pdf here

The final Board meeting of the year was a very long one, clocking in at six-plus hours and involving a wide variety of issues. Among the actions taken today:

•The Board approved a plan to designate Metro’s rail and bus rapid transit lines with colors and letters in the future. The new names will be phased in beginning with the Blue Line (which will be the A Line) and Crenshaw/LAX Line (C Line). Staff report and Source post.

•The Board approved proposed updates to the Artesia-to-downtown Los Angeles light rail project, aka the West Santa Ana Transit Corridor. Source post.

The Board also approved a motion to add an optional station for study at the confluence of the L.A. River and the Rio Hondo in South Gate.

•On a 7 to 4 vote with two abstentions, the Board approved a motion approving the C-3 operating plan for the Crenshaw/LAX Line and Green Line to be put in place after the Crenshaw/LAX Line opens, which is forecast for mid-2020. The operating plan would be a one-year test program. Staff report and Source post.

A vote on the Metro staff-recommended C-1 plan was not taken due to the passage of C-3. Both plans are below.

This was a long discussion with staff saying the C-1 plan would ultimately serve more riders, allow more direct trains to LAX and special service to the new football stadium in Inglewood. Staff also said that the C-3 plan could potentially interfere with running three-car trains on the Crenshaw/LAX Line due to power constraints on the Green Line, which opened in 1995.

Supporters of the C-3 plan argued that it would allow continuation of direct service between the South Bay and Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station and would not impair service on the Crenshaw/LAX Line. Conversely C-3 supporters pointed out that the C-1 plan would have required riders heading east on the Green Line to transfer at the new Century/Aviation Station — which would add seven minutes to rides.

•The Board approved a proposed project description for the Link Union Station project to increase train and people capacity. Source post

•The Board heard a recieve-and-file update on the development of a financial plan for the Twenty-Eight by ’28 Initiative to build 28 major projects in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

Metro CEO Phil Washington went through the presentation below (pdf here) that looked at potential ways to raise the $26 billion needed to accelerate eight of the 28 projects. The other 20 projects are already scheduled to be completed by 2028.

Among revenue sources discussed: imposing fees on ride hailing vehicles (Uber and Lyft, etc.) and congestion pricing, which Washington pointed out could help ease traffic, improve air quality and raise enough money to add capacity to transit and eliminate fares to ride transit.

To stress: this was only a update and and the Board was not asked to take any action today — although both are in Metro’s 2028 Vision Plan. Curbed LA did post about the discussion. The Board will consider a financing plan and potential funding strategies in early 2019.

It’s also worth noting that Washington stressed that increasing agency debt came with risks to the agency’s future finances and that funds for programs such as State of Good Repair should be off limits.

Board Chair Kuehl had some interesting comments on all this, saying she doesn’t see a rush to complete 28 projects and that she wanted her colleagues to consider that a good way to serve Metro riders would be to keep the agency on a strong financial foundation.

•The Board approved a Board motion that would reaffirm Metro’s commitment to build the Gold Line to Claremont. Source post. The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority announced earlier this fall that the Gold Line extension from Azusa would be built in two phases due to rising construction costs. The first phase would run to La Verne and the second phase — if $570 million can be secured — would run to Claremont and Montclair.

•The Board approved a list of projects and $550 million in funding to improve traffic and mobility in the area near the 710 freeway gap between Alhambra and Pasadena.

There was considerable public testimony both in support and against the project list — supporters said these projects were long overdue, those against said projects would increase car traffic and go against the grain of fighting climate change. Metro staff said the projects did not involve street widening and some streets may be able to accommodate bike lanes.

Board Member Hilda Solis asked staff to include active transportation projects in future funding cycles for this project.

Like this: Like Loading...