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RESOLUTION NO. 04-72
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUSTIN OPPOSING THE CENTERLINE LIGHT RAIL
PROJECT BY THE ORANGE COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
WHEREAS, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has approved
an urban mass transit light rail project known as "Centerline"; and
WHEREAS, the projections of average daily rider ship for Centerline have
recently been projected at as few as 24,800 (in the year 2025) - less than 1 % of
Orange County's population according to the Annual Report on New Starts for Fiscal
Year 2005 from the United States Department of Transportation; and
WHEREAS, the Centerline light rail project provides far less flexibility than
current bus operations in meeting the changing needs and demands of ridership on our
public transportation system; and
WHEREAS, the approximately $1 billion in projected construction cost for a 9.3
mile route will severely impact the county's ability to pay for other transportation needs,
including the planned improvements of the Garden Grove Freeway (State Route 22);
and the projected $14 million in annual operation costs will be an unnecessary drain on
scarce transportation resources; and
WHEREAS, construction and operational costs of similar systems nationwide
have been much higher than originally projected and several credible sources, including
U.C. Irvine's Institute for Transportation Studies, continue to raise serious concerns
about Centerline's projected rider ship and costs; and
WHEREAS, the Environmental Impact Report documents environmental issues
including the necessity to acquire several dozen parcels of residential and commercial
property along the proposed route, possibly through eminent domain; and
WHEREAS, Centerline may have negative impacts on surface traffic due to the
possible removal of travel lanes on existing streets and on-street parking availability;
and
WHEREAS, Centerline is competing for scarce transportation funds needed to
maintain and upgrade current transportation infrastructure; if OCT A were to free up the
resources from Centerline, funding and expertise would be available to address a
variety of other pressing transportation issues; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress has declined to include Centerline in
the current authorization process for federal transportation funding; and
Resolution No. 04-72
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Tustin,
California, opposes the Centerline urban rail project as an ineffective use of scarce
transportation resources; and
A.
Respectfully requests the OCT A Board to re-evaluate its support for the
Centerline Project; and
B.
Respectfully requests the OCT A Board engage in a review of alternatives
to Centerline in order to better meet broader transportation needs of
Orange County.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Tustin on the 2nd day of August, 2004.
-t jJ /l'-Z
LOU BONE,
Mayor Pro T em
ATTEST:
~cO~
PAMELA STOKER,
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF ORANGE
CITY OF TUSTIN
)
) SS
)
I, Pamela Stoker, City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California,
do hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council of the City of Tustin is
five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 04-72 was duly passed and adopted at a regular
meeting of the Tustin City Council, held on the 2nd day of August, 2004 by the following vote:
COUNCILMEMBER AYES:
COUNCILMEMBER NOES:
COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED:
COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT:
BONE, DAVERT, HAGEN, THOMAS
NONE
KAWASHIMA
NONE
(4)
(0)
(1)
(0)
Resolution No. 04-72
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