HomeMy WebLinkAbout18919 - RESOLUTIONS - 10/23/1996RESOLUTION NO. 18919
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA SUPPORTING AN INLAND
EMPIRE ROUTING OF HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN '
LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO.
WHEREAS the California Intercity High Speed Rail Commission is completing its study of the
feasNlity 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 1-5 coastal corridor currently has numerous Amtrak and commuter trains in its limited
right of way and most communities along the 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
environmentally 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 recognize
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 over 415,000 new jobs; and
WHEREAS an 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 almost twenty miles immediately
parallel to 1-215; 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 h S I �
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WHEREAS public support for rail development is strong within the Inland Empire,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs that the
communities of the Inland Empire support the development and construction of a high speed rail link
between Los Angeles and San Diego serving the Inland Empire.
' ADOPTED this 23rd day of October , 1996.
AYES: Members Barnes, Hodges, Oden, Spurgin and Mayor Kleindienst
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
CITY OKPALM SPRINGS, C9L�YOPNIA
BY
ty Clerk City Mang
REVIEWED & APPROVED AS TO FORM /1
As 1-,3