BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 577|
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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
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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.
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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, Ch�vez, 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 P�rez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas,
Rodriguez, Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Wagner, Waldron,
Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, Yamada, John A. P�rez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Alejo, Ammiano, Donnelly, Beth Gaines,
Harkey, Roger Hern�ndez, Lowenthal
JA:nl 6/12/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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