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Home My WebLink About5.3 Transit Enhance/Torlak CITY CLERK File # 1060-90 AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: March 7, 2000 SUBJECT: Endorsement of Transit Enhancement Package Proposed by Assembly Member Tom Torlakson, Chair- Assembly Committee on Transportation, California Legislature Report Prepared by: Lee S. Thompson, Public ~Vorks Director ATTACHMENTS: 1) Letter from Assemblyman Tom Torlakson 2) Draft City of Dublin Letter of Support RECOMMENDATION: X~r~Approve Letter of Support and Authorize Mayor to sign letter FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Assembly Member Tom Torlakson is requesting the State Legislature and the Governor to include a transit enhancement package in the amount of $14.5 million in the State budget. Funding of the proposed transportation projects in the Tri-Valley area will help alleviate some of the funding needs of the region. DESCRIPTION: The City Council recently received a letter from Assembly Member Tom Torlakson, Chair of the State Assembly Committee on Transportation, requesting the City to support a proposed transit enhancement package that will benefit the Tri-Valley area. He is advocating the funding of the transit package in the State Legislature and has presented it to the Governor. The package includes the following projects: $10 million of the $14 million for Vasco Road Realignment and Safety Improvements that would enable commute buses to use Vasco .Road. $3 million for commuter parking improvements at the Vasco Road Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) Station. $1.5 million share of the proposed $4 million parking structure at downtown Livermore's Valley Center Project. The first project, the Vasco Road Realignment and Safety Improvements, is included in the Tri-Valley Transportation Plan list of high-priority regional transportation projects. This project will realign the Alameda County portion of Vasco Road to enable commute buses to use the road. If funded with state funds, it could free up some Tri-Valley Transportation Development fees to other high priority project in the Tri-Valley. COPIES TO: agst Endorsement Transit Enhancment Package.doc ITEM NO. Also included in the package is $3 million for the ACE - Vasco Road Station parking improvements. Presently this station has inadequate parking for ACE riders who park and ride at this station. The station parking improvement, which will provide more parking for commuters, would encourage more people to ride ACE thus will help alleviate congestion on 1-580 and 1-680. Lastly, the proposed downtown Livermore Valley Center parking structure will support Livermore's efforts in promoting a suburban transit-oriented development. Staff believes that the transit enhancement package being proposed by Assembly Member Tom Torlakson will help relieve traffic congestion in the Tri-Valley area. Staff has prepared a letter addressed to Mr. Torlakson endorsing the transit enhancement package he is advocating for inclusion in the state budget. Staff recommends approval of the letter of support and to authorize the Mayor to sign said letter. Page 2 C lifornia Legislature MEMBERS: TOM McCLINTOCK, Vice-Chair STEVE BALDWIN JOHN LONGVILLE PATRIClA BATES ABEL MALDONADO LOU CORREA BOB MARGETT SUSAN DAVIS ' GEORGE NAKANO JOHN DUTRA JACI( SCOTT MARCO FIREBAUGH NELLSOTO SALLY HAVlCE VIRGINIA STROM-MARTIN GEORGE HOUSE CHARLENE ZETrEL LYNNE LEACH Assembly Committee on Transportation TOM TORLAKSON, Chair February 22, 2000 Mayor Guy S. Houston City of Dublin 100 Civic Plaza Dublin, CA 94568 Dear ~~or~ouston: I have appreciated the opportunity over the past year to meet and to discuss with you needed transportation improvements. I have previously sent information about my proposals regarding BART to Livermore and to San Jose. I am also working with BART Director Pete Snyder on critically needed parking at the existing Dublin-Pleasanton station. STAFF: CARRIE CORNWELL Chief Consultant ANDREW ANTWIH Principal Consultant JENNIFER GIBSON Senior Consultant ALICE LIVINGSTON Committee Secretary I have been working with local agencies to identify a package of inter-related improvements that could enhance transit commuting along the Interstate 580 and 1-680 corridors while reducing congestion on county and city roads. I would appreciate your city's support for the East Bay portiOns of the $33.5 million proposal I previously shared with you. I am also asking your consideration of support for the proposal ,below