CLAREMONT METROLINK STATION STUDY Claremont Town Hall Meeting December 11, 2017

Transcription

1 CLAREMONT METROLINK STATION STUDY Claremont Town Hall Meeting December 11,

2 Welcome Larry Schroeder Claremont Mayor 2

3 Agenda 1. Introduction of Panelists 2. Background 3. Metro Board Motion - Metrolink Claremont Station 4. Goal and Purpose of the Meeting 5. Claremont Station Presentation 6. Q&A 3

4 Background 1. Metro in partnership with Southern California Regional Rail Authority and Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority has been invited by the City of Claremont to share the preliminary results of the Claremont Station Study and solicit your feedback. 2. To build the Gold Line Phase 2B project, existing freight/metrolink train tracks must be relocated to a new location within the railroad corridor. The Gold Line Phase 2B EIR includes the relocation of the Claremont Metrolink Station. This study evaluated potential impacts and mitigations to Claremont if the Metrolink station is eliminated in lieu of relocation. 4

5 Goal and Purpose 1. Timely completion of this study is critical since the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority will soon hire its design-build team. The Claremont Station relocation or elimination issue must be resolved by early 2018 to be integrated into the design-build contract. 2. Your feedback will be incorporated into a recommendation which will be presented to the Metro Board at the January 17, 2018 Planning and Programming Board Committee Meeting. 3. Metro, Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority, and Southern California Regional Rail Authority (aka Metrolink ) are committed to working together with the City of Claremont to identify the best path forward. 5

6 Introduction of Panelists Name Sam Pedroza, Council Member Colin Tudor, Assistant City Manager Jeanet Owens, Senior Executive Officer, Regional Rail Frank Ching, Deputy Executive Officer, Operational Programs, Countywide Planning & Development Chris Burner, Chief Project Officer Roderick Diaz, Director, Planning Justin Fornelli, Director, Engineering & Construction City of Claremont Agency Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA or Metrolink) 6

7 Metro Board Motion 21.1 On September 28, 2017, Metro Board Directors Solis, Barger, Fasana, and Najarian introduced a Board motion directing staff to study the potential benefits and impacts of eliminating the Claremont Metrolink Station. The study includes the following tasks: 1. Ridership - Current and projected ridership at the Metrolink Claremont station under existing conditions (without Gold Line Phase 2B). 2. Metrolink Operations - Impacts to Metrolink operations and travel times with the elimination of the Metrolink station. 3. Analysis of changes to gate operations at all crossings in Claremont if the Metrolink station is eliminated. 4. Analysis of when Metrolink service would be discontinued in Claremont during Gold Line construction, and length of time during which no rail transit options would be available in Claremont. 5. Gold Line Phase 2B - Cost savings associated with the construction of the Gold Line Phase 2B. 6. Impacts and potential mitigations to Metrolink riders that currently board at the Claremont station. 7. Impacts and potential mitigations to the City of Claremont if it becomes the Gold Line terminus with and without a Metrolink Station scenario. 8. Parking - Total parking spaces and current parking utilization rate at the co-located Metrolink and proposed Gold Line stations (Pomona North, Claremont and Montclair stations). 9. Determine the formal process by which to eliminate a Metrolink station, should that local station city agree. 10. Include City of Claremont staff in the project team during all phases of the study 11. Report back to the Board within 60 days with a final report, findings and recommendations after presenting the draft to the City of Claremont (extension was approved to January 2018) 7

8 Distances between Metrolink Stations on the San Bernardino Line (SBL) Stations Distance (miles) San Bernardino to Rialto 3.7 Rialto to Fontana 3.8 Fontana to Rancho Cucamonga 7 Rancho Cucamonga to Upland 5 Upland to Montclair (Connection To Transit Center) Montclair to Claremont 1.2 (0.9 miles to future relocated station) Claremont to Pomona (North) 2.1 (2.3 miles from future relocated station) Pomona (North) to Covina Covina to Baldwin Park 4.1 Baldwin Park to El Monte 6.3 El Monte to Cal State LA 8 Cal State LA to Union Station 4.6 Compared to distances between other stations on the SBL, the Claremont station is 1 to 2 miles from the Montclair and Pomona (North) stations Source: SCRRA 8

9 1 Claremont Station Boardings AVERAGE WEEKDAY STATION BOARDINGS FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY25* CLAREMONT * 2025 projection from Metrolink Strategic Plan Note: Foothill Gold Line forecasts 1361 Metrolink boardings without the Gold Line and 1162 boardings with the Gold Line by 2035 SAN BERNARDINO LINE STATION BOARDINGS FY17 RANCHO CUCAMONGA 719 COVINA 708 SAN BERNARDINO 665 CAL STATE LA 567 POMONA NORTH 534 UPLAND 511 FONTANA 493 CLAREMONT 406 EL MONTE 328 MONTCLAIR 322 BALDWIN PARK 314 RIALTO 241 Source: SCRRA - Ticket sales data 9

