SR-03-20-2007-8D
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J City of
Santa Monica'"
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: March 20, 2007
Agenda Item: TI'- D--
To:
Mayor and City Council
From:
Eileen Fogarty, Planning and Community Development
Subject:
Preparation of City Comments Including Request to Study Various Route
Alignments, Station Locations and Potential Impacts Related to Exposition
Light Rail in Santa Monica as Part of the Exposition Construction Authority
Phase 2 Scoping Process
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that Council authorize preparation of comments to the Exposition
Construction Authority (Expo Authority) as input to the Exposition Light Rail Phase 2
Alternatives Analysis and Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement (EIR/EIS)
scoping process. Comments could include requests to study various route alignments,
station locations, station elements, environmental impacts or other issues concerning a
future light rail line in Santa Monica.
Executive Summary
The Exposition Light Rail Phase 2 scoping process is underway and this is the City's
opportunity to request elements and issues be considered for study. Municipalities
along the line are participants in the process in an advisory role. This process of
scoping, screening and analyzing the alternatives concludes in approximately twelve
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months, when a preferred alignment is selected by the Expo Authority and the Los
Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The types of issues that
the City could request the Expo Authority to consider include: station locations and
elements, alignment alternatives and potential impacts. The attached Expo Authority
Scoping Information Packet for Phase 2 provides the parameters of the study for the
$805 million Phase 2 extension (Exhibit A). Comments are due to the Expo Authority by
April 2, 2007.
Discussion
BackQround
The Exposition Corridor Light Rail Transit Project Alternatives Analysis and Draft
Environmental Impact Report/Statement (AA1DEIR/DEIS) for Phase 2 of is underway.
Phase 2 covers the section between Culver City and downtown Santa Monica (see map
on page 4 of Exhibit A). The Exposition Construction Authority is the lead agency in
conducting this study. The Expo Authority conducted a scoping meeting in Santa
Monica on March 6, 2007 as one of the four scoping meetings held throughout the
Phase 2 corridor.
The project is being evaluated through the federal National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) environmental process, as well as the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA), to make it eligible for federal "New Starts" funding. The Phase 2 project is
included in the Metro's Long Range Transportation Plan as unfunded and must secure
Board approval as its next priority project when the plan is considered by Metro for
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adqption later this year. Currently, fifteen million dollars is allocated for planning.
Phase 2 from Culver City to Santa Monica is estimated to cost $805 million. The cost
estimate assumes $104.5 million per mile and $7.4 million for an average station. In
Santa Monica, this budget assumes an alignment from the City-limit to downtown Santa
Monica and two stations.
In developing the City's response to the scoping process, it is important to keep in mind
the following considerations regarding feasibility:
· At least 30 feet in Right of Way (ROW) width is required to accommodate the
track in each direction;
· For stations, an additional 16 feet is required for a center platform and 24 feet is
required for a side platform;
· The station length is 300 feet for a 3 car platform.
During the scoping process, it has come to staff's attention that an alignment alternative
has been proposed that would skip Santa Monica altogether by proceeding from Culver
City along Venice Boulevard to Venice Beach. The Santa Monica City Council has a
long standing policy of securing the light rail to serve Santa Monica. City staff will
include this long standing policy in the official comments and note that an alternative
that does not serve Santa Monica will be completely unacceptable.
Previous Council Actions
On February 27, 2007, staff and the Expo Authority Executive Officer provided an
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update to Council on the Phase 2 Exposition Light Rail environmental and alternative
analysis process currently underway. The Notice of Preparation/Notice of Intent for the
EIR/EIS underscores the importance of the scoping process to ensure all reasonable
alternatives are identified and impacts evaluated. Council raised questions and
identified a number of issues:
Station Considerations
Location: Council requested clarification regarding assumptions for spacing, distance
between stations and impacts on travel time. The Expo CA Executive Officer
responded that typically station placement is between one-mile and one-and-one-half
miles. Currently two stations are included for Santa Monica in the areas of Bergamot
and downtown. Staff is requesting that Council provide direction on whether other
locations should be studied.
