BILL ANALYSIS Ó ----------------------------------------------------------------- |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 577| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |1020 N Street, Suite 524 | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- CONSENT Bill No: AB 577 Author: Nazarian (D), et al. Amended: 6/4/14 in Senate Vote: 21 SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 10-0, 6/10/14 AYES: DeSaulnier, Gaines, Cannella, Galgiani, Hueso, Lara, Liu, Pavley, Roth, Wyland NO VOTE RECORDED: Beall ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 73-0, 1/23/14 - See last page for vote SUBJECT : Transit construction in the San Fernando Valley SOURCE : Author DIGEST : This bill repeals the prohibition on constructing an above-ground mass transit guideway in the Burbank Branch line right-of-way. ANALYSIS : In 1991, the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (the precursor of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or LACMTA) purchased the Southern Pacific Burbank Branch, an abandoned commercial rail line, with an eye toward expanding mass transit to the San Fernando Valley. Subsequently, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB 211 (Robbins, Chapter 72, Statutes of 1991) which prohibits the construction of any mass transit guideway within the right-of-way of the Burbank Branch line of the Southern Pacific Railroad between Hazeltine Avenue and Hollywood Freeway in Van CONTINUED AB 577 Page 2 Nuys, as well as in the area below Tujunga Wash, unless constructed as a covered subway. This bill repeals the prohibition on constructing an above-ground mass transit guideway in the Burbank Branch line right-of-way. Background As mentioned previously, LACMTA purchased the Southern Pacific Burbank Branch, intending to expand its mass transit service to the San Fernando Valley. At the time, the Commission's preferred alternative was to build a light rail system down 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 when Orthodox Jews do not drive. In response to those concerns, the Legislature passed SB 211, prohibiting the construction of any above-ground rail transit project in the controversial area of the line. With light rail off the table, LACMTA 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 LACMTA'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 only a bus rapid transit line. LACMTA 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 to the prohibition in law on light rail along a 3- to 5-mile section of the line. This bill repeals the prohibition contained in SB 211 on the construction of light rail along this line. This bill does not specifically authorize the construction of light rail, but rather frees LACMTA to consider it as a future option for expanding transit capacity in the area. CONTINUED AB 577 Page 3 According to the author's office, the safety considerations implemented with the bus rapid transit line have assuaged the fears of the oppositional communities, and therefore allowing LACMTA to reconsider rail along the line is a reasonable action for the Legislature to take. FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No SUPPORT : (Verified 6/12/14) City of Los Angeles Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council Valley Industry and Commerce Association ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author, this bill creates the opportunity for LACMTA to effectively address the growing transportation needs of local governments in the San Fernando Valley along the Los Angeles Metro Orange Line. ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 73-0, 01/23/14 AYES: Achadjian, Allen, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Buchanan, Ian Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray, Grove, Hagman, Hall, Holden, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Logue, Maienschein, Mansoor, Medina, Melendez, Morrell, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Pan, Patterson, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, Yamada, John A. Pérez NO VOTE RECORDED: Alejo, Ammiano, Donnelly, Beth Gaines, Harkey, Roger Hernández, Lowenthal JA:nl 6/12/14 Senate Floor Analyses SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE **** END **** CONTINUED AB 577 Page 4 CONTINUED