HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5.3 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 .
Code Enforcement (925) 833-6620 · Engineering (925) 833-6630 · Parks & Cor
Economic Development (925) 833-6650 · Police (925) 833-6670 · Publ
Community Development (925) 833-6610 · Fire Prevention Buree