SR-100-002 (30)~_ . .
City Council Report
~ City of
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: July, 11, 2006
Agenda Item: ~~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kathryn Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager for Government Relations
Subject: Adoption of a resolution in support of Westside Council of Governments
Proposed Westside Mobility Action Plan for Improvements Including
Exposition Light Rail to Santa Monica, Red Line Extension to the
Westside, Support for the November Transportation Infrastructure Bonds
and Other Mobility Improvements
Recommended Action
It is recommended that Council:
1) adopt a resolution in support of the Westside Cities Council of Governments
(COG) position on improving mobility on the Westside including building the
Exposition Light Rail line to Santa Monica, extension of the Metro Red line
Subway to the Westside, and arterial improvements; and
2) prepare a resolution in support of the State Transportation Infrastructure
bonds and implement an educational program on the types of projects that
will be made possible if the bonds are approved by the voters on the
November ballot.
Executive Summary
The Westside Cities developed a Westside Mobility Plan which included short term and
longer term transportation solutions warranted to address Westside congestion
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recognizing the importance of the Westside for employment generation, economic
activity and inequity in past regional investments on the Westside compared to other
subregions in the County. The Santa Monica City Council acted to conceptually approve
the plan December 9, 2003. Advocacy for a range of projects including Exposition
Light rail to Santa Monica, a Westside subway extension, arterial improvements and
advocacy for funding was highlighted in the plan. Council adopted a resolution on
January 11, 2006 in support of specific aspects of the Exposition Light Rail project
including grade separation at Venice/Robertson as requested by Culver City and
regarding inclusion of the Redline Subway extension to the Westside in Metro's Long
Range Plan.
Discussion
Over the past year, the Westside cities have met as a COG to strengthen advocacy
efforts among the cities and outside agencies in order to implement the plan and formed
a policy committee on transportation. Since adoption of the plan, progress has been
made in key areas: 1) In regard to the Exposition Light Rail, the final environmental
documentation for the Exposition Light Rail Transit line, Phase 1, to Venice/Robertson
in Culver City, was approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("Metro")
board and the Exposition construction authority authorized by state legislation in 2003
has entered into a design-build contract for the first segment, which was made possible
by a$640 million funding plan by Metro; 2) Caltrans and the cities are developing
options to improve circulation around the I-10 freeway interchange at Robertson and
Venice; 3) the Westside cities are working on the implementation of additional rapid
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bus corridors on the Westside; 4) the Westside cities secured a SCAG grant to integrate
circulation improvements and access for pedestrians, bicycles, transit and autos at the
Venice/Robertson first phase terminus; and 5) Metro recently approved $100,000 to hire
a project manager to initiate a major investment study for the proposed extension of the
Red Line subway to the Westside as a very preliminary step for the future rail project.
A COG structure enhances advocacy for funding from regional, state and federal
sources because prioritized projects are region serving. Construction of Exposition light
rail phase one to Venice/Robertson by 2010 is a significant advancement towards
getting the line to the end point in Santa Monica. Further work to secure the $750 million
in funding required to complete phase 2 to Santa Monica will take regional, State and
Federal advocacy. The Westside Cities are advocating that the Metro Board include a
Red line extension to the Westside in the next update to the Long Range Transportation
plan after completion of Exposition light rail.
Both of these major transportation investments will take new revenue sources to meet
the unmet need. The November State transportation infrastructure bonds represent a
viable funding source for transportation investment. It is requested that Council direct
staff to implement an educational campaign on the types of projects that the bonds will
make possible. Staff will also prepare a resolution in support of the November
infrastructure bond measure for Council adoption and continue to explore other
financing mechanisms to fund transportation improvements over time.
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Similar resolutions are being passed by all Westside cities as an outgrowth of the recent
May 5, 2006 Transportation Symposium to be used in both advocacy and coordinated
action. Staff will explore other options for reducing congestion on arterials such as
prohibiting non-emergency peak-hour road construction and encroachment permits on
major arterials and improving signal synchronization and coordination within the
Westside cities and will return with implementation analyses.
Budqet/Financial Impact
There are no budget impacts from the proposed actions since the required work will be
performed by existing staff.
Prepared by: Kathryn Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager, Government Relations
Forwarded to Councit:
Go on R. ~nderson P. L~fnont Ewell
sistant City Manager City Manager
Attachments: Westside Cities COG Proposed Mobility Action Plan
Resolution in Support of the Proposed Westside Mobility Action
Plan
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