Eco-Rapid Transit Transit-Oriented Development Guidebook: Southern Corridor
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Eco-Rapid Transit Transit-Oriented Development Guidebook: Southern Corridor Prepared for: With contributions from: Eco-Rapid Transit - Orangeline Michael Kodama, Norm Emerson, Funded by Development Authority Lillian Burkenheim, Deborah Murphy, TOD Grant from: Member cities Allyn Rifkin, Robin Scherr, Tomas Duran and Dohyung Kim Prepared by: Richard Willson, Ph.D. FAICP September 2014 Eco-Rapid Transit, formerly known as the Orangeline Development Authority, is a joint powers authority (JPA) created to pursue development of a transit system that is environmentally friendly and energy efficient. The system is designed to enhance and increase transportation options for riders of this region utilizing safe, advanced transit technology to expand economic growth that will benefit Southern California. Eco-Rapid Transit consists of 15 members: City of Artesia City of Bell City of Bellflower City of Bell Gardens City of Cerritos City of Cudahy City of Downey City of Glendale City of Huntington Park City of Maywood City of Paramount City of Santa Clarita City of South Gate City of Vernon Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority With a special thanks to supporting agencies that include Caltrans, District 7, Gateway Cities Council of Governments, and Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Copies of the Guidebook can be obtained at http://Eco-Rapid.org SEPTEMBER 2014 Acknowledgements Eco-Rapid Transit/Orangeline Development Authority Eco-Rapid Transit Board Members and Alternates Chairman Luis H. Marquez, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Downey Vice Chair Maria Davila, Council Member, City of South Gate Secretary Rosa E. Perez, Mayor, City of Huntington Park Treasurer Michael McCormick, Mayor, City of Vernon Auditor Scott A. Larsen, Internal Auditor, City of Bellflower Ali Sajjad Taj, Councilmember, City of Artesia Tony Lima, Mayor, City of Artesia Alicia Romero, Vice Mayor, City of Bell Pedro Aceituno, Councilmember, City of Bell Gardens Frank Quintero, Vice President, Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority and Councilmember, City of Glendale Bruce W. Barrows, Councilmember, City of Cerritos Cristian Markovich, Vice Mayor, City of Cudahy Veronica Guardado, Councilmember, City of Maywood Gene Daniels, Councilmember, City of Paramount Daryl Hofmeyer, Councilmember, City of Paramount, Marsha McLean, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Santa Clarita Rene Bobadilla, Ex – Officio, City Manager Representative, Huntington Park Violeta Alvarez, Councilmember, City of Bell Sergio Infanzon, Councilmember, City of Bell Gardens Frank Gurule, Councilmember, City of Cudahy Mark Hardyment, Director of Noise and Environmental Programs, Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Carol Chen, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Cerritos Special Thank you to Diane DuBois, Andy Molina, Councilmember, City of Huntington Park Chair Metro, Tony Lima, President Gateway Cities COG, Richard Powers, Thomas Martin, Councilmember, City of Maywood Executive Director Gateway Cities COG, and Ronald Bates former City Manager Representative. City Working Group Rene Bobadilla, Chairman and City Manager, Huntington Park Shannon De Long, Downey, Assistant to the City Manager Albert Fontanez, Huntington Park, Planning Manager Aldo Schindler, Downey, Community Development Director William Rawlings, City Manager, Artesia Brian Saeki, Downey, Okina Dor, Artesia, Community Development Director former Community Development Director Melissa Gobas, Artesia, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Joe Perez, City of Bell, Community Development Director Lillian Myers, City Manager Maywood Andre Dupret, Maywood, Project Manager Jeff Stewart, City Manager, Bellflower Brian Lee, Bellflower, Community Development Director Linda Benedetti Leal, City Manager, City of Paramount John Oropeza, Bell Gardens Chau Vu, Bell Gardens, Director of Public Works Mike Flad, City Manager South Gate Steve Lefever, South Gate, Director of Community Art Gallucci, City Manager, Cerritos Development Director Torrey Contreras, Cerritos, Community Development Director Alvie Betancourt, South Gate, Senior Planner Henry Garcia, City Manager, Cudahy Aaron Hernandez-Torres, Cudahy, Assistant City Engineer Kevin Wilson, City of Vernon, Director of Michael Allen, Cudahy, Community Development Director Community Services & Water Saul Bolivar, Cudahy, former Community Development Director Eco-Rapid Transit Staff and Consultants Michael R. Kodama Norman Emerson, Emerson Associates Karen Z. Heit Deborah Murphy, DMUD+P Allyn Rifkin Richard Willson Barry Samsten Dohyung Kim Lillian Burkenheim Irv Taylor Barry Kielsmeier Cecilia Estolano, Estolano LeSar Perez Advisors, LLC Tomas Duran Katherine