CC Resolution 1996-097^!M RESOLUTION NO.96-97
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, IN LA
QUINTA, CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT OF AN INLAND
EMPIRE ROUTING OF HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN LOS
ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO
WHEREAS, the California Intercity High Speed Rail Commission in completing
its study of the feasibility of establishing a high speed rail line between Los Angeles
and the Bay Area; and,
WHEREAS, the California Intercity High Speed Rail Commission has
concluded that an extension from Los Angeles to San Diego would significantly
increase total State ridership and would generate four million passengers yearly just
on the segment between Los Angeles and San Diego; and,
WHEREAS, the California Intercity High Speed Rail Commission has selected
two alternate routes between Los Angeles and San Diego. one parallel to Interstate
5 and one parallel to Interstates 10 and 15/215; and,
WHEREAS, the I-S coastal corridor currently has numerous Amtrak and
commuter trains in its limited right-of-way and most communities along that
corridor have previously expressed opposition to high speed rail; and,
WHEREAS, an unconstrained high speed rail route via the Inland Empire
would have shorter travel times between San Diego and Los Angeles compared to a
reduced-speed alternative using the environmental sensitive coastal corridor and
would, thus likely generate greater ridership and revenue; and,
WHEREAS, an Inland Empire routing for the high speed rail system would
establish new economic links to northern San Diego county cities such as
Escondido; and,
WHEREAS, the 1-15/215 corridor currently provides no rail service options
between the Inland Empire and San Diego while the coastal corridor already
provides a full range of commuter and intercity services; and,
WHEREAS, the Inland Empire is a major hub of an expanding regional
economy and both to recognize the need for and support the development of
transportation improvements to strengthen the region's economy; and,
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Commerce forecasts that the
two counties of Riverside and San Bernardino will have the largest population
growth of any of the nation's metropolitan areas over the next ten years creating
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over 41 5,000 new jobs and the Southern California Association of Governments
estimates that the counties of Riverside and San Bernardino will have a population
of approximately 4.2 million by the year 2005; and,
Resolution 96-
WHEREAS, the Inland Empire high speed rail alignment between San Diego
and Los Angeles could connect with other proposed high speed rail projects
between Los Angeles and Las Vegas; and,
WHEREAS, the Inland Empire transportation agencies own many miles of rail
rights-of-way which could be used for portions of an alignment to San Diego,
including twenty miles immediately parallel to 1-21 5 and additional rights-of-way in
the Inland Empire could be purchased at values less than along a coastal route; and,
WHEREAS, there is little or no air service between the Inland Empire and
either San Diego or Los Angeles, thus, minimizing competition between air and rail
modes; and,
WHEREAS, public support for rail development is strong within the Inland
Empire;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of La Quinta, in La
Quinta, California supports the concept of the development and construction of a
high speed rail link between Los Angeles and San Diego serving the Inland Empire,
as part of an overall high speed rail system between San Diego and San Francisco.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 1 7th day of December, 1 996 by
the following vote:
AYES: Council Members Adolph, Henderson, Perkins, Sniff, Mayor Holt
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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GLENDA L. HOLT, Mayor
City of La Quinta, Califiornia
ATTEST:
SAUNDRA L. JU OLA, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DAWN C. HONEYWELL, City Attorney
City of La Quinta, California
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