LOSSAN
Rail Corridor Update
Jennifer Bergener – Managing Director, LOSSAN JPA
OCBC Infrastructure Committee
April 8, 2014
Statewide Perspective
• Three existing
state-funded
corridors
• $109 million in
annual state
operating funds
• 1 in 5 Amtrak
passengers use
California services
• Annual ridership
5.5 million+
• Three emerging
corridors
LOSSAN Rail Corridor
Current Service
•
•
•
San Diego – Los Angeles –
San Luis Obispo
2nd busiest intercity
passenger rail corridor in U.S.
100 daily passenger trains
•
•
•
•
•
•
Amtrak
Metrolink
Coaster
41 stations served
Seven right-of-way owners
Five operators, passenger
and freight
LOSSAN Corridor Overview
• Annual ridership: 2.7 million (Pacific
Surfliner); 4.5 million (Metrolink/COASTER)
• Also served by Amtrak Thruway bus network,
including connections to San Joaquin
Right-of-Way Ownership
• Freight railroads (55%)
and county
commissions/local
transportation
agencies (45%)
• RRs have operating
rights on locally-owned
right-of-way
• 80 percent single track
north of Los Angeles
Goal of Local Authority for LOSSAN
Transform existing state-supported intercity rail
corridor into service under local authority
that is more responsive to local needs, issues
and consumer desires
Benefits of a Local Authority
1. More cost-effective allocation of
resources/decision making;
2. Unified, more powerful voice in
Sacramento and Washington D.C.;
3. More opportunities to coordinate/partner
locally on passenger and customer issues;
4. Improved coordination on corridor capital
improvements; and
5. Focused local management on operations
State Legislation
• SB 1225 (Padilla) addressed local
governance
for LOSSAN Corridor
• AB 1779 (Galgiani) for San Joaquin corridor
• Governor signed both on September 29,
2012
• LOSSAN Board adopted revised bylaws and
amended Joint Powers Agreement in 2013
LOSSAN Managing Agency
Competitive process: L.A. Metro, San Diego MTS
and OCTA applied
• OCTA recommended – final approval on Nov. 20
 Will provide local staff to support LOSSAN Board
 Assume duties currently performed by Caltrans
Division of Rail overseeing Pacific Surfliner service
•
10
100-Day Action Plan
1. Execute administrative support agreement
2. Consider forming ad-hoc Board committee to
provide guidance on interagency transfer
agreement (ITA)
3. Meet with Caltrans Director,
State secretary of transportation,
and Amtrak leadership to discuss transition process
and ITA
4. Coordinate with San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor
agencies on ITA
5. Meet and coordinate with railroad owners (public
and private)
11
100-Day Action Plan
6. One-on-one meetings with LOSSAN agencies
7. Finalize interim work plan; present to TAC, Board
8. Seek Board approval for start-up period budget;
provide regular updates to TAC, Board on
expenditures and ITA status
9. Develop requirements for contracted services
(mechanical, etc.)
10. Review legislative platform
11. Update fact sheets, Web site, collateral material
12. Review and prioritize proposed service initiatives
and capital plan
12
Short- and Long-Term Service Levels
Weekday Service
2011
2014
2030
Commuter – San Diego to Oceanside
22
32
54
Commuter – IE/Orange County to LA
42
54
88
Commuter – North of LA
61
64
90
Pacific Surfliner Intercity
22
24
36
Long-Distance Trains
4
4
6
151
178
274
TOTAL
Capital Program
•
Current
infrastructure
ranges from 90 mph
double track in OC,
north San Diego to
80% single track
with hand-thrown
switches north of LA
•
$2.2 billion program
of projects
Key Service Initiatives
Customer Experience
 Bike storage, real-time
train status, Rail 2 Rail,
station improvements,
food & beverage
• Operations
 Equipment/crew
utilization, on-time
performance, farebox
recovery, differentiation
of service, service
disruptions, special
event service, rail safety
•
Key Service Initiatives
•
•
•
Connectivity
 Transit connectivity and on-board pass sales,
statewide connectivity, schedule
coordination
Marketing
 Market research, joint marketing, social
media, newsletter, school groups, new
corridors
Board of Directors Involvement
 Ride with managing director and Board
members, Board member rail pass, Board
subcommittees
Statewide Coordination
•
•
•
Quarterly Intercity Passenger Rail (IPR)
Chairs/Vice Chairs meeting; rotate to
each corridor
Biweekly IPR staff coordination calls
Coordinated advocacy, stakeholder
outreach activities
State and Federal Advocacy
Annual joint advocacy trips to Sacramento
and Washington, D.C.
• California Intercity Passenger Rail Program
report
•



Summarizes benefits of existing passenger rail
program (jobs, environment, reduced
congestion)
Advocates for increased and stable funding for
operations and much-needed capital projects
Will be used for state, federal and local
advocacy efforts
Next Steps
• Negotiate Interagency Transfer Agreement (ITA)
with State of California
 Close coordination with San Joaquin corridor
 Expected approval between early 2015;
transfer in mid-2-15
• Prepare business plan detailing budget,
key initiatives to be implemented after ITA
approval
• Meetings of Senate Select Committee and
possible formation of Assembly Committee
Questions?
Jennifer Bergener
LOSSAN Managing Director
jbergener@octa.net