CITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORTCITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
Item No. Item No.
Item No.
Item No.
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution Approving a Letter of Support for the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Light Rail Corridor Project from Los Angeles Union Station to Pioneer Station in Artesia Meeting Date: January 25, 2022
RECOMMENDATION:
The Economic Development and Planning Department is respectfully requesting City Council’s authorization to send a support letter to the accelerated schedule and budget for the construction of the Metro West Santa Ana Branch project from Los Angeles Union Station to Pioneer Station in Artesia.
BACKGROUND:
A light rail transit (LRT) line is proposed by Metro to be located along a 19-mile corridor from southeast Los Angeles County to downtown Los Angeles serving the cities and communities of Artesia, Cerritos, Bellflower, Paramount, Downey, South Gate, Cudahy, Bell, Huntington Park, Vernon, unincorporated Florence-Graham community and downtown Los Angeles. This rail corridor is anticipated to serve commuters in a high travel demand corridor by providing relief to the limited transportation systems currently available to these communities. Population and employment densities in areas around the project are five times higher than the LA County average. This rail corridor seeks to increase access to opportunities and resources for transit riders in a high-travel demand corridor that is populated by a majority minority community - with many individuals and families who live below the poverty line (44%) and many households (18%) who do not own a car. In addition, the Project is expected to provide a direct connection to the Metro C Line (Green), Metro A Line (Blue), and the LA County regional transit network.
Metro is requesting our support for the construction of the West Santa Ana Branch project from Los Angeles Union Station to Pioneer Station in Artesia and the expedited study to lower the costs and accelerate the construction for the segment from Union Station to Slauson/A Line (Blue) Stations, and a station in Little Tokyo. Metro is seeking our support for the motion in Item #10 introduced by Supervisors Janice Hahn, Hilda Solis, and Holly Mitchell, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Metro Representative/Whittier Councilmember Fernando Dutra to accelerate the schedule and budget for the project. Many of the Gateway Cities COG residents voted for the passage of Measure R and Measure M, with the understanding that our cities would receive high-quality transit. The West Santa Ana Branch is located in communities that are more transit-dependent, lower-income, and higher-percentage minority than Los Angeles County as a whole. The project is located within disadvantaged communities consistent with President Biden’s “Justice40” Initiative. Although the project will not traverse the City of Commerce, staff recommends that City Council approve support for the aforementioned project so long as funds are not diverted from the proposed Citadel Station as part of the L Line (Gold) Eastside Extension Phase 2.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve as to form as outlined by staff herein.
2. Provide alternative direction.
3. Not approve the motion to approve the grant agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Preparation of the Support Letter can be carried out with no fiscal impact on the City of Commerce.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC GOALS:
The issue before the Council is applicable to the following Council’s strategic goal: “Create and pursue opportunities for collaboration and regional partnerships to maximize resources and address regional issues” as identified in the 2016 Strategic Plan.
Prepared by: Jose Jimenez, Director of Economic Development and Planning Reviewed by: Vilko Domic, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Noel Tapia, City Attorney
Respectfully submitted: Edgar P. Cisneros, City Manager ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Draft Support Letter