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Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority (ACTA) July 12 reached an agreement with California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), authorizing ACTA to design and construct a $107 million Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) grade separation project in Los Angeles County.
Under agreement terms, project funding would come from the state of California; to date, Caltrans has identified all but $40 million of project funds.
If the state fails to provide full funding — or doesn't approve the deal by July 31 — ACTA can terminate the agreement.
The PCH crossing is the only location along the Alameda Corridor's 20 miles under which train and motorist traffic would conflict after the corridor opens in April 2002; a grade separation would be designed to avoid bottlenecks.
An initial project design calls for building a mile-long bridge over the corridor mainline, enabling vehicles travelling on the PCH to avoid crossing the corridor, Alameda Street and Union Pacific Railroad's San Pedro branch line.
ACTA officials believe the authority could design and build the PCH grade separation in 18 to 24 months.
"The PCH grade separation is important to the region, and it is in everyone's best interest that it be completed in a timely manner," said ACTA Chief Executive Officer James Hankla in a prepared statement.
The Alameda Corridor is designed as an express-rail line linking ports to transcontinental yards east of downtown Los Angeles.
In other ACTA news, the authority July 12 named Long Beach Councilman Frank Colonna board chairman, succeeding Rudy Svorinich Jr.; Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn, vice chairwoman; and Don Knabe, board member representing Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.