HomeMy WebLinkAbout98-086 CC ResolutionRESOLUTION NO. 98-86
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TEMECULA SUPPORTING THE RAILROAD TO RAILROAD
GRADE SEPARATION PROJECT AT COLTON, CALIFORNIA
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TEMECULA DOES RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER
AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, the efficient movement of people and goods is essential to the health and
economy of the region and the nation; and,
WHEREAS, freight railroads play a pivotal role in interstate commerce; and,
WHEREAS, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the major ports of entry on the
Pacific Coast; and,
WHEREAS, tremendous growth in railroad operations, particularly intermodal and other
through-freight, has resulted in significant community impacts; and,
WHEREAS, the demand for rail shipments will continue to grow with the expansion of the
Ports, the completion of the Alameda Corridor, and population growth in the region; and,
WHEREAS, the main lines of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the Union Pacific, the
only major railroads operating in Southern California, carry the majority of rail freight traffic between
the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the rest of the nation, and Mexico on their routes
through the Inland Empire; and,
WHEREAS, these railroads must cross each other at Colton Junction; and,
WHEREAS, Colton Junction has been identified as the major choke point for rail traffic
in the region, where an average delay of fourteen minutes per train triggem substantial congestion
and blockages along the corridors; and,
WHEREAS, diesel emissions caused by multiple locomotives idling along the corridors
while waiting to cross Colton Junction further exacerbate the unhealthful air quality in the South
Coast Air Basin, the worst non-attainment area in the nation; and,
WHEREAS, railroad congestion has resulted in many freight shipments being shifted to
diesel trucks on the region's already congested highways; and,
WHEREAS, railroad congestion in Southern California has caused expensive delays to
local shippers as well as to manufactures and others throughout the country; and,
WHEREAS, these same main line freight corridors are utilized for the provision of
commuter passenger rail (Metrolink) and intercity passenger rail (Amtrak) service, whose
operations are consistently impacted by freight congestion; and,
WHEREAS, insufficient operation capacity has delayed the implementation of other
passenger rail services, including service between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley; and,
Resos 98-86 I
WHEREAS, the federal Transportation Equity Act for the twenty-first Century (TEA-21),
identifies the "Alameda Corridor East" and the "Southwest Passage" as eligible corridors for federal
infrastructure funding, and further identifies NAFTA-related improvements as a priority for federal
funding; and,
WHEREAS, Colton Junction is located at the eastern terminus of the Alameda Corridor
East and near the western terminus of the Southwest Passage, and most NAFTA rail freight into
or through Southern California is carried on the BNSF and UP main lines across Colton Junction;
and,
WHEREAS, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has identified
these corridors and NAFTA improvements as priorities within its recently adopted Regional
Transportation Plan; and,
WHEREAS, the State of California through Caltrans is initiating a Project Study Report
to further refine the project and identify appropriate resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Temecula
hereby endorses and supports the efforts of the Riverside County Transportation Commission in
securing the necessary federal and state funding to construct a separation of the Burlington
Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads at Colton Junction.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED, by the City Council of the City of Temecula at a
regular meeting held on the 25th day of August, 1998.
Ron Roberts, Mayor
ATTEST:
· Jones, MC
[SEAL]
Resos 98-86 2
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss
CITY OF TEMECULA )
I, Susan W. Jones, City Clerk of the City of Temecula, California, do hereby cedify that Resolution
No. 98-86 was duly and regularly adopted by the City Council of the City of Temecula at a regular
meeting thereof held on the 25th day of August, 1998, by the following vote:
AYES:
5 COUNCILMEMBERS
Comerchero, Ford, Lindemans, Stone, Roberrs
NOES:
0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Susa W. Jones, CMC
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y Cle k
Resos 98-86 3