Fullerton Turnback Facility (Metrolink)

As the plans for Metrolink's expanded Mission Viejo to Fullerton service move forward, our city, in cooperation with Anaheim, is preparing Turnback and Layover Facilities. The library has received the draft for the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposal of OCTA and SCRRA to construct additional trackage at the Fullerton Transportation Center between Harbor Blvd. and Orangethorpe Ave. The project description contains these two paragraphs:

The terminal track would be a stub end track along Walnut A venue that would use the old Union Pacific right-of-way and bridge over Lemon Street. Construction of the terminal track would require modification of the south passenger platfonn adjacent to Walnut Avenue. The platforn is proposed to be expanded to approximately 650 feet in length, ending just east of the existing pedestrian overpass. The terminal track would continue east and south adjacent to the existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and OCTA owned right-of-ways, with a double-track section east of the Lemon Street bridge, approximately one mile in length. Both tracks will then merge back into the existing right-of-way and tracks by way of a series of crossovers both north and south of Orangethorpe Avenue.

The proposed project would remove 30 to 35 spaces of existing parking along Walnut Avenue, east of the pedestrian bridge. The project is anticipated to require right-of-way acquisition of several largely undeveloped properties between Orangethorpe Avenue and the crossing of Lemon Street. These properties are owned by a single owner, with an estimated size of 25 acres. The City of Fullerton owns the old Union Pacific bridge over Lemon Street. An easement or license for use for a portion of the BNSF right of-way will be required.