Perez, Estolano LeSar Perez Advisors, LLC Dennis Brooks Michael P. Busch Cristina Quintero Judith Norman, Judith Norman Transportation Consultant Karen Cruz Nancy Michali, AECOM Alan Kumamoto, Kumamoto Associates Joanne Kumamoto, Kumamoto Associates ECO-RAPID TRANSIT WISHES TO THANK THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (METRO): Martha Welborne, Chief Planning Officer, Countywide Planning Calvin Hollis, Managing Executive Officer, Countywide Planning and Development Jenna Hornstock, Deputy Executive Officer, Countywide Planning & Development Rufina Juarez, Transportation Planning Manager Diana Gonzalez, Transportation Planner This project was funded by The Los Angeles Metropolitan Authority’s 2012 TOD Planning Grant Program, TOD.312.02.10 Eco-Rapid Transit, formerly known as the Orangeline Development Authority, is a joint powers authority (JPA) created to pursue development of a high speed, grade separated transit system that is environmentally friendly and energy efficient. The system is designed to enhance and increase transportation options for riders of this region utilizing safe, advanced transit technology to expand economic growth that will benefit Southern California. The Authority is composed of the following public agencies: City of Artesia Dear Readers: City of Bell City of Bell Gardens Together the Eco-Rapid Transit Board of Directors has worked to create a plan that City of Bellflower supports the vitality and individuality of the individual cities while creating economic City of Cerritos synergy between them. These Guidelines provide an opportunity for to each city City of Cudahy along the alignment to follow a community driven process and build a sustainable, City of Downey healthy transit corridor. City of Glendale City of Huntington Park The Guidelines is our gift to the member cities and organizations that collectively City of Maywood form the Joint Powers Authority that is Eco-Rapid Transit. It is a gift of hope, City of Paramount inspiration and wisdom. If used as intended it will lead to the research, analysis, City of Santa Clarita planning and implementation of an economically viable Transit Oriented Corridor and City of South Gate perhaps even beyond. City of Vernon Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority As important as this document is, the greater significance may be the collaborative effort required by the Members and their staff to guide the technical team in drafting Chairman the guidelines. Therefore, a special thanks goes to Mr. Rene Bobadilla who as the Luis Marquez Chair of the City Working Group kept the group focused and attentive. Mayor Pro Tem City of Downey Vice Chairman It is with great joy and not a little pride we provide the Guidelines. As you go forward Maria Davila Council Member and begin to implement the strategies contained in the Guidelines, we encourage City of South Gate and welcome feedback on what is working and what isn't. We support innovation and Secretary courage to follow your own path to prosperity and only request that we arrive there Rosa E. Perez together. Mayor City of Huntington Park Treasurer Michael McCormick Mayor City of Vernon Auditor Scott A. Larsen Mayor Pro Tem City of Bellflower Executive Director Michael R. Kodama General Counsel Teresa L. Highsmith Ex-Officio Rene Bobadilla City Manager Representative 16401 Paramount Boulevard Paramount California 90723 (562) 663-6850 www.eco-rapid.org Executive Summary The Eco-Rapid Transit – Orangeline Development Authority has prepared this Guidebook to support member cities and stakeholders from Los Angeles to Artesia as they develop innovative planning and economic development responses to the Eco-Rapid rail transit opportunity. These cities form the West Santa Ana Branch Corridor (the Corridor), the southern portion of the full Eco-Rapid Corridor, which extends to Santa Clarita. While Metro is currently studying light rail as transit technology for the Corridor, the report refers more generically to rail systems, since a final decision on transit technology has not been made. Similarly, a final plan for stations has not yet been adopted so the advice contained in this document is not a plan for the stations, per se, but advice on how to plan for coordinated transit and economic development. The guid- ance applies to other forms of transit improvement should a different technology be selected, or a different route, or different station locations. The Guidebook explains how coordination among cities’ local visions and planning can achieve synergy for transit and economic development. The core vision is that Eco-Rapid Transit is a catalyst for sustainable, healthy neighborhoods and successful business districts. The Guidebook introduces coordinated transit and economic development planning processes and provides information on Corridor characteristics, examining a radius up to 2 miles from the proposed