BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 577
Page 1
Date of Hearing: January 13, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
AB 577 (Nazarian) - As Amended: January 6, 2014
SUBJECT : Rail Construction: County of Los Angeles
SUMMARY : Repeals the prohibition on the construction of any
above-ground rail transit project from North Hollywood to
Hazeltine Avenue in the San Fernando Valley. Specifically, this
bill :
1)Repeals the prohibition on the construction of any
above-ground rail transit project from North Hollywood to
Hazeltine Avenue in the San Fernando Valley.
2)Repeals a now-obsolete provision of law imposing certain
requirements on the construction phasing of a mass
transportation rail project between the San Fernando Valley
and downtown Los Angeles.
EXISTING LAW : Prohibits the construction of any above-ground
rail transit from North Hollywood to Hazeltine Avenue in the San
Fernando Valley.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : In 1991, the Los Angeles County Transportation
Commission (now the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Commission, or MTA) purchased the Southern
Pacific Burbank Branch, an abandoned commercial rail line, with
an eye toward expanding mass transit to the San Fernando Valley.
At the time, light rail was the preferred alternative for the
line, to which there was substantial community opposition along
a particular segment. The area's large Orthodox Jewish
community was particularly vocal in its opposition, particularly
due to concerns about the safety of rail crossings for
pedestrians during the Sabbath. In response to those concerns,
the Legislature passed AB 211 (Robbins, Chapter 72, Statutes of
1991), which prohibited the construction of any above-ground
rail transit project along the Burbank Branch right-of-way from
North Hollywood to Hazeltine Avenue. AB 211 additionally
imposed certain requirements related to the phasing of
construction on a rail project between the San Fernando Valley
AB 577
Page 2
and downtown Los Angeles. This provision is now obsolete.
With light rail off the table, MTA moved forward with
construction of bus rapid transit along the Burbank Branch
route. The route, known as the Orange Line, was completed in
2005. Since then, ridership has drastically exceeded MTA's
initial estimate of an average of 16,000 riders on weekdays. In
2012, the 14-mile Orange Line's average daily ridership was
31,787. Riders report that buses are often so crowded at peak
hours that they have to wait for multiple buses to pass before
one arrives that has room for additional passengers. There is
little way to expand the capacity of the route as long as it
remains a bus rapid transit line. MTA built the Orange Line
with the capability to be converted into a light rail line in
the future, but is currently precluded from even considering
such a conversion due the prohibition in law on light rail along
a 3-5-mile section of the line.
AB 577 repeals the AB 211 prohibition on the construction of
light rail along a 3.5-mile section of the Orange Line, as well
as the now-obsolete provision related to construction phasing.
This bill does not specifically authorize the construction of
light rail, but rather frees MTA to consider it as a future
option for expanding transit capacity in the area.
According to the author, "Light rail transit is the most
economically efficient option, with significantly higher
ridership potential than buses and lower cost than underground
subways. The Greater San Fernando Valley needs a rail sytem on
par with other parts of the region in order to transport a
larger number of riders quickly and cost-efficiently. By
repealing the ban on light rail installation along the Orange
Line, AB 577 will allow the Valley to take the first step toward
a 21st century transit system and lead to greater connectivity
to the Red Line and other transportation lines throughout Los
Angeles and the San Fernando Valley."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Valley Industry and Commerce Association
Opposition
AB 577
Page 3
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Anya Lawler / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093