MAGLEV station has the potential to create significant synergy for economic development opportunities. The City should, at this initial stage, be supportive in the concept of procuring a MAGLEV station. 2. The MAGLEV project is in an inceptive stage and the actual implementation is uncertain at this time. Although the City should be supportive of the project, it should not expend a great amount of resources until such time as the project becomes more definitive. r a e Ji MAGLEV Project ;; Pros r irect Lt ^Project Direct Negat, �e� (on site)• - • Possible parking fee revenue • Use of prime property for a parking structure • Sales tax and jobs from new businesses incorporated . Loss of development potential of a into the parking structure prime property • Jobs created to maintain the parking structure Displace existing business(es) — loss of existing • Traffic impact fees/improvements jobs and revenue (sales and property taxes) Spin -Off Benefits• Spin -Off Negatives• • Infuse consumers to W. C. • Infuse vehicular traffic to a single point in the • Establish W.C. as a destination point City • Create demand for new development adjacent to • Creates vehicular traffic congestion and possible the station/parking structure — office and retail gridlock during peak rush hours • Development opportunity leverage for the City • Traffic congestion may deter consumers from traveling to W. C. • New development would yield in: 1) Poor design may lead to a park and ride lot new jobs, 2) new sales tax revenue, and where consumers do not venture out of the . 3) increase in property value parking lot • New retail and service businesses to the community • Opportunity to develop a mixed -use and high density project -Recognition- Nam! Name Rec�anition: • Puts W. C. "on the map" . W. C. possibly known as a parking lot site • Provides synergy to establish a "CBD° or downtown . W. C. possibly known as a traffic congested City New Public Servi�p npportunitig� Public Service Nor, +r.,oC2• • Transportation service for City residents . Additional demand in City services, including: 1) police 2) fire Environmental aa�nt; 3) public works (e.g., street maintenance) Environmental Nag f �s• • Reduction of noise — The noise or air resistance from the MAGLEV train is reduced it • Noise —MAGLEV trains travel at a speed of as slows to a stop approximately 190 mph • Negative air quality from vehicles traveling to the station xbk2844 • Aesthetics of an elevated train/rail through the City r Other BenefitS� • Aesthetics of the multilevel parking structure - Other Negatives: • One billion dollars of federal funds to be allocated for environmental and engineering Unknown economic development potential at studies. this time • Ridership of transit typically not up to projection • Unknown construction funding source (City may be asked to acquire the parking structure land or assist in construction) • Use of funds for MAGLEV project may be diverted from other needed public infrastructure projects • Commitment of City resources for preliminary studies of a project which may not happen xbk2g"