PURPOSE

Council Members and staff representing the Cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena have met three times to jointly consider conducting a study of the long-term potential of developing a high-capacity transit corridor to connect the Metro Red Line in the San Fernando Valley with the Metro Gold Line in Pasadena.  Planning Company Associates has submitted a $76,500 proposal for assisting the cities to conduct the study.  Staff recommends that the Council authorize the City�s participation in this study by approving the proposed appropriation of $30,000 to fund the projected cost. 

BACKGROUND

Studies by the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion and by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) have shown that there is a substantial unmet demand for transit services along the east-west corridor between Pasadena and the North Hollywood/Bob Hope Airport area, and beyond in both directions.  While the MTA provides regional bus services through the area, these transit services are generally too infrequent and the routes too circuitous to provide viable travel alternatives for commuters and other travelers needing to make lengthy trips. 

As shown on the attached map of existing high-capacity transit lines (Attachment �A�), the Metro Gold and Red Lines radiate out to Pasadena and North Hollywood from Downtown Los Angeles, as does the Metrolink Ventura and Antelope Valley commuter lines.  The MTA expects to open the new Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service later this summer, which will connect the North Hollywood Red Line Station with Warner Center in Woodland Hills.  Additionally, Phase II of the Gold Line will eventually extend that service to Claremont from its current terminus in East Pasadena.  The development of an east-west transit connector to close the gap is this system is the goal of this cooperative effort by the three Cities (Attachment �B�).

TRANSIT SERVICE CONCEPT AND PROPOSED STUDY

The Cities have met on three occasions to discuss the overall concept for developing the regional transit linkage, as well as to discuss with Planning Company Associates (PCA, David Grannis-Principal) their role in this study.  Based upon those discussions, PCA submitted a work proposal for $76,500 plus expenses (Attachment �C�), to assist the Cities to develop a strategic work program for funding and implementing the envisioned transit service.  PCA is currently under contract to the City of Burbank to provide ongoing transportation lobbying services, and has on several occasions been under contract by the Cities of Glendale and Pasadena.  Each City believes that PCA is uniquely qualified to provide the services needed for this effort to succeed.

While the principal goal of the proposed transit corridor is to link the Downtown areas of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena, as well as connect the Metro Red/Orange and Gold Lines, no work has yet been conducted to determine the actual route, or the type of transit technology.  There has been some agreement that a route that generally parallels that 210/134-5 freeway corridor may be the most feasible, but other alignments may prove to be equally feasible, and could potentially be better situated with respect to areas of anticipated demand.   

The goal of providing a �high capacity� linkage could be met by several types of transit modes, including: a Metro Rapid line, a limited stop bus that operates in mixed traffic; a Bus Rapid Transit corridor, an example being the Orange Line which will operate larger-capacity vehicles on a dedicated corridor; a Metro Rail line, like the Gold Line; and a Metrolink commuter rail line.  No choice has yet been made as to which transit technology would be most feasible for this application, and it�s possible that the service could begin as a bus service and evolve into a rail corridor as necessary funding becomes available. 

The Cities have also discussed and agreed upon the need to develop a land-use vision for the transit corridor as a component of this study.  Not only would that land-use vision aid the individual Cities in implementing measures to facilitate transit-oriented development along the corridor, a coordinated land-use plan would be an important element of future initiatives aimed at securing funding for transit infrastructure. 

FISCAL IMPACT

Burbank�s share of the proposed study is expected to not exceed $30,000, which represents one-third of the consultant�s quoted cost of $76,500 plus expenses.  Sufficient funds are available in account 127.ND000.30004.0000.000000 to cover this cost, and the General Fund budgeted amounts will be sufficient to fund staff costs.  The City of Glendale will administer the consultant contract. 

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the Council authorize staff to proceed with the study, and that $30,000 be appropriated to fund the City�s share of the consultant cost. 

ATTACHMENTS

A�Map of Area�s Existing High-Capacity Transit Corridors

B�Profile of Proposed Transit Corridor

C�Planning Company Associates Proposal                       

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