Station Elements: In a previous draft study in 2001, which was not completed for
Phase 2, Metro assumed a park-and-ride at the Bergamot station, with the trips
generated as part of the park-and-ride counted in the ridership model. This is an issue
that will require thorough local discussion. The City may want to comment that the
station-area planning for any station will occur as part of the City's LUCE process and a
future community workshop.
AliQnment Alternatives:
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The need to disperse congestion at the stations was expressed as a concern and it was
suggested that several different loop alternatives could be considered, such a
downtown loop along 5th street to Wilshire to Ocean Avenue to Colorado or a larger loop
covering more of the City. Alternative approaches to providing access to stations were
mentioned, such as a feeder-system of streetcars similar to Downtown Portland and a
shuttle bus circulator system similar to the DASH in Downtown Los Angeles.
Potential Impacts:
The study will analyze environmental impacts and it is important to make sure all issues
of concern are identified. Examples of issues include traffic congestion at grade
crossings and stations, noise/vibration and aesthetic considerations. The Expo CA will
utilize a grade separation policy developed by Metro that is based on traffic volume and
delay. It is possible that several locations in Santa Monica may be studied for grade
separation such as Cloverfield and Lincoln Boulevards.
City of Santa Monica Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) Update Tie-in:
The Expo Phase 2 scoping process is proceeding at the same time as the City's
General Plan Land Use and Circulation Elements update. Planning and Community
Development Department staff are working on both projects to ensure that the City can
capitalize on the opportunity the light rail provides to implement many of the Land Use
and Circulation Element goals. Regional transportation access and alternatives to
automobile transportation are identified as key issues for the Land Use and Circulation
Elements. The alignment of this light rail system, as well as its station designs and
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locations will be critical to how effectively the system will serve Santa Monica, as well as
other people who come to the City for work, school, recreation and entertainment. Data
collected for the Land Use and Circulation Elements can help inform choices about the
alignment and stations, and decisions about the alignment and stations can affect land
use choices to be considered in the plan.
Plannina Commission Comments
On March 7, 2007, the Planning C<:>mmission adopted a motion to request City Council
to prepare comments in response to the Exposition Light Rail Phase 2 Alternatives
Analysis and Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement (EIR/EIS) scoping process
and to consider Planning Commission's comments for incorporation. The following
comments were made by Planning Commission:
· Additional Mid-City Station: It was suggested that an additional station be studied
to serve Santa Monica College and the mid-city area. At specific location suggested
for study was 17th Street. It was noted that the mid-city area is currently served by
the Big Blue Bus cross-town loop (Line 11), that it would provide service to .dense
residential areas and it could also provide service to the hospitals (particularly
employees). It was also noted that Red Line stations were spaced % mile apart in
the dense mid-city portion of Wilshire Boulevard. A questions was raised as to
whether stations could be added later and an example was provided from Phase 1
where a possible future USC station was included in the environmentally analysis.
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. Parking: If parking is proposed, it should be restricted to subterranean or structured
parking that is wrapped with a multi-use development (i.e. do not allow surface
parking lots like the one proposed in the 2001 Draft EIR/EIS for the proposed
Bergamot light rail station). A concern was expressed about providing too much
parking and several examples from Vancouver and the Red Line HollywoodNVestern
station were offered as illustrations of oversupply. A counter example was provided
for the Red Line North Hollywood station, which was a "victim of its own success"
and required additional parking.
· Multi-Modal Connectivity: A range of comments about connectivity included:
~ Make the stations as multi-modal as possible, including consideration for bicycles
and motorcycles;
~ A system of shuttle feeder lines serving the stations is needed in addition to
regular bus service; and
~ Pedestrian access from Santa Monica Place to the downtown station at 4th Street
and Colorado needs to be improved.
· Operational Considerations: A strong statement was made about the need for
competitive travel times between Santa Monica and Downtown Los Angeles. It was
suggested that the Expo Authority and Metro consider operating service to
alternative stations or providing express service.
