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95-031 RESOLUTION NO. 95R - 31 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM REQUESTING THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TO REQUEST THE CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SOUNDWALLS ALONG RAILROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY WHEREAS, various railroad rights-of-way including the San Bernardino Subdivision (a railroad right-of-way) are located in close proximity to residential areas in Anaheim and other Southern California locations; and WHEREAS, noise from trains using said rights-of-way is disturbing the peace and tranquility of persons occupying the adjacent residential areas; and WHEREAS, rail freight consolidation is an attractive strategy for rail operations, as evidenced by the Santa Fe Railroad re-routing of freight trains onto the San Bernardino Subdivision and the Alameda Corridor being developed to consolidate the operations of three freight railroads into one high-speed, high-capacity corridor; and WHEREAS, 70 percent of the existing freight traffic along the San Bernardino Subdivision through the City of Anaheim is to or from the San Pedro Bay ports, and ongoing expansion of these ports is forecast to increase rail traffic along the San Bernardino Subdivision by 121 percent; and WHEREAS, the San Pedro Bay Ports expansion and increased rail traffic will have impacts of national significance upon the economic vitality of Southern California and the Nation; and WHEREAS, the Alameda Corridor noise and vibration impacts are to be reduced by 90 percent through construction of tracks in the below-grade trench and noise walls in residential neighborhoods and other sensitive areas; and WHEREAS, the San Bernardino Subdivision is adjacent to sensitive areas, including an elementary school and residential development; and WHEREAS, most of these sensitive areas along the San Bernardino Subdivision in the City of Anaheim were adequately buffered by an earthen berm and six-foot high masonry wall, as evidenced by the lack of residents' complaints prior to the double tracking of, and increased freight traffic on, the San Bernardino Subdivision; and WHEREAS, complaints from residents adjacent to the San Bernardino Subdivision have dramatically increased since the double-tracking and increased freight traffic on the San Bernardino Subdivision; and WHEREAS, sensitive uses adjacent to the San Bernardino Subdivision are impacted by increasing rail freight with no mitigation measures; and WHEREAS, noise along railroads will continue to rise upon implementation of the Swift High Speed Rail Act which requires that a locomotive horn shall be sounded upon approaching each public highway-rail grade crossing; and WHEREAS, these issues are similar to those issues identified after initiation of the Interstate Highway System, which resulted in guidelines being developed for soundwall installations along highways. WHEREAS, the cost of such soundwalls should be a regional and not local burden; and WHEREAS, the California Transportation Commission has not developed guidelines for soundwall installation along railroad rights-of-way. NOW THEREFOR BE IT RESOLVED that the city Council of the City of Anaheim does hereby request the Orange County Transportation Authority to encourage the california Transportation Commission to develop guidelines for the installation of soundwalls along railroad rights-of-way. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk be, and she is hereby, authorized and directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Orange County Transportation Authority. THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION is approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Anaheim this 28th day of February, ATTEST: MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ~HEIM CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM 10762.1\MSLAUGHT\February 21, 1995 -2- STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss. CITY OF ANAHEIM ) I, LEONORA N. SOHL, City Clerk of the City of Anaheim, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 95R-31 was introduced and adopted at a regular meeting provEled by law, of the Anaheim City Council held on the 28th day of February, 1995, by the following vote of the members thereof: AYES: MAYOR/COUNCIL: Tait, Lopez, Zemel, Feldhaus, Daly NOES: MAYOR/COUNCIL: None ABSENT: MAYOR/COUNCIL: None AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the Mayor of the City of Anaheim signed said Resolution No. 95R-31 on the 28th day of February, 1995. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Anaheim this 28th day of February, 1995. CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM (SEAL) I, LEONORA N. SOHL, City Clerk of the City of Anaheim, do hereby certify that the foregoing is the original of Resolution No. 95R-31 was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Anaheim on February 28, 1995. CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM