Eminent Domain Report

According to the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority's ("ACE") Spring Newsletter (which was published yesterday), ACE plans to start construction of three major grade separation projects this year.  The three projects include:

• The Baldwin Avenue grade separation project in El Monte, which involves creating a roadway underpass beneath the Union Pacific Railroad tracks at the Baldwin Avenue crossing;
• The Nogales Street grade separation project in the City of Industry, which involves lowering Nogales Street 20 feet below the railroad tracks; and
• The San Gabriel Trench Project in the City of San Gabriel, which involves the lowering of a 1.4 mile section of Union Pacific Railroad track and the creation of bridges for vehicles and pedestrians to pass over the tracks (utility relocation construction will begin this year, with main construction commencing in 2011).

These three projects are part of ACE's larger, $1.1 billion project that includes 20 grade separations.

We previously reported hat ACE has already acquired most of the necessary right of way for the Baldwin Avenue project (some by eminent domain).  We assume at least some of the acquisitions for the Nogales Street project and the San Gabriel Trench will also require the use of eminent domain.