HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11141995 - C83 y
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IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
SUBJECT: In The Matter of Support )
For the Capitol Corridor )
Intercity Rail Service )
RESOLUTION NO. 95/559
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County RESOLVES THAT:
WHEREAS, the Capitol Corridor passenger rail service is an important element of Northern California's
future intermodal transportation system; and
WHEREAS;the productivity and performance of the Capitol Corridor passenger rail service has been limited
by problems and constraints with the right-of-way, an inadequate level of service, and limited ability to meet existing
transportation markets requirements; and
WHEREAS; an allocation of$57 million of Proposition 116 funds was earmarked in 1990 to make the
required improvements in track and signal systems to improve Capitol Corridor performance; and
WHEREAS, the California Transportation Commission required that in return for this investment the
Southern Pacific Railroad, owner of the right-of-way, agree to provide public benefits commensurate with the
investment in its private property; and
WHEREAS, the railroad and the State of California have still not reached agreement to effectuate the
transfer of Proposition 116 funds and implement the improvements to the right-of-way; and
WHEREAS,the Capitol Corridor is being threatened due to its low ridership and poor performance caused
in part by the delay in this investment and the delay in increasing the service on the corridor made possible by the
delivery of new rolling stock; and
WHEREAS, an effort by Southern California to divert funds allocated to Northern California passenger rail
service almost succeeded in the State legislature in 1995 and may occur again in 1996; and
WHEREAS,the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak, has increased the costs of operating the
Capitol Corridor to the State of California and a reallocation of available resources provided the funds to continue
service on the Corridor in 1995 with further increases possible in the future; and
WHEREAS,the California Transportation Commission has not agreed to release the entire year of FY 1996
funding for the Capitol Corridor until it reviews and acts on a request for a waiver from the requirement that the
service cover fifty-five percent (55%) of its operating costs from passenger revenues which it will consider at its
November 1995; and
WHEREAS, in order to be successful, the Capitol Corridor requires improved train performance, an
increased level of service as planned by the State of California for at least six daily round trips, and implementation,
as soon as possible, of the track and signal improvements; and
WHEREAS,the passenger rail service on the Capitol Corridor must be transformed from a limited service
to a regional service which provides for business travelers, peak hour work trips and leisure trips and is highly
integrated with the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit rail system, and the Sacramento County and Santa Clara
County rail transit systems and other,local transit systems in the corridor:
RESOLUTION NO. 95/559
l
NOW,THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, that, as an urgent
matter the responsible state agencies, the California Transportation Commission, the Business Transportation
and Housing Agency and the California Department of Transportation, are hereby requested to take whatever steps
are necessary to secure an agreement with the Southern Pacific Railroad to implement the programmed track and
signal improvements as soon as possible with an appropriate level of Corridor public capacity guaranteed by the
Southern Pacific Railroad for all types of passenger rail services in the corridor managed by public agencies, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Transportation Commission is hereby requested to act
expeditiously to grant the required waiver from the fifty-five percent (55%) farebox recovery rule and release the
entirety of the funds appropriated by the legislature to maintain and improve the Capitol Corridor service in the
current fiscal year, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that efforts be continued to transform the Capitol Corridor by creating
a new Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Agency to assume responsibility for the administration and management of the
Corridor based on the following principles:
■ regional governance by a Joint Powers Board representing all of the interests in the Corridor and
anchored by policy representation from the existing rail transit agencies in the corridor;
■ securing a guarantee that the State will continue to provide the planned level of funding for the
Corridor for at least six daily round trips;
■ attracting new markets to the Capitol Corridor service and significantly increasing the attractiveness
of the Corridor as an alternative to automobile travel; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be transmitted to: the California
Transportation Commission; the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency; the California Department of
Transportation; and members of the Capitol Corridor legislative delegation.
PASSED by the following vote of the Board of Supervisors on the 14th day of November, 1995:
AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Smith, DeSaulnier, Tor lakson and Bishop
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of an order entered on the minutes of the Board of
Supervisors on the date aforesaid.
Contact: Nance Hobert (510/646-2080)
cc: Community Development Department (CDD) Witness my hand and the Seal of the
Board of Supervisors affixed on this
14th day of November, 1995.
Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the Board of
Supervis d County Administrator
eputy Clerk
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TPX1995\drb\ccirs-res.
RESOLUTION NO. 95/559