to improve access to the ACE train. Additionally, I have made it clear to the BART Board of Directors and San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales that BART must first honor its historic commitment to extend rail service to Antioch and Livermore before .any San Jose BART extension proceeds. Livermore and Antioch residents have paid sales taxes and property taxes to the BART district for nearly four decades. As original "investors," they deserve BART service in advance of any extension into Santa Clara C6unty. The ideas embodied here will help to relieve congestion and improve the safety on Vasco Road and 1-580. They will ultimately benefit commuters heading to south Alameda County and the Silicon Valley through the 1-580/1-680 interchange and over the 1-680 Sunol Grade. These improvements would facilitate greater use of bus transit along Vasco Road, as well as better connect buses and other commuters to the ACE train at Vasco Road and in downtown Livermore. I identified three elements to a transit enhancement package totaling $14 million to $15 million: STATE CAPITOL, RO. BOX 942849, SACRAMENTO, CA 94249-000 PHONE: (916) 319-2093 FAX: (916) 319-2193 Printed on Recycled Paper ~ Mayor Guy Houston February 22, 2000 Page 2 o $10 million of the $14 million projected cost of straightening the Alameda County section of Vasco Road and making safety improvements that would enable commute buses to use Vasco Road (reducing car trips on both Vasco Road and 1-580), while providing existing commuters with a safer road. 2. $3 million for commuter parking improvements at the Vasco Road ACE platform. 3. A $1.5 million share of the proposed $4 million parking structure at downtown Livermore's Valley Center Project. I am sharing this proposal with the mayors and councils of other interested cities. I hope we can achieve a unified consensus. I ask for your city's endorsement of this package of improvements. Please send me a letter in this regard as soon as possible. I also propose we formulate a joint letter reflecting this consensus and proceed to advocate for the funding in the state budget. I am making this request in the legislative budget process, and I have presented it to the Governor. Governor Gray Davis has demonstrated considerable support for the ACE train. This package is tied in with this interest. I look forward to working with Dublin and other cities in the region as we capitalize on opportunities to ease traffic headaches and further work to create balanced, livable communities. Sincerely, la,"- Tom Torlakson, Chair Assembly Transportation Committee TT:aka cc: Members of the Dublin City Council CITY OF DUBLIN P.O. Box 2340, Dublin, California 94568 · City Offices, 100 Civic Plaza, Dublin, California 94568 March 7, 2000 State Assembly Member Tom Torlakson, Chair Assembly Transportation Committee California Legislature State Capitol, Post Office Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0001 RE: Proposed Tri-Valley Transit Enhancement Package Dear Assembly Member Tom Torlakson: The City of Dublin Council received your letter dated February 22, 2000 asking the City to support a transit enhancement package proposal for inclusion in the State budget. This transit enhancement package consists of $10 million to realign Vasco Road in Alameda County, $3 million for parking improvements at the ACE-Vasco Road Station, and a $1.5 million share of a proposed $4 million parking structure in downtown Livermore, with emphasis on improving access to the ACE rail service. We believe that your transit enhancement package proposal will help alleviate traffic congestion in the Tri-Valley region. By improving transit access and parking, more people will be encouraged to ride the ACE train thereby reducing congestion. on 1-580 and 1-680. The City supports your proposal and we hope you are able to acquire state funds to implement these transportation improvements. We look forward to working with you on these projects as well as the resolution of other transportation challenges in the Tri-Valley region specifically the improvements needed on Interstate 580 and the extension of BART to Livermore. Sincerely, Guy S. Houston Mayor, City of Dublin GSH/gr copy: Each Member, Dublin City Council Richard Ambrose, City Manager Lee Thompson, Director of Public Works g:agenmisc\Torlakson letter of support.doc Administration (925) 833-6650 · City Council (925) 833-6605 · Finance (925) 833-6640 · .Buildino Inspection f925t833-6620 . 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