Meeting_Body
REVISED
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
MAY 15, 2019
Subject
SUBJECT: READINESS IN RESPONSE TO POTENTIAL HIGH SPEED RAIL CHANGES
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE report on potential changes in the California High Speed Rail system.
Issue
ISSUE
On February 28, 2019, Directors Barger, Najarian and Krekorian directed the Chief Executive Officer to:
A. Acknowledge the importance of connectivity through a Palmdale station to maximize regional integrated operations, and the importance of working towards the advancement of funding for critical projects in the Los Angeles region;
B. Engage with the offices of Governor Newsom, the California High Speed Rail Authority (CAHSR), and the State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), to explore how the Governor's proposed changes to the HSR project might affect the Palmdale to Burbank, Burbank to Union Station, and Union Station to Anaheim segments, and identify what opportunities might be available to advance critical regional improvements, and;
C. Engage Metrolink, CalSTA, and the CAHSR to begin coordinating efforts to identify specific projects to propose for advancement, taking into consideration the State Rail Plan, Metrolink's SCORE program, SCAG's ongoing RTP effort, the forthcoming Antelope Valley Line study, and the countywide Freight & Goods Movement Strategic Plan.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Background
The CAHSR 2018 Business Plan dated June 1, 2018 identifies the Palmdale to Burbank, Burbank to Union Station, and Union Station to Anaheim segments as critical to supporting the Southern California economy. Since then, a high-speed rail audit by the State Auditor was released on November 15, 2018 faulting the CAHSR for cost overruns and delays and identified a number of areas of improvement. The CAHSR responded to the State Auditor and stressed commitment to its mission to deliver high-speed rail to California, while also being good steward...
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