TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and all necessary documents with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Los Angeles (Metro), to accept the donation of the retired P865 Nippon Sharyo light rail vehicle car #100 of the former Long Beach Blue Line; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and all necessary documents with Heavy Transport, of Long Beach, CA, to transport and deliver the vehicle from its current location to Long Beach, in an amount not to exceed $40,000. (District 2)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into agreements with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Los Angeles (Metro), to accept the donation of the retired Nippon Sharyo P865 light rail vehicle car #100 of the former Long Beach Blue Line; and, with Heavy Transport, to transport and deliver the vehicle from its current location at a Metro storage facility in Los Angeles to a temporary site at the Long Beach Water Department (Water) storage facility at 32nd Street and St. Louis Avenue. The Public Works Department (PW), in conjunction with Water, has identified the 32nd Street and St. Louis Avenue storage facility as the best temporary site for the vehicle. PW is in the process of plan development for reuse of the donated vehicle in a future project that will both historically preserve and repurpose the car for intended civic use and benefit to the residents of Long Beach and Los Angeles County.
Per Metro Board approval, Metro may make donations of its available surplus material, equipment, revenue service vehicles, and non-revenue vehicles (surplus assets) to public agencies, municipalities, school districts, and nonprofit organizations for continued public transit services, or for other re-purposed public uses and services that benefit all Los Angeles County residents. Approved donation requests must meet a policy standard that all donations must not constitute a gift of public funds. The City’s application request for donation was approved by the Metro Board on January 18, 2018. Metro has offered to donate the Blue Line car #100 to the City of Long Beach (City). Metro estimated the net value of the retired vehicle, a surplus asset, to be approximately $8,000, by evaluating the market value upon sale or salvage minus the cost for removal or disposal. Repurposing uses, which conform to donation standards, include, but are not limited to, use as a café, museum, informational hub, and/or an educational venue.
The retired Blue Line rail car #100 is currently out of Metro service having traveled more than 1.5 million miles during its 27 years of service. Metro has restored Blue Line rail car #100 to its original condition creating a historic icon and tribute to the history of both public transit and urban life. The Blue Line rail car #100 will be used for a future project that places and repurposes the vehicle in the Long Beach downtown core on First Street between Elm Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard. The future project and use will highlight the historical value of the Blue Line rail car #100 and create an opportunity for a unique facility or venue space fit for dining or an educational experience. Reuse of Blue Line rail car #100 is part of a larger street improvement project along First Street that is funded by Metro, Gas Tax, Measure M, and Transportation Development Act funding. Staff are also working with Los Angeles County on additional funding support that is needed to fully fund the project and allow construction to commence.
Due to the size and weight of the vehicle, its transportation and delivery to the temporary Water Department storage site is a challenge. The City must enter into a contract with an appropriate transportation company that can manage the unique effort and assume all liability to relocate the vehicle, including obtaining all appropriate releases, permits, and equipment to ensure a successful move. Heavy Transport was identified as a transportation company with the requisite qualifications and capabilities to undertake the transportation of the vehicle. They will assist the City in relocating the rail car to both the temporary facility and its final destination when the site is ready for it.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Erin Weesner-McKinley and Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on March 31, 2021.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on April 20, 2021, to execute the necessary agreements with Metro and Heavy Transport to allow for the relocation of the Blue Line rail car #100 to its new location.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost to transport and deliver the vehicle from its current location to Long Beach will not exceed $40,000. Sufficient funding for the contract is budgeted in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department. The total project cost of the installation and repurposing is unknown at this time, but will be known as the engineering design for the project progresses. Staff will return to the City Council for approval of any additional appropriations or agreements needed for the installation and repurposing after the design plans have been completed and all required funding sources have been secured. This recommendation has no staffing impacts beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
ERIC LOPEZ
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER