In an effort to collect community ideas about ways to reconnect Los Angeles and Orange counties, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) will hold a series of community meetings this month. The public meetings are part of a 22-month long transportation study to explore the re-use of the West Santa Ana Branch of the existing-but unused -20 mile-long Pacific Electric (PE) railroad right-of-way.
Sponsored by SCAG in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), the aim of the study is to identify new transportation options, station locations, and recreational and economic development opportunities. The study, will also examine tradeoffs associated with different types of transportation, including light rail, street cars, dedicated bus lanes, commuter rail and high speed rail options. Community input is central to the study.
Community Meeting Schedule
Tuesday, June 15, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Garden Grove Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92840
Wednesday, June 16, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Huntington Park Community Center, 6925 Salt Lake Avenue, Huntington Park, CA 90255
Thursday, June 17, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630
Saturday, June 19, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Cerritos Park East Community Center, 13234 East 166th Street, Cerritos, CA 90703
Tuesday, June 22, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Progress Park Plaza, West Auditorium, 15500 Downey Avenue, Paramount, CA 90723
Wednesday, June 23, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Stanton Council Chambers, 7800 Katella Avenue, Stanton, CA 90680
Community input received in these meetings will lead to identification of an initial set of alternative transportation strategies, and the criteria for evaluating these strategies as part of the technical analysis. A second round of community meetings is slated for fall 2010 to present a recommended set of possible transportation alternatives, including station locations. A technical assessment of the alternatives will be performed and the resulting information, such as engineering viability, estimated capital costs and environmental issues will also be presented. In fall 2011, a third set of community meetings will solicit input on the preferred alternative.
Councilmember Diane DuBois of Lakewood, Co-chair of the Steering Committee for the study, says, We urge everyone to join us at these public workshops. We want to encourage the community to look at this resource with new eyes and realize that the possibilities are significant – access to more jobs, along with recreational, educational, and economic development opportunities when cities need it most.
Steering Committee Co-chair, Mayor Art Brown of Buena Park, adds, If we can come up with a regional solution to relieve traffic congestion, meet the travel demands of residents, and serve as a catalyst for economic development for cities spanning from Santa Ana to Union Station in LA, we will have met our charge and more.
For more information, visit the project website at www.scag.ca.gov/perow or call Philip Law, SCAG Corridors Program Manager, at (213) 236-1841.