Westside Subway Extension Final EIS/EIR March 2011 Community Update Meetings

Purpose of Tonight’s Meeting

•  Feedback from January community update meetings

•  Summary of February Station Area Advisory Group (SAAG) meetings

•  Updates: –  Geotechnical investigations –  Project cost estimates –  Century City station

•  Comments

Where We are in the Process

Draft EIS/EIR Final EIS/EIR/PE

18 Months 12 Months

Opening date: 2022 (Estimated; depends on

funding availability) funding availability)

We Are Here

Final Design/ Construction

18 Months

Alternatives Analysis

17 Alternatives •  Modes •  Alignments

5 Subway Alternatives

LPA: Purple Line to Westwood/VA

Hospital The Project

= Metro Board Decision Point

Project Being Studied in Final EIS/EIR

Latest Developments

•  Received federal approval to enter Preliminary Engineering •  Received preliminary rating for federal New Starts funding

–  Medium-High ranking for land use & economic development –  Overall ranking: Medium

During Development of Final EIS/EIR

•  Analysis continues of project identified by Metro Board at conclusion of Draft EIS/EIR

•  Focus is on: –  Remaining unresolved issues:

•  Location of three westernmost stations •  Locations for station portals & construction staging

–  Developing mitigation program –  Preparing responses to comments received during

Draft EIS/EIR comment period •  Public information during this period can:

–  Clarify information in Draft EIS/EIR –  Provide updates on refinements & new information

from ongoing analysis

January Community Update Meetings

•  300 attendees at 3 meetings •  Frequently heard comments:

–  Strong support for the subway project –  Century City Station location:

•  Santa Monica Bl station location received greater support within Beverly Hills

•  Constellation station location received greater support outside Beverly Hills

–  Questions about: •  Safety & security at stations •  Station parking & access

Update: Station Area Advisory Groups

Station Area Advisory Groups

•  Input on design of station & station-area •  Members include station area stakeholders •  City staff attend to listen to discussion •  1st set of meetings held February 22-28 •  Meetings discussed

–  Location-specific information –  “Lessons learned” from current rail stations –  Station design principles such as station

access, connections, etc. •  Next meetings scheduled:

–  April 26, 27 & May 2 –  June 20, 21 & 22

Overview of First Station Area Advisory Group Meetings

All groups discussed: •  Convenient transit connections &

access •  Station safety & security •  Making the stations welcoming &

comfortable •  Signage & way-finding •  Unique character/issues of each station

& station area

Station Area Advisory Groups What We Heard: Wilshire/La Brea Station

•  Gateway to Miracle Mile •  Portal preferred within Metro

property (NW corner) •  Provide off-street area with

flexibility for kiss-and-ride, taxis, car-share, bike storage & vendors

•  Design for future development around portal

Station Area Advisory Groups What We Heard: Wilshire/Fairfax Station

•  Area is arts & cultural destination •  Iconic character & quality •  Importance of north-south

connections •  Design to consider future LACMA

plans

Station Area Advisory Groups What We Heard: Wilshire/La Cienega

•  Gateway to Beverly Hills •  Station is not a gathering place

–  Subway patrons will use station to access other areas

•  Station appeal •  Balance signage & way-finding •  Plan to accommodate future

changes in east Beverly Hills

Station Area Advisory Groups What We Heard: Wilshire/Rodeo Station

•  Portal preferred on north side of Wilshire Bl

•  “Elegant” station character •  Impacts during construction for

retail & hotels •  Potential underground entries to

retail

Station Area Advisory Groups What We Heard: Century City Station

•  Santa Monica & Constellation locations discussed

•  Station character •  Station & location as destination •  Easy station connections & access

to key destinations –  Pedestrian & bike –  Auto drop-off & bus transfers

•  Design for a pedestrian-friendly future

Station Area Advisory Groups What We Heard: Westwood/UCLA Station

•  Character of station & Westwood Village

•  Integrated transit & multi-modal connections

•  Easy station connections –  Pedestrian, bus, car, bike, shuttles, etc. –  Connections to UCLA campus &

medical center

•  Plan for future development

Status of Westwood/VA Hospital Station Analysis

•  No Advisory Group - working directly with VA •  Still evaluating station locations & tunnel

alignments on the north & south of Wilshire Bl –  To accommodate tail tracks & as launch site for

Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) –  Update cost comparisons –  To allow for future westward

extension –  Station area circulation & access

Update: Geotechnical Investigations &

Project Cost Estimates

Purpose of Geotechnical Investigations

•  Further soil & seismic information along the complete alignment

•  Types of testing –  Soils –  Fault evaluation –  Noise & vibration

•  Results will assist with: –  Enhancing knowledge of Santa Monica Fault –  Remaining station & alignment

recommendations –  Determining subway construction techniques

Status of Geotechnical Investigations

•  Work began in December 2010 •  Delays experienced due to holidays, obtaining

permits & weather •  Initial focus in Beverly Hills, Century City,

Westwood areas –  End of April: Anticipated completion of tests in

this area –  Data analysis & evaluation by geotechnical

experts following completion of testing •  Tests proceeding along remaining portions of

alignment

Borings provide information about soil & where soil layers have shifted indicating a fault

