Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: May 6, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Dave Klotzle, Public Works Director
Subject: Camarillo Train Station Undercrossing (Project No. ST-14-05) – LOSSAN Cooperative Funding Agreement
BACKGROUND
The Camarillo Train Station Undercrossing – Project No. ST-14-05 (Project) will construct a new pedestrian tunnel at the Camarillo Train Station owned by the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) located as shown on the location map (Attachment 1). The Project will improve accessibility by creating a shorter and more direct route for rail passengers crossing between the west and east rail platforms. The undercrossing will also improve accessibility for the general public, making it easier for all pedestrians to cross the train tracks that separate the Pleasant Valley Fields and Village at the Park/Mission Oaks neighborhoods from Old Town Camarillo. The Project is currently in the Conceptual Design phase.
On May 26, 2020, the City was awarded a grant for Proposition 1B and Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funds in the amount of $6.89 million through Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor (LOSSAN) for the Project, including a minimum of $910,000 in matching City funds in order to receive the grant. On May 17, 2023, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved an additional $1.3 million of LOSSAN grant funding for a total of $8.19 million of LOSSAN grant funding for the Project.
On June 28, 2023, the CTC awarded Senate Bill 1 Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SB1 SCCP) grant in the amount of $7.92 million which will fund the construction of the Project and the remainder of the estimated total Project cost. As a condition of the SB1 SCCP grant, the environmental review phase of the Project was required to be completed by December 28, 2023. This condition was satisfied on November 8, 2023, when the City Council found that the Project qualified for a Statutory Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15275(a) and Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(10)
Project No. ST-14-05 - LOSSAN Funding Agreement
May 6, 2024
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since the project constitutes a modernization of an existing station and parking facility and authorized the City Manager to file a Notice of Exemption with the County.
On January 24, 2024, the City authorized the City Manager to finalize and execute the Baseline Agreement and all associated documents required for the SB1 SCCP grant between the following parties: Ventura County Transportation Commission, California Department of Transportation, California Transportation Commission, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor, and City of Ventura.
DISCUSSION
Consistent with the City Council’s direction, staff worked with VCTC to pursue state and federal grant funding for the Project. On May 17, 2023, the CTC approved an additional $1.3 million of LOSSAN grant funding for a total of $8.19 million of LOSSAN grant funding for the project. The action also included the transfer of $1.9 million of the LOSSAN grant from construction to the design phase, to allow the City to use grant funding for Project design services instead of all local funds.
A Cooperative Agreement between LOSSAN and the City (Attachment 2) is required to outline the terms and conditions under which the funding will be provided by LOSSAN to the City for the design of the Project. A separate Cooperative Agreement will be drafted once design is complete for the remaining $6.29 million LOSSAN grant funding currently programmed for construction.
Staff recommends that City Council authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the Cooperative Agreement with LOSSAN and any associated documents required for various grant funding for the Project. Efforts continue with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), Metrolink, and the design team, RailPros, Inc., to develop the design and obtain UPRR permit approval. VCTC is drafting an agreement with the City to include indemnification provisions as well as maintenance responsibilities for the undercrossing project, and the train station and parking facilities. Staff plans to return to City Council in late 2024 or early 2025 to provide an update on the Project and VCTC agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no funding impact as a result of this action. On June 14, 2023, Council authorized an increase of $1.9 million in revenues for the LOSSAN grant in the Capital Improvement Projects Fund.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the Cooperative Agreement CC 2024- 34 with the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency and any associated documents that are deemed necessary for grant funding sources for the Camarillo Train Station Undercrossing Project.
Project No. ST-14-05 - LOSSAN Funding Agreement
May 6, 2024
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ATTACHMENTS
1. Location Map
2. Cooperative Agreement CC 2024-34
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None