Construction Authority Considers Adding Electric Charging Stations To Future Parking Facilities

Action would support Authority's sustainability policy and set standard for future light rail projects

MONROVIA, Calif., Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tonight, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Construction Authority) board of directors will consider approval of additional funding to install Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) Charging Stations into the agency's future parking facilities. Current criteria, set by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), do not address electric charging stations and no electric charging stations have been included in parking facilities for other Metro light rail projects.

"The Construction Authority has set goals for sustainability for our projects, and this action fits within those goals" stated Construction Authority Board Chair and Glendora Councilmember Doug Tessitor. "We want to understand what it will take to include electric charging stations in the initial development of our parking facilities, rather than lose this opportunity because they are not required by Metro."

Setting the goals that led to the agency's sustainability policy, including requesting review of the charging station issue, were long-time Authority board members Ed Reyes (Los Angeles City Councilmember) and Sam Pedroza (Claremont City Councilmember). After finding no current policy for installing electric charging stations at transit parking facilities in the county, staff is leading the way by proposing to install three PEV charging stations at each of the Foothill Extension's planned parking facilities. This will provide the necessary infrastructure for PEV users, as well as connectivity between two sustainable transportation modes.

"About 400,000 electric vehicles are expected to be on the nation's roads in the next few years," adds Tessitor. "With one-quarter of those located here in California, we want to address this issue up front – rather than having to require retrofitting of these facilities in the future which would likely be much more costly."

The board will consider approving a budget of $10,000 per charging station, $150,000 total. If approved tonight, the requirement to include electric charging stations will be added to the Request for Proposals currently out to previously short-listed teams competing to win the Intermodal Parking Facilities and Enhancements Project contract (the last of three design build contracts required for the light rail extension). The Construction Authority board of directors meets at 7:00 p.m. tonight at the Construction Authority offices – 406 E. Huntington Drive, Suite 202, Monrovia, CA 91016.

About the Construction Authority: The Construction Authority is an independent transportation planning and construction agency created in 1999 by the California State Legislature. Its purpose is to extend the Metro Gold Line light rail line from Union Station to Montclair, along the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley. The Construction Authority built the initial segment from Union Station to Pasadena and is underway on the Gold Line Foothill Extension. The Foothill Extension is a nearly $1.6 billion extension that will connect Pasadena to Montclair in two construction segments - Pasadena to Azusa and Azusa to Montclair. The 11.5-mile Pasadena to Azusa segment is fully funded by Measure R and will be completed in 2015. Three design-build contracts, totaling more than $500 million will be overseen by the Construction Authority to complete the Pasadena to Azusa segment. The Azusa to Montclair segment is currently undergoing final environmental review.

SOURCE Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority