1998-23 RESOLUTION 98- 23
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAND TERRACE IN SUPPORT OF RAILROAD TO RAILROAD
GRADE SEPARATION PROJECT AT COLTON, CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS, the efficient movement of people and goods is essential to the health and
economy of the region and the nation; and
WHEREAS, freight railroads play a pivotal role in interstate commerce; and
WHEREAS,the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the major ports of entry on the
Pacific Coast; and
WHEREAS, tremendous growth in railroad operations, particularly intermodal and other
through-freight, has resulted in significant community impacts; and
WHEREAS,the demand for rail shipments will continue to grow with the expansion of the
Ports, the completion of the Alameda Corridor, and population growth in the region; and
WHEREAS,the main lines of the Burlington Northern Sante Fe and the Union Pacific, the
only major railroads operating in Southern California, carry the majority of rail freight traffic between
the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,the rest of the nation, and Mexico on their routes through.
the Inland Empire; and
WHEREAS,these railroads must cross each other at Colton Junction; and
WHEREAS, Colton Junction has been identified as the major choke point for rail traffic in
the region,where an average delay of fourteen minutes per train triggers substantial congestion and
blockages along the corridors; and
WHEREAS,diesel emissions caused by multiple locomotives idling along the corridors while
waiting to cross Colton Junction further exacerbate the unhealthful air quality in the South Coast Air
Basin, the worst non-attianment area in the nation; and
WHEREAS,railroad congestion has resulted in many freight shipments being shifted to diesel
trucks on the region's already congested highways; and
WHEREAS,railroad congestion in Southern California has caused expensive delays to local
shippers as well as to manufacturers and others throughout the country; and
WHEREAS,these same main line freight corridors are utilized for the provision of commuter
passenger rail (Metrolink) and intercity passenger rail (Amtrak) service, whose operations are
- consistently impacted by freight congestion; and
RESOLUTION NO. 98-23
Page 2
WHEREAS, insufficient operating capacity has delayed the implementation of other
passenger rail services, including service between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley; and
WHEREAS,the federal Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty-First Century(TEA-21),
identifies the"Alameda Corridor East" and the"Southwest Passage" as eligible corridors for federal
infrastructure funding, and further identifies NAFTA-related improvements as a priority for federal
funding; and
WHEREAS,Colton Junction is located at the eastern terminus of the Alameda Corridor East
and near the western terminus of the Southwest Passage, and most NAFTA rail freight into or
through Southern California is carried on the BNSF and UP main lines across Colton Junction; and
WHEREAS, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has identified
these corridors and NAFTA improvements as priorities within its recently adopted Regional
Transportation Plan; and
WHEREAS, the State of California, through Caltrans, is initiating a Project Study Report
to further refine the project and identify appropriate resources;
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Council of the City of
—' Grand Terrace do hereby endorse and support the efforts of the Riverside County Transportation
Commission in securing the necessary federal and state funding to construct a separation of the
Burlington Northern Sante Fe and Union Pacific railroads at Colton Junction.
PASSED,APPROVED AND ADOPTED this loth day of September, 1998.
ATTEST:
City Clerk of the City of Gr d Terrace and Mayo of the City of Grand trerrace and of the
of the City Council thereof. City Council thereof.
—` RESOLUTION NO. 98-23
Page 3
I, Brenda Stanfill, City Clerk of the City of Grand Terrace, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the
City of Grand Terrace held on the 10th day of September, 1998, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Hilkey and Garcia; Mayor Pro Tem Buchanan;
Mayor Matteson
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Singley
ABSTAIN: None
Approved as to form:
City Clerk
City Attorney