Highgrove Metrolink Station! the $75,000,000.00 Federal Grant Should Be Withheld Until a Metrolink Station Is Built at Highgrove
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HIGHGROVE HAPPENINGS Dedicated to the improvement of our community through awareness and involvement in local issues (FREE) Local News for the Highgrove Area October, 2013 The truth about the Highgrove Metrolink Station! The $75,000,000.00 Federal Grant should be withheld until a Metrolink station is built at Highgrove. By R. A. “Barney” Barnett This Metrolink commuter train is located on the #3 BNSF Here are the facts: Thousands of Metrolink trains “uneconomic remnant” is the same main line at Highgrove next to RCTC’s 17.22 acres. If stopped have passed through Highgrove property at Highgrove where the this train would be sitting right next to the Highgrove since July 15, 2006 when commuter public has asked for a Metrolink stop Metrolink Station. train service increased from 5 days a for the last 12 years! week to 7 days a week between San The Highgrove Metrolink station Bernardino and Riverside. And for could serve the region on both sides 12 years, the public on both sides of the county line. The location is of the county line have supported a perfect! The Highgrove Metrolink Metrolink stop at Highgrove. site is ½ mile east of the I-215 Over 16 million dollars have been freeway, 7 rail miles south of San spent on two pieces of vacant land by Bernardino and 3.5 rail miles from the Riverside County Transportation Riverside. The Colton Flyover is Commission but they are only one now completed which will allow mile apart. even more future commuter trains Both properties are still vacant but on the BNSF main line between San only one is needed. A savings of over Bernardino and Riverside. But future $19 million dollars could be made commuters will not be able to get to if the vacant land at Marlborough San Bernardino from the proposed was sold and the Highgrove prop- Marlborough Ave. location. The only erty was used for two purposes. The destinations on the Perris Valley Line Highgrove property could be used will be between Riverside and Perris. to connect the 2 railroads AND a On Feb. 7, 2011, I offered a com- A Metrolink station at Highgrove would be $19,145,310.00 cheaper than Metrolink station. promise to Ann Mayer, Executive a Metrolink station one mile away at Marlborough Avenue. The Riverside County Trans- Director of RCTC, for future Metro- These figures show the unnecessary expenditures being spent by the portation Commission spent link trains using the Perris Valley Riverside County Transportation Commission: $8,625,000.00 at Highgrove for Line to not stop at Highgrove at all, RCTC’s unneeded investment in Highgrove: $5,347,500.00 17.22 acres of vacant land to con- in exchange for building a station at Purchase price for vacant property at Marlborough Ave. 8,625,000.00 nect the Perris Valley Line railroad Highgrove. This compromise was Cost to build a station at Marlborough Ave. 5,651,810.00 track to the BNSF railroad main line rejected. Total $19,145,310.00 to establish future Metrolink service Station location has been our only The Federal Grant should be contingent on building the station at High- between Riverside and Perris. concern but Federal, State, and Local grove to serve both Riverside and San Bernardino counties, not one mile Then, RCTC spent another transportation money is being spent south of the existing Metrolink system on a dead end track that will not $8,146,000.00 only one mile south of unnecessarily. accommodate commuters between the two counties! continued on P. 9 their Highgrove property for an addi- A savings of $19,145,310.00 could tional 9.75 acres of vacant land for a be made if the Metrolink station was New rail installed on BNSF main line through Highgrove future Metrolink Station at Marlbor- built at Highgrove instead of Marl- ough Ave. (Total: $16,771,000.00.) borough Ave. where it is not needed. The Marlborough Ave. station is Saving over 19 million dollars not needed but in order to reduce will help reduce the cost of the Per- the total cost of the Perris Valley ris Valley Line to stay under the Line and qualify for a $75 million $250,000,000.00 limit for the “small dollar Federal Grant, RCTC asked start” Federal Grant. the Federal Transit Administration The Marlborough Ave. property if they could only charge the width should be sold and the money in- of the track at Highgrove, to the cost vested in building a parking lot and of the Perris Valley Line. platform at Highgrove on property RCTC was required to buy the already owned by RCTC. entire 17.22 acres for $8,625,000.00 Grading for the track to connect at Highgrove but they are only charg- the two railroads and the parking lot ing 38% or $3,277,500.00 to the could all be