HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07241984 - X.5 to: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson
Supervisor Nancy Fanden Costa
Supervisor Tom Powers
DATE: July 24 , 1984 County
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN PACIFIC MERGER
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The recently announced merger of Southern
Pacific sparks thoughts about solving our railroad problems in
several cities in our county. For example, Antioch is traversed by
both Southern Pacific and Santa Fe. This presents an impediment to
waterfront development with the duplicate set of Santa Fe tracks near
the waterfront. Likewise, Pittsburg, Martinez, Richmond, Brentwood
and Hercules have other potential benefits to derive from the
question of shifting operation .to a single track. With the
merger of the corporations, we have the possibility of having the
operations of these two railroads merge on one track in some of
our communities.
In some cities, the question may revolve around removal of tracks
to provide greater access to downtown Or waterfront development. In
other communities the question may revolve around utilization of
the one set of tracks or right-of-way for a light rail system or
BART extension. The question of utilizing railroad tracks for the
extension of BART or a light-rail system should be answered once and for
all and some clear direction take place in the planning of this
matter.
We believe these issues are significant ones for the future
development of our communities. In discussions with some of the
city staffs, we find an interest in forming a task force. to address
these issues, gather the pertinent information in order to make
adequate decisions and present a case to the railroads regarding
the direction we would like to move in.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Contact the cities by letter regarding their
interest in participating in a task force to address these issues.
Staffing could come from the cities and also by utilizing at times
BART and MTC planning staff and County Public Works staff.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: X ,'i /�:/✓:'/ %.
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
I
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON J U 1 V 24, 1984 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED _ OTHER _
The Board REQUESTED the Public Works Director to solicit input from the cities regarding
interest in participating in a task force to review
P P 9 potential utilization of abandoned rail -
road rights-of-way as a result of the proposed merger between the Southern Pacific and Santa
Fe Railroads, and REFERRED this matter to the Public Works Director and County Administrator
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS for further review.
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAN'-T.HIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: Publ i c Works Director ATTESTED 'Z
County Administrator J.R. 4SS09, COUNTY CLERK
County Counsel AND EX OFFICIO CLERK OF THE BOARD
Director of Planning
T. J. Nelson ,
M382/7-88 BY (-1 DEPUTY