The Federal Transit Administration abruptly reversed course last week to approve a $647 million grant to electrify Caltrain tracks. Several months ago, newly confirmed Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao abruptly said it would not disburse the funds to the Bay Area commuter railroad, even though they had already been promised under the Obama administration. The electrification project, which will cost a total of $2 billion, will mean faster and more reliable trains on a 51-mile stretch, offering more than 110,000 rides per idea instead of the current 60,000. Electrification is also a crucial step towards readying the Peninsula corridor for high speed rail. The first electric trains will be in service by 2021, and construction will begin in 60 to 90 days. The electrification will replace the current fleet of diesel trains. "We are very thankful to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and the Trump Administration for recognizing the value that Caltrain Electrification will create for the Bay Area and the nation by easing congestion in one of the country’s most economically productive regions and creating almost 10,000 American jobs in the process,” said Jim Hartnett, General Manager and CEO of Caltrain, in a statement.
Los Angeles Metro Considers Overhaul of Bus System
In response to falling bus ridership, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority has embarked on a study to “re-imagine” the agency’s bus network, which is the largest in California. The study, expected to take over a year, will analyze the system’s 170 lines and 15,000 bus stops. The current system has been in place for over 25 years without major changes. In that time, Metro has opened multiple rail lines, which have influenced rider behavior. Annual bus ridership on the system has fell 16 percent from 2013 to 2016, or 59 million trips. After months of preliminary research, Metro officials acknowledged the bus system is not working as well for riders as it once did. A recent survey of 2,000 former riders say the buses don't go where they want them to go or don’t come often enough or stop running too early. Of those surveyed, 79 percent now primarily drive alone. Metro's Conan Cheung told the Los angeles Times, “we’re misaligned with current travel demands.”
Los Angeles County Short Half-Million Affordable Units
A new report (pdf) from California Housing Partnership Corporation contends that Los Angeles County has a need for 551,807 new units of affordable housing to satisfy demand from very low and extremely low-income earners. Lowest earnings are those making less than half the county’s median income of $64,300. The nonprofit argues the cuts in federal and state funding, including elimination of Community Redevelopment Agencies, have contributed to the shortfall. According to the report, median rent in LA has gone up by 32 percent since 2000 but household income has actually dropped about 3 percent. Recommendations from the nonprofit include providing more subsidies and incentives to encourage developers to build affordable units and adoption of proposed ordinance being considered that would charge developers a “linkage fees” that could be used to construct more affordable units.
San Diego Debates Convention Center Vote
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is pushing for a November special election to vote on a hotel tax hike to finance the expansion of San Diego’s convention center. However, both City Council members and advocates questioned the logic of the ballot measure, which would allocate funding for addressing homelessness and repair crumbling streets, at a recent City Council hearing. Those questioning the special election are wondering whether it is wise to spend million of dollars on a special election and if enough funds are dedicated to the city’s growing homeless problem. Opponents to the measure say it favors the hotel industry at the expense of the homeless. The proposal would boost the hotel room tax by 1 to 3 percent, with nearly two-thirds of the $5 billion raised over 40 years going towards expanding the convention center. The remaining balance of tax revenues would be split between reducing homelessness and tackling street repairs. The council is expected to vote soon on whether to place the measure on the November ballot. (See prior CP&DR coverage.)
Infill Builders Recommend Parking Reforms in L.A.
A report published by the Council of Infill Builders found that parking policies, such as excessive parking requirements in new construction, lack of adequate pricing and enforcement of existing spaces, and poor management of parking assets inflates housing costs and limits mobility in Los Angeles. The report, “Wasted Spaces: Options to Reform Parking Policy in Los Angeles” recommends eliminating, reducing or right-sizing minimum parking requirements, charge optimal pricing for parking, and improving parking management rather than mandating new parking requirements such as shared parking and transportation demand options. (Disclosure: CP&DR Contributing Editor Josh Stephens participated in a scoping meeting for the report.)
Trust for Public Land Ranks Park Access in 100 Largest Cities
The Trust for Public Land released its 2017 ParkScore rankings which analyze how the 100 largest U.S. cities are meeting the needs for parks. San Francisco was third place with a score of 80, Irvine was tied 7th with New York City with a score of 75, San Diego was 14th with a score of 69, and Sacramento was 21st with a score of 63.5. Fremont was 24th with a score of 62.5 tied with Long Beach, Oakland, San Jose, Virginia Beach, Lincoln, and Las Vegas. Anaheim was 63rd with a score of 45 tied with Glendale and Riverside. Fresno was at the bottom of the list as number 90 with a score of 33.5, Stockton was 75th with a score of 41 tied with Santa Ana, Los Angeles was 74th with a score of 41.5, and Bakersfield 71 with 43.5.