10 1 Claremont Station Average Weekday Ridership Profile Claremont Station as Trip Origin / Destination Profile of 406 Passengers Destination 32% (128 riders) a Origin 68% (278 riders) b % XX % 74 18% 33 8% XX% ADULT SENIOR / DISABLED XX% 54 origin destination XX% XX% 18 13% % 5% 5% 3% STUDENT YOUTH a. 65% (85 out of 128 riders) go to Claremont for work b. 84% (235 out of 278 riders) go to LA or elsewhere for work Source: SCRRA Onboard Survey 10

11 1 Station Access/Departure Claremont Station Average Weekday Ridership Profile 70% (285 riders) drive to or depart the station by car 25% (102 riders) walk/bike to or from the station 5% (19 riders )arrive at or leave the station by bus or other means Unable to drive, 8% No car available, 15% s s s No car available, 8% s s s Unable to drive, 2% I have a car available, 77% I have a car available, 90% Source: SCRRA Onboard Survey 11

12 2 Impacts of Eliminating the Claremont Metrolink Station to Metrolink Operations and Travel Times 1. No travel time saved and negligible impacts to Metrolink Operations due to constraints by single track infrastructure on either side of Claremont. Trains need to meet at double track sections a. 70% of the San Bernardino Line is single track b. Spacing between double track sections affects whether a travel time reduction can be incorporated into the schedule c. In this case, reduction needs to be >10 minutes to realize a schedule savings 2. Therefore, only early morning trains and last 2 night trains saves approximately 2-3 minutes of travel time Source: SCRRA 12 12

13 3 Analysis of changes to gate operations at crossings in Claremont if the Metrolink station is eliminated Gate Down Time a (Minutes per Peak Hour b ) Railroad Grade Crossings c Existing Condition Future Condition Gold Line with Relocated Metrolink Station Future Condition Gold Line with Metrolink Station Eliminated Indian Hill d 9 minutes 11 minutes 5 minutes College Claremont 9 minutes 30 minutes 27 minutes 11 minutes 35 minutes 30 minutes Number of trains during peak hour 4 Metrolink trains 6 Metrolink trains 24 Gold Line trains 6 Metrolink trains 24 Gold Line trains a. Gate down times are estimates and could change with final design and project implementation b. Peak hour is from 6 AM to 7 AM and from 5 PM to 6 PM c. Cambridge Avenue will not be impacted by the station relocation or elimination due to its distance from the Station d. Gold Line tracks will be grade separated at Indian Hill Sources: SCRRA and City of Claremont 13

14 4 If Metrolink Station is Eliminated Period of No Rail Service to City of Claremont Approximately 5 years with no rail service if Metrolink Station is not reconstructed as planned (from end of 2021 to opening Gold Line Phase 2B in 2027) Source: Foothill Gold Line 14

15 5 Cost/Time Savings to Gold Line Phase 2B Without Metrolink Claremont Station Eliminating the Metrolink station could: 1. Save 5 (five) months from the Gold Line Phase 2B construction schedule 2. Reduce the Gold Line Phase 2B cost by approximately $40 million (not including parking) Source: Foothill Gold Line 15

16 6 IMPACTS Impacts and Measures of Metrolink Station Elimination to Riders during construction of Gold Line Phase 2B MEASURES TO ADDRESS IMPACTS Not all impacts can be fully addressed Loss of direct rail connection from Claremont to San Bernardino stations and other destinations for five years a Riders can connect to the Montclair Metrolink station (1.2 miles) by bus, car, or bike b Metrolink regular roundtrip fares: Claremont to Union Station = $18.50 Montclair to Union Station = $ Take a free courtesy shuttle provided by the Foothill Gold Line Authority from Claremont station to Montclair station (cost to Gold Line Authority = $400,000/year) Current total travel time to LA with Metrolink = 55 minutes Estimated total travel time with shuttle service = 66 minutes Drive a car to Montclair station c Current total travel time to LA with Metrolink = 55 minutes Estimated total travel time including drive time to Montclair = 64 minutes Ride a bike to Montclair station Current total travel time to LA with Metrolink = 55 minutes Estimated total travel time including bike ride to Montclair = 66 minutes Notes: a. Over 400 riders currently use the Claremont station, and the Gold Line forecasts Metrolink ridership at 1,162 by 2035 b. Approx. 102 riders access the station by walking or biking and may lose that option if the station is eliminated c. Riders may drive to their destination increasing net vehicle miles traveled Sources: City of Claremont and SCRRA 16

