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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06231992 - S.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra TROM: Supervisor Powers&Toriakson Costa County DATE: 6/23/92 •_ . susison Intercity Rail Demonstration Project SPECIFIC REOUEBT(t)OR RECOMMENDATIONS)i SAMROUND AND JUSTIFICATION Recommendation: 1)We must Immediately take steps to mitigate congestion on East Bay highways and transit systems. This could be done by developing passenger rail service on existing rail lines. Intercity rail service would be partidularly effective in mitigating congestion that will result from highway construction in the East Bay over the next S to 7 years, 2) meet with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, Amtrak, and other essential transportation operators to determine how we can develop a demonstration Intercity rail services on the 1-80, 1-680 and, Highway 4 corridors to alleviate increased traffic congestion during highway construction. BACKGROUND The•East Bay presently is experiencing heavy traffic congestion. This situation will likely worsen because of the planned, simultaneous construction of 1-80, 1.680 ,1- 880 and Highway 4; The probability of major gridlock will likely create intolerable traffic conditions. While Caltrans will be able to keep most of the lanes open on these highways, traffic lanes will inevitably be narrowed and constricted. This in turn will result in a spill over of traffic onto local roads and residential streets. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMUNT: _1VCO SIONATURG: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE -OTHER ilONATURE(SI: _ ACTION Of BOARD ON ,dune 23, 1992 --APPROVED Ai RECOMMENDED_1L. OTHER _2L The Board discussed the above recommendations and determined to amend Recommendation 2 by adding BART immediately after the word Amtrak; and by adding a third recommendation, to REFER this issue to the Greater East Bay Rail Opportunity Coalition to see if there is an opportunity for a short-term ( 1-year) implementation of two new train services from Brentwood to Oakland and from Susuin-Fairfield to Oakland, and to also REFER the matter to TRANSPLAN. The Board DESIGNATED Supervisors Powers and Torlakson 'to represent the Board in discussions in this matter. VOTE Of 4UPERV18ORE I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE _UNANIMOUS(ABSENT TV ) AND CORRECT COPY Of AN ACTION TAKEN AYES. NOES: ANC ENTCRCD ON TIIE MINVTEC OF TNS 60Ano ABSENT, ABSTAIN: Of SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cC ATTi!'iT[D _Community Development - Steve Goetz .T71nP 23, 1 A92 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK Of THE BOARD OF County Administrator SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ` � � 8y eEpuTr A major alternative is to expand transit opportunities and to make transit more sc om1ble. This can be done in a cost effective way by taking advantage of the rail right of way that spans the length of Contra Costa County and the entire East Bay. The skeleton for an effective rail system exist today, but it ties dormant and is waiting to be more fully utilized. A rail system would undoubtedly benefit Contra Costa County as well as our adjoining neighbors. Much of the traffic in Contra Costa County crosses to and from Alameda and Solano Counties. The option of rail'can be a very effective way of taking this growing crisscross traffic off of our streets and highways and preserving our region's air quality, economic viability, and quality of life. The effective ms of passenger ratiI service has been most rmmntly illustrated by the successful Capitol Corridor service which currently provides Intercity rail service between Sacramento and Oakland. By adding additional trains and increasing the frequency of this existing servios, and by adding stations platforms to other cities along the Capitol Corridor's route, new and convenient intercity tranalf service could be provided quickly and at a relatively low cost. Likewise the Southern Pacific line which runs from San Joaquin County through Byron, Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, and Pittsburg is readily accessible to residents and could also be rapidly develop for commuter rail service; many these communities already have stations.