Quick Hits & Updates
The Strategic Growth Council has announced its schedule of technical workshops for the 2017-18 Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program: June 5, Gilroy; June 15, webinar; June 22, Ventura.
The Los Angeles City Council approved $27.2 million for Vision Zero programs in 2017-2018. The programs include street and safety improvements, speed zone surveys and enforcements, street improvements, street lighting support and supplies, and vision zero corridor projects to name a few. The allocation is a nearly tenfold increase from 2016-2017, which was $3.4 million. (See prior CP&DR coverage.)
Gov. Jerry Brown said he will not accept a cap-and-trade program extension with anything les than a two-thirds vote. The program has been the subject of lawsuits related to Prop. 13, so he wants the higher threshold to protect the program from legal challenges. The comment from a Brown advisor came after some lawmakers were considering pushing forward with only a majority vote.
City of Los Angeles’ Board of Public Works voted to fund a $1.5 million feasibility analysis for Agence Ter’s winning Pershing Square Renew design to revitalize the oldest open space in the heard of downtown. The contract will allow the Paris-based Agence Ter and their LA contractor, Gruen Associates, to conduct an analysis for the implementation of the team’s concept for the square. Agence Ter received the highest scores from the 1,355 member public who voted on the final four, and was the unanimous first choice of the Pershing Square Renew jury. (See prior CP&DR coverage.)
The opening for the new Inglewood stadium for the Rams and Chargers has been pushed back a year because of record rainfall disrupting construction. Instead of opening for the 2019 NFL season, it will open by 2020.
San Jose City Council adopted a memorandum in April stating their intention to consider an ordinance to ban income source discrimination, such as Section 8 vouchers, and requiring the city’s housing department to analyze the problem. Those with vouchers in San Jose are having difficulty finding a place to live because many homes are too expensive or landlords choose not to rent to voucher holders.
Marin County planners have told supervisors it may take longer than anticipated to reach an agreement with the Coastal Commission on an update to the 35-year-old general plan. Commission staff has been working on the local coastal program for eight years. Updates to the program include rules mandating coastal properties prepare for sea-level rise and more lenient policies for farmers and ranchers looking to build intergenerational housing on their land. The current section being worked on is Hazards, with the deadline for the commission to act as Sept. 29.
The Inland Valley Development Agency is looking into developing 500-acres north of San Bernardino International Airport and has hired a consultant to look into options for the site. The over-arching objectives for the plan are economic development, job creation and public amenities.
Los Angeles City Council has agreed to settle lawsuits brought by Culver City and Inglewood alleging that potential environmental impacts of modernization projects at LAX were not properly evaluated. Under the terms of agreement the two cities will participate in planning future development at the country’s second-busiest airport. The airport is currently undergoing a $14-billion modernization of ground transportation improvements including a people mover in the central terminal area, transportation center, consolidated car rental facility and upgraded roads.
San Jose is facing a delay on a $35 million project designed to provide 100-year flood protection to 2.2 miles of Upper Berryessa Creek, reducing risk to 680 properties and Santa Clara’s first BART station. Although paperwork and permits were in order, last month state water regulators rescinded their earlier approval and said that 15 acres of wetlands or 15,000 feet of creek somewhere else in South Bay had to be restored to offset the harm to the environment from the project. The Santa Clara Valley Water District and the Army Corps are appealing the order and threatening to sue because the project could go over budget and lead to its cancellation.
The planned Purple Line subway extension to Westwood may begin construction in 2018, nine years ahead of its original schedule. The estimated $860 million in annual revenue from the Measure M, passed in November, will help cover the cost of finishing the extension. However, the project also depends on promised matching federal funds, which still need to be allocated and approved.
The Fourth District Court of Appeals has sided with Huntington Beach in a preliminary ruling that reverses a 2015 Superior Court decision that ordered the city to change the zoning on land along Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue to allow low-income and high-density housing. The nonprofit Kennedy Commission, a housing advocacy group, originally sued the city in 2015 claiming it has shut down opportunities to build low-income housing when it cut the number of units from 4,500 to 2,100.
San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott has raised concerns about the SoccerCity's initiative to build an MLS stadium on the site of Qualcomm Stadium, saying it doesn't guarantee a professional soccer stadium or a river park, and could burden taxpayers with hefty costs for environmental cleanup of the site. The 27-page analysis also raised questions about the contradictions and lack of clarity in parts of the 3,000-page initiative saying it could lead to costly litigation. Backers FS Investors say many of the issues raised by Elliott could be resolved in a lease the group would be required to negotiate with Mayor Faulconer if the initiative is approved.
Laguna Beach is partnering with Uber for a pilot program that would provide supplement transportation needs for those 55 and older and the disabled who have relied on the city’s bus service that is being cut or reduced. Passengers will get free rides for the first two months of the six-month pilot program up to 15 miles outside city limits. The program is believed to be the first of its kind in the state.