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Next Steps
After the scoping process, the Expo Construction Authority will screen the input and
develop specific alternatives that will be analyzed in detail. Analysis will include
ridership projections which depend on station locations, whether there is parking at the
station, transit linkages and other factors. They will conduct a detailed traffic analysis of
intersection and station area impacts. The consultant will analyze noise and vibration,
land use linkages, aesthetics and other environmental issues. Once the analysis is
completed, an environmental document will be circulated to the public for comment.
According to the Construction Authority schedule this will occur Winter 2007/8.
A Locally Preferred Alternative is scheduled to be adopted by the Expo Construction
Authority and the Metro Board in Spring 2008. Once an alignment is adopted, a final
environmental document is prepared that requires refined station-area planning and
development of required mitigation measures. The schedule anticipates a final EIR/EIS
by Spring 2009. The FTA must approve the environmental document and negotiation a
full funding grant agreement if this project is selected to be funded as a New Start.
Once the documents are approved and the project is funded, the design-build stage can
begin.
Staff will monitor the planning process closely, submit written comments and provide
periodic updates to Council.
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BudQeUFinancial Impact
There is no fiscal impact to the City associated with preparation of comments.
Prepared by: Ellen Gelbard, Deputy Director, Planning and Community Development
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EXHIBIT A
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Q Expo
SCOPING INFORMATION PACKET
EXPOSITION CORRIDOR TRANSIT PROJECT PHASE 2
Project Description
The Exposition Corridor Transit Project Phase 2 proposes to extend transit from the planned
terminus of the Exposition Light Rail Transit Project Phase 1 at the Venice/Robertson Station in
the City of Culver City to an end-of-the line station near 5th Street/Colorado Boulevard in the City
of Santa Monica over a distance of between 6.9-7.8 miles.
Purpose of the Project
The purpose of the proposed Exposition Corridor Transit Project Phase 2 is to improve public
transit service and mobility in the Exposition Corridor between Culver City and Santa Monica, by
extending the benefits of the Phase 1 Exposition Corridor Light Rail Project (currently under
construction) beyond its currently planned terminus in Culver City to a terminus in Santa
Monica.
Project Alignments
There are two primary ROW alignments being considered.
The Exposition ROW Alianment: This alignment follows the ROW for the full distance
from the current terminus of the Exposition Light Rail Transit Project Phase 1 at the
Venice/Robertson Station in the City of Culver City to 5th and Colorado in the City of
Santa Monica. This alignment diverts from the ROW for a one-mile segment at the
western end where the ROW ends and the alignment would follow existing city streets
and the edge of the 1-10 Santa Monica Freeway to reach the proposed terminus station
in Santa Monica. The alignment is approximately 6.9 miles in length.
The Exposition RQWNenice/Sepulveda Alianment: This alignment diverts from the rail
right-of-way at the Venice/Robertson station (the terminus of Phase 1) and follows
Venice Boulevard to Sepulveda Boulevard where it turns north to rejoin the Rail ROW at
approximately the 1-405 San Diego Freeway. This alternative alignment also diverts from
the ROW for a one-mile segment at the western end where the right-of-way ends and
the alignment would follow existing city streets and the edge of the 1-10 Santa Monica
Freeway to reach the proposed terminus station in Santa Monica. This alignment is
approximately 7.8 miles in length.
Proposed Alternatives
Transit alternatives to be considered include:
Light Rail Transit in the Exposition ROW - This alternative proposes light rail transit in .
the Exposition ROW as described above. Possible station sites have been identified at
Motor, Overland, Sepulveda, Pico/Sawtelle, Bundy, 26th/Cloverfield and 5th/Colorado.
Light Rail Transit in the Exposition ROWNenice/Sepulveda - This alternative proposes
light rail transit in the Exposition ROWNenice/Sepulveda alignment as described above.
Page] of4
Possible station sites have been identified at, Venice/Overland, Venice/Sepulveda,
Sepulveda/National, Pico/Sawtelle, Bundy, 26th/Cloverfield and 5th/Colorado.
