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Sen. Christine Kehoe (Chair)
Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications
State Capitol, 400m 4038
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: SB 724- Kuehl
Dear Sen. Kehoe,
I am writing with disappointment and grave concern that California State Senator Sheila Kuehl has presented and is sponsoring S.B. 724 which advocates shortening the time the California Public Utilities Commission has to evaluate and approve railway grade crossing applications. Although I greatly appreciate and respect Senator Kuehl's many fine contributions to the health and welfare of California’s citizens, on this issue we firmly disagree.
The CPUC is the agency responsible for the grade crossing safety of every railway in California. S.B. 724 does two things to undermine railway safety. Most importantly, it compromises safety by reducing the time the CPUC has to conduct necessary traffic research and safety evaluation of grade crossing applications. Secondly, this legislation would limit community input in grade crossing policy decisions. Any attempt to undermine and diminish the authority of the CPUC puts the safety of all Californians at risk.
Note that A.B. 1735, co-authored by former Assemblyman Mark Ridley-Thomas, Committee on Utilities and Commerce, and signed by the governor in September 2003 sets the time limit for the CPUC grade crossing review at 18 months. I encourage the CPUC to abide by that ruling. S.B. 724 attempts to reduce that time for review by half, giving the CPUC only 9 months to research and evaluate applications.
S.B. 724 is an attempt to expedite the interests of a single rail project being constructed in Los Angeles, the Mid-City Exposition Light Rail Transit Project. This legislation, undertaken by the Exposition Construction Authority, and presented by Sen. Kuehl, seeks to resolve scheduling failures for a solitary light rail project in Los Angeles, but the resulting effects would impact the safety of light rail grade crossings in the entire state.
The CPUC has been negotiating with the MTA/Expo Authority for more than four years to resolve grade crossing issues on this one line and there are protests by the CPUC and the public currently pending. Grade crossings are the single biggest risk in light rail construction and the citizens of this state rely on the due diligence of the CPUC for their protection. It is a dangerous imperative to put the safety of all California citizens at risk by allowing the scheduling problems of a single “Design-Build” light rail project to undermine the safety protocol of the entire light rail system in the state.
Please do not support California State Senate Bill 724 and encourage your colleagues to withhold support as well. S.B. 724-Kuehl is not safe for California!
Respectfully,
------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE FAX (preferably)OR EMAIL YOUR LETTERS TO EACH OF THE Elected Officials below -- Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications:
Senator Christine Kehoe (Chair), District 39
State Capitol, Room 4038, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4039
Fax: (916) 327-2188
Email: christine.kehoe@sen.ca.gov
Senator Robert Dutton (Vice Chair), District 31
State Capitol, Room 5094, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4031
Fax: (916) 327-2272
Email: bob.dutton@sen.ca.gov
Senator Jim Battin, District 37
State Capitol, Room 3060, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4037
Fax: (916) 327-2187
Email: jim.battin@sen.ca.gov
Senator Ron Calderon, District 30
State Capitol, Room 5080, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4030
Fax: (916) 327-8755
Email: ron.calderon@sen.ca.gov
Senator Dave Cox, District 1
State Capitol, Room 2068, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4001
Fax: (916) 324-2680
Email: dave.cox@sen.ca.gov
Senator Alex Padilla, District 20
State Capitol, Room 4032, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4020
Fax: (916) 324-6645
Email: alex.padilla@sen.ca.gov
Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, District 26
State Capitol, Room 4061, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4026
Fax: (916) 445-8899
Email: mark.ridley-thomas@sen.ca.gov
Senator Joe Simitian, District 11
State Capitol, Room 4062, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4011
Fax: (916) 323-4529
Email: joe.simitian@sen.ca.gov
Senator Patricia Wiggins, District 2
State Capitol, Room 4081, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4002
Fax: (916) 323-6958
Email: patricia.wiggins@sen.ca.gov
Other Elected Officials:
Senator Sheila Kuehl, District 23
10951 W. Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: (310) 441-9084
FAX: (310)441-0724
Email: Sheila.kuehl@sen.ca.gov
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
200 North Spring Street, Room 303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 978-0600
FAX: (213)978-0750
Email: mayor@lacity.org
Pam O’Connor
Councilmember
City of Santa Monica
906 9th Street, #2
Santa Monica, CA 90204
Phone: 310-458-2749
Fax: 310-458-6686
E-mail: pam-oconnor@santa-monica.org