HomeMy WebLinkAbout7028_CCv0001.pdf RESOLUTION NO. 7028
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
REDLANDS SUPPORTING A HIGH SPEED RAIZ. ALIGNMENT
ALONG THE 1-215 CORRIDOR WITH STATIONS NEAR
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE AND THE DOWNTOWN SAN
BERNARDINO TRANSIT CENTER
WHEREAS, the California state government is proposing to build a high-speed rail
(HSR) line stretching from San Francisco to San Diego;
WHEREAS, on November 4, 2008, the voters of the State of California endorsed
California's HSR initiative by approving Proposition IA that authorizes the issuance of up to $9
billion in state bonds to help finance the construction of HSR in California;
WHEREAS, California's HSR project has attracted interest from around the world — and
won our state a larger share of federal funding than any similar project in the country -- $2.25
billion;
WHEREAS, the southern section of the HSR project will link San Diego to Los Angeles,
via the Inland Empire;
WHEREAS,the Final Statewide Program EIR/EIS for the HSR project identified specific
objectives the HSR project must satisfy, including the following:
• Increase intercity travel capacity to supplement critically over-utilized interstate
highways and commercial airports;
• Maximize intermodal transportation opportunities by locating stations to connect
with local transit, airports, and highways;
• Provide a sustainable reduction in travel time between major urban centers;
• Develop a practical and economically viable transportation system that will
generate revenues in excess of operations and maintenance costs;
WHEREAS, the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is charged with
determining the rail alignment and location of rail stations that will optimize the multiple
adopted objectives for the HSR project; and
WHEREAS, the CHSRA is currently evaluating two HSR alignment alternatives through
the Inland Empire: an I-15 alignment with one station in southern Corona at Temescal Canyon
and an I-215 alignment with a station at the downtown San Bernardino Transit Center and a
station in Riverside near March Air Reserve Base;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Redlands,
California, hereby supports a HSR alignment through the Inland Empire along the I-215 corridor
with station locations near March Air Reserve Base in Riverside and the Downtown San
Bernardino Transit Center ("1-215 Alignment"), because the I-215 Alignment best optimizes the
adopted objectives of the HSR project for the following reasons:
Section 1. The I-215 Alignment clearly has the greatest capacity to serve the over four
million residents of the Inland Empire, the second largest metropolitan area in Southern
California that experienced a 25.4% growth in population over the last decade.
Section 2. The I-215 Alignment clearly has the greatest capacity to serve and generate
ridership from 2.2 million residents located in the urban areas of the Inland Empire which are
located along the I-215 corridor, and to additionally serve and draw ridership from the adjacent
Coachella Valley.
Section 3. The 1-215 Alignment clearly provides the strongest intermodal connectivity for
the HSR project, with direct connection to five separate Metrolink lines (the San Bernardino,
Riverside, 91, Inland Empire-Orange County, and the Perris Valley lines), direct connection with
Amtrak and proposed light rail service in San Bernardino, and direct connections with Bus Rapid
Transit (BRT) and regional bus service in San Bernardino and future BRT service planned in
Riverside. In comparison, the alternative I-15 alignment has no ability for connectivity with
Metrolink, Amtrak, BRT, or any other form of mass transit.
Section 4. The 1-215 Alignment clearly provides the strongest and only option for HSR
interconnectivity with all key commercial airports in the In, Empire. The 1-215 Alignment
will place the HSR project adjacent to both San Bernardino International Airport and March Air
Reserve Base, both of which play important roles in meeting commercial air service for Southern
California according to regional aviation demand forecasts in the 2008 Regional Transportation
Plan prepared by the Southern California Associated Governments (SLAG). The I-15 alignment
eliminates any connectivity with these important airports that, according to SLAG, are needed to
relieve congestion at other Southern California airports that are operating at or close to their
design limits or legal restrictions, including Los Angeles International Airport, San Diego-
Lindbergh Field Airport, Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, John Wayne Airport, and Long
Beach Airport.
ADOPTED this 1't day of March, 2011.
Pete Agui ar
Mayor of the City of Redlands
ATTEST:
Sam Irwin, , fty lerk
1, Sam Irwin,City Clerk of the City of Redlands,hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was
adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the I st day of March,2011 by
the following vote:
AYES: Councilrnebers Harrison, Bean, Gardner; Mayor Aguilar
NOES: None
ABS'T'AIN: None
SENT. Councilmember Foster
City Clerk