Regular Calendar
7.
Temporary Additional Santa Barbara Service
Overview
The Ventura County Transportation Commission and the Santa Barbara County
Association of Governments have requested the Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis
Obispo Rail Corridor Agency to support a temporary service agreement that would allow
the Southern California Regional Rail Authority/Metrolink to provide additional rail service
between Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The additional service would utilize a rail
timeslot previously secured by the Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo Rail
Corridor Agency through an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company and
intended to be utilized for a future expansion of Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service.
Recommendation(s)
A.
Authorize the Managing Director to negotiate the terms of an agreement or
agreements to subcontract the implementation of additional temporary service in
partnership with Metrolink and funded by Ventura County Transportation
Commission and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, allowing
for the temporary use of Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor
Agency’s timeslot while assuring anticipated future expansion of Pacific Surfliner to
north of Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, Goleta and San Luis Obispo.
B.
Direct the Managing Director to bring back the agreement(s) necessary for Board
approval.
Attachments:
8.
Reinstatement of Checked Baggage Service
Overview
In November 2023, the Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency
Board of Directors approved the Proposed Net Cost-Reduction Plan submitted by staff,
which outlined a series of strategies aimed at reducing net operating costs while
maintaining essential passenger services. A key component of the plan was the
development of a revised station staffing model in collaboration with Amtrak, along with an
evaluation of cost-effective opportunities to reopen select stations and restore checked
baggage service.
With the revised station staffing model now implemented, and the successful reopening of
Anaheim and Oceanside stations on March 10, 2025, staff recommends reinstating
checked baggage service on the Pacific Surfliner. A financial model has also been
developed to support cost recovery through a per-bag fee structure.
In addition, staff recommends updating the Pacific Surfliner baggage policy to align more
closely with Amtrak’s national baggage policy while ensuring consistency and operational
efficiency.
Recommendation(s)