Bus Rapid Transit in the Exposition ROW - This alternative would utilize bus rapid
transit in the Exposition ROW alignment as described above. The busway would be
located within an abandoned rail right-of-way. At the end of the exclusive right-of-way at
Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica the bus service would operate along Olympic
Boulevard, 17th Street, and Colorado Boulevard until reaching its terminus at 5th and
Colorado in the City of Santa Monica. Possible station sites have been identified at
Motor, Overland. Sepulveda. Pico/Sawtelle. Bundy. 2Sth/Cloverfield and 5th/Colorado.
No-Build - This alternative includes only "committed" improvements - typically those in
the annual element of the Transportation Improvement Program or local capital
programs - together with minor transit service expansions and/or adjustments that
reflect a continuation of existing service policies. This alternative will include committed
transportation improvements such as the completion of the Metro Rapid Bus Program
by 2008 and possible additional feeder bus networks to serve major activity centers on
the Westside.
Transportation Svstem Manaqement (TSM) - The TSM alternative enhances the No-
Build Alternative and emphasizes transportation system upgrades such as intersection
improvements, minor road widening, traffic engineering actions, bus route restructuring,
shortened bus headways, expanded use of articulated buses, reserved bus lanes,
contra-flow lanes for buses and High Occupancy Vehicles (HOVs) on freeways, special
bus ramps on freeways, expanded park/ride facilities, express and limited-stop service,
signalization improvements, and timed-transfer operations.
Other Alternatives
In addition to the above described alternatives, others identified through the scoping process
will be evaluated for potential inclusion in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Because
of the sensitive adjacent land uses located in many parts of this corridor, all alternatives will
need to consider a full range of design and mitigation solutions to enlist the support of local
communities for the completion of this line.
Schedule of Key Project Events
EVENT DATE
Public Scoping Meetings February - March, 2007
Definition of AA1DEISIDEIR Alternatives May 2007
Development of DEISIDEIR Spring - Fall 2007
Public Comment on DEISIDEIR Winter 2008
Adoption of Locallv Preferred Alternative Sprinq 2008
What is an EIS?
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be prepared for all major projects anticipated to
receive federal funding that may significantly affect the environment. The purpose of the EIS is
to provide full an open evaluation of environmental issues and alternatives, and to inform
decision-makers and the public of reasonable alternatives that could avoid or minimize adverse
impacts and enhance the quality of the environment.
Page 2 of 4
Notice of Intent and Scoping
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process begins with FTA's issuance of a Notice of
Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register along with similar announcements in local newspapers and
other media. At this time, a tentative list of alternatives is established and presented to the
public and interested government agencies for comment. This notification is part of scoping -
the process of affording an early opportunity for the public and agencies to identify potential
issues to be addressed in the EIS, project alternatives to be studied and possible mitigation
measures to reduce impacts.
Scoping Meeting Schedule
Three Community Scoping meetings will be conducted by the Exposition Authority for the public
to learn more about the project and provide comments. The Scoping Meetings will be held at the
following locations:
· Tuesday, February 27,2007,6:30 - 8:30 pm
Culver City Senior Center, 4095 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90232
· Wednesday, February 28,2007,6;30 - 8;30 pm
Hamilton H.S., 2955 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
· Tuesday, March 6, 2007, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90402
· Thursday, March 15, 2007, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, 3200 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Written comments will be accepted until April 2, 2007. Comments may also be submitted at the
scoping meetings or mailed to:
Mr. Joel Sandberg
Project Manager
Exposition Corridor Transit Project Phase 2
707 Wilshire Boulevard, 34th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Email: jsandberg@exporail.net
Project Information
Website Information:
http://www .bu ildexpo. org
To inquire about Phase 2 of the Exposition Corridor Transit Project, please contact:
Gabriela Gonzalez
Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority
707 Wilshire Boulevard, 34th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Ph: 213-922-3976
Email: Phase2@exporail.net
Page 3 of 4
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