17 6 Post Construction Conditions Source: Metro 17

18 7 Impacts & Measures to City of Claremont if it is a Gold Line Terminus General Impacts of Terminus Tourism Traffic Parking Train Crossings Rail Transit Options Other Increased visitors to Claremont/increased patronage to Claremont businesses Being the terminus is one more reason for people from the west to come to Claremont Additional vehicle trips from commuters traveling from the east to board the Gold Line Additional vehicle traffic will impact neighborhoods Increase in the overflow of parking on to City streets based on an increase in ridership and Metro s paid parking plan Need for a larger parking structure than if not the terminus, which could end up being largely empty in the future, should the line be later continued - as in Phase 1 of the Gold Line (Sierra Madre Station) Increased vehicle stacking concerns at train crossings and intersections surrounding the project Claremont Boulevard crossing improvements will likely not be constructed. The gate equipment will also not be replaced and may not function in the same manner as the other street crossings in Claremont. Loss of commuter rail and potential Diesel Multiple Units (DMU) in Claremont While not a specific impact to Claremont, the EIR for the Gold Line only contemplated Claremont as a temporary terminus. If Claremont is to be the permanent or long-term terminus, the EIR may need to be reopened or amended to study these and other impacts. Possible Measures to Address Impacts a. Connect First Street to Monte Vista Avenue to focus additional trips from the east to First Street b. Additional study and potentially reconfiguration of First Street and Claremont Boulevard to move more vehicles through smoothly, especially from the east c. Location of Gold Line track switches, which transition trains to head back west, may be configured to lessen impacts on College Avenue gate operations d. Implement parking management strategies Source: City of Claremont 18

19 7 Additional Impacts & Measures to City of Claremont if it is a Gold Line Terminus with/without Metrolink With Metrolink a. Allows transfer option between Gold Line and Metrolink b. Construction impacts due to relocation of Metrolink tracks and station as part of Gold Line Construction Without Metrolink Station a. Smaller parking structure b. Impacts to riders of Metrolink - need to travel to other stations to board c. No transfer option between systems in Claremont d. Shorter construction period for Gold Line e. Reduce traffic from Metrolink riders f. Relocation of underpass to College Park further west Possible Measures to Address Impacts a. Metrolink Ticket Vending Machine at Claremont b. Additional way-finding directing commuters to Montclair and Pomona Metrolink stations Source: City of Claremont 19

20 7 Additional Impacts to the City of Claremont if the Metrolink Station is Eliminated a. Transit Oriented Development (TOD) has been designed to have multiple modes of transit service available to residents b. Loss of walkability from Village and TOD to Metrolink Station c. Significant disabled and elderly population and a training center for the visually impaired nearby will lose access to Metrolink without transfers, reducing and hampering mobility d. Reduces rail transit options in Claremont to only one system e. Loss of Metrolink fieldtrip opportunities into Los Angeles for local students f. While Pomona and Montclair may be a short distance from the station in Claremont, that distance adds to the first mile/last mile from the Claremont station. Riders will increase their first/last by 3-4 miles, which dramatically reduces the connectivity to the Claremont community and locations such as the Village, Claremont Colleges, Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens, etc. Source: City of Claremont 20

21 8 Existing Metrolink Parking Utilization at Co-located Stations Average Number of Parking Spaces Occupied Station Parking Spaces Available Pomona North 300 Claremont 440 Montclair 1836 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY % 100% 100% 93% 93% % 85% 61% 68% 68% % 58% 59% 63% 63% Source: SCRRA 21

22 8 Claremont Station Modeling Results Four different scenarios were assessed for the Claremont Gold Line Station with and without Metrolink Claremont Station Parking Demand Scenarios Base Scenario: Claremont is a mid-point suburban station with a Metrolink station Alternative Scenario 1: Claremont is a mid-point suburban station without a Metrolink station Alternative Scenario 2: Claremont is a terminus station with a Metrolink station Alternative Scenarios 3: Claremont is a terminus station without a Metrolink station a - opening day 2027 demand based on a $3/day fare Parking Demand a Source Metro Gold Line Phase 2B Parking Demand Model 22

23 9 Process to Eliminate a Metrolink Station 1. Currently, there is no formal process to eliminate a Metrolink Station 2. If the decision is made to eliminate the station, an update to the Foothill Gold Line EIR would be required Source: SCRRA 23

24 Next Steps 1. Provide your comments to Metro through December 21, 2017 Send comments to: Regional Rail Metro MS: One Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, CA Present findings and recommendation to the Metro Planning and Programming Committee Date & Time: January 17, 2018 at 2 PM Venue: Metro Board Room One Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, CA

25 Q&A Mayor Larry Schroeder 25