done at the same time! Perris Valley Line costs. In addition A map and supporting documents RCTC has labeled their property are available at: www.highgrove- that they do not need for the width happenings.net of the track as “an uneconomic rem- Click on each “Supporting Docs” nant” This amount is $5,347,500.00 to view the original document. Marl- New rail was laid across Main St. and the road was temporarily closed (RCTC letter Aug. 24, 2009) borough Ave. photos are available on on Sept. 6, 2013 until the work was completed and the crossing repaired. Here is the important part: This “Latest Issues” (Dec. 2012). Main St. is the dividing line between Riverside and San Bernardino county. HIGHGROVE HAPPENINGS Highgrove Community Center Hours: Mon-Thur 8am-4pm; Fri 8am-2pm Highgrove Community Park Hours: Dawn to Dusk Contact: (951) 341-6634 (951) 786-6912 THE NORTON YOUNGLOVE COMMUNITY CENTER 459 Center Street- Highgrove web site: www.nycchighgrove.com Page 2 • October 2013 HIGHGROVE HAPPENINGS MAC meetings will be monthly! HIGHGROVE SHERIFF REPORT The Highgrove community meetings known as the Municipal Advisory Council will meet each month except December. The meetings will be on the Highgrove Crime Activity 4th Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Highgrove Library located at 530 Center Street in Highgrove. The public is invited. Crimes increased from 5 to 8 over the past two weeks Due to financial constraints, representatives from Supervisor Tavaglione’s in Highgrove. The total of violent crimes stayed the same at office will come to every other meeting instead of every month but our MAC 0. Robbery stayed the same at 0. Aggravated Assault stayed the same at 0. meetings will be monthly at the library on the 4th Wednesday of the month. Property Crimes increased from 5 to 8. Burglary decreased by 50% from You are encouraged to attend and invite a neighbor to come with you. 2 to 1. Auto Theft increased from 0 to 6. Larceny Theft decreased by 50% from 2 to 1. Arson decreased by 100% from 1 to 0. Vehicle Burglary stayed the same at 0. Call 911 for Emergencies only Graffiti Hot line Sheriff Dept.: (951) 776-1099 X 5(Non emergency) Capt. Danny Feltenberger (951) 955 2600 Lieutenant. Dave Knudson (951) 955 2628 951-955-3333 Lieutenant Eric Hernandez http://www.rcgraffitibusters.com Hot line tips for Highgrove area: (951) 955-2600 GOVERNOR TO HONOR CHP Street Lights Out in Highgrove OFFICER FOR BRAVERY Report Street Light outage: call (951) 955-3224 SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Governor or email Hazel Rodriguez Edmund G. Brown Jr. will recognize [email protected]. Provide address and cross street and pole # if possible. California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer SENIOR VOLUNTEER Dane Norem with the 2012 Governor’s Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor for PROGRAM performing extraordinary acts of bravery We're looking for ways we can Report Illegal Trash Dumping! on October 25, 2012. reach out to the community, and Call Riverside County Waste Management While on duty, Officer Norem of the CHP’s we could use your help. Contact Riverside Area office responded to a call 951-955-5650 of a potential suicidal subject attempting Us to find out how to become a Se- To Report illegal dumping in Riverside County online: to jump off of a freeway overpass to the nior Volunteer. Statewide Senior roadway below. http://user.govoutreach.com/riversideco/ Volunteer Program Coordinator: Officer Norem arrived at the scene and (916) 843-3210 observed an adult male climbing the The Senior Volunteer Program overpass fence. While attempting to save Riverside County Administration the subject’s life by preventing him from (SVP) is a CHP program admin- jumping, Officer Norem was stabbed nine istered in cooperation with county Building now open on Fridays! times, including in the eye, with a utility and regional retired senior pro- knife. Despite his injuries, and continually grams throughout the state. The For many months the whole 14 story building at 4080 Lemon St. in River- being stabbed, Officer Norem continued to objectives of the CHP SVP are: hold onto the man’s leg until help arrived side was closed on Fridays. But as of July 26, 2013 the offices of Riverside to take the man into custody. 1.To assist the CHP in providing County are once again open five days a week including Friday. Sometimes “It is without a doubt, his courage, dedica- enhanced public service to the when we delivered the Highgrove Happenings Newspaper to the county tion, and quick thinking are what helped community. we only could deliver on Monday thru Thursday and if it fell on Friday we save a man’s life, even when his own life 2.To provide an opportunity for would have to make another trip to Riverside on the following Monday.