Update Project Cost Estimates

•  Draft EIS/EIR identified a project costing $5.34 billion assuming opening in 2022 –  Based on “Conceptual Engineering” –  FTA approval to enter “Preliminary

Engineering” based on these cost figures

•  Final EIS/EIR conducting “Preliminary Engineering” –  Will refine cost numbers –  Project refinement, additional analysis and engineering will allow for

more precise cost estimates –  Updated cost estimates will be included in Final EIS/EIR when released –  Further FTA concurrence will be required for New Starts funding

Update: Century City Station Analysis

Century City Station Options

•  Santa Monica Bl & Constellation Bl station locations still under study as directed by Metro Board

•  Longer box required for cross-over tracks – more than 1,000 feet

•  Metro will build 1 portal •  Construction staging issues

–  Launch site for Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) •  Need ~3 acres for construction staging

–  Staging site(s) immediately adjacent to station box preferred

•  Allows for quicker construction & reduces construction impacts

Century City Station Options: Santa Monica Bl/Ave of the Stars

•  Geotechnical & fault investigations continue

•  Station box spans Ave of the Stars with crossover tracks located on east side of the box

•  Portal(s) could be located at SW or SE corner of Ave of the Stars •  Construction staging options:

–  Santa Monica Bl median –  Properties along east side of Century Pk East near Constellation –  Constellation

•  May be able to shift station box to north side of Santa Monica Bl to reduce impacts during construction

Century City Station Options: Santa Monica Bl/Century Park East •  Shifting box here may allow for Santa Monica Bl station location outside of

fault zone •  Station box extends east from Century Pk East with crossover tracks

located on east side of the box •  Portal location(s) on SE or SW corner of Century Pk East/Santa Monica Bl •  North-south storm drain near city line may require “split” between station

and crossover tracks boxes –  Puts crossover tracks in Beverly Hills

•  Construction staging options: –  Santa Monica Bl median –  Robinson’s parking lot –  Former railroad ROW in Beverly Hills

Century City Station Options: Constellation Bl/Ave of the Stars

•  Station box spans Ave of the Stars with crossover tracks located on east side

•  Portal(s) could be located at: –  NE Corner (JMB property) –  SW Corner (Century Plaza Hotel) –  West of Ave of the Stars (Westfield

Mall)

•  Construction staging options (depending on timing): –  NE Corner –  Properties along east side of Century Pk East near Constellation –  Constellation Bl (maintaining access to driveway)

Century City Station Options: Tunnel Alignments

No Change for Beverly Hills to Century City Tunnel Segments

Century City Station Options: Properties Above Tunnels

No change for Beverly Hills to Century City segment

No. of Properties Above Tunnels (Estimated)

Residential Properties

Non-residential Properties

Total

To Santa Monica/ Ave of the Stars 0 3 3 To Santa Monica/ Century Park East 0 3 3

To Constellation 4 18 22

Notes: 1.  Numbers shown reflect current estimates. Updated

numbers will be provided in Final EIS/EIR.

Century City Station Options: Tunnel Alignments

Potential new tunnel alignment for Century City to Westwood/UCLA segment

Century City Station Options: Properties Above Tunnel Alignments

Century City to Westwood/UCLA segment No. of Properties Above Tunnels (Estimated)

Residential Properties

Non-residential Properties

Total

From Santa Monica/ Ave of the Stars 61 5 66 From Santa Monica/ Century Park East 74 1 75

From Constellation 77 4 81

Notes: 1.  Numbers shown reflect current estimates. Updated

numbers will be provided in Final EIS/EIR. 2.  All numbers are based on a tunnel alignment to a

Westwood/UCLA station located under Wilshire Blvd.

Remaining Steps for Evaluating Century City Station Locations

•  Completing geotechnical & fault investigations •  Each station site evaluated for:

–  Tunnel alignments –  Ridership –  Costs –  Constructability –  Oil wells –  Noise & vibration –  Accessibility to trip-generating locations

•  Analysis & recommendations will be included in Final EIS/EIR (anticipated Summer/Fall 2011)

•  Decision will be made by Metro Board of Directors (Fall 2011)

Where We Go From Here

Late Spring/Summer

Community Meetings

Summer/Fall

Release of

Final EIS/EIR

Fall

Board consideration of project approval &

Final EIS/EIR certification

of project approval & of project approval & of project approval & of project approval &

Fall

FTA issues Record of Decision

2011

2012

Secure Federal matching funds

Early construction activities

Final design & construction contracting

Secure Federal matching funds Secure Federal matching funds Construction begins Potential opening date

2013 2022

Responses to Comments Mitigation Measures

Staff Recommendations

Opening date: 2022 (Estimated; depends on

funding availability)

•  Monday, March 21– LACMA West Live web-cast of this meeting available at metro.net/westside

•  Wednesday, March 23 –Westwood United Methodist Church

•  Tuesday, March 29 – Roxbury Park, Beverly Hills

Three Community Update Meetings

All meetings 6pm-8pm. Content will be identical.

metro.net/westside WestsideExtension@metro.net

Jody Litvak, Regional Communications litvakj@metro.net 213.922.1240

David Mieger, Project Director miegerd@metro.net 213.922.3040

Information line: 213.922.6934 Facebook.com/WestsideSubwayExtension Twitter.com/WestsideSubway

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