Metro News Thread

[numble]

I tweet more Metro news than I post about on this discussion forum, and one of the reasons is because there are too many sub-forums and threads, I don't like taking my time to find the right one, and this forum isn't active enough to warrant so many threads. So I made this thread for news that isn't specific to a project.

First item in this thread: this Vision 2028 progress report that Metro staff will be reporting on this month has some interesting information on potential things to come.

metro.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9411581&GUID=0F122EE8-2A11-4C41-AE5F-6D789FBB80B3

They suggest that similar to the NextGen bus study, they may undertake a system-based approach to planning future rail lines:

Plan and deliver mobility as a system of interlocking parts:The Long Range Transportation Plan sets out a comprehensive and balanced approach for considering the mobility needs of everyone in Los Angeles County with expected resources. The plan expresses all the commitments made over the years through voter-approved sales tax measures and other Metro Board decisions. The plan also identifies the role of bold policies (e.g. road pricing) and close partnerships to incentivize more efficient use of the transportation system. Building on this baseline, an opportunity exists to envision a mobility system that can fill unmet mobility needs, unify all the different modes of mobility, and create network operational synergies. Metro has already taken the first step with the NextGen Bus Plan.

The NextGen Bus Plan has demonstrated the benefits of a network approach to transit planning using data on current travel patterns–resources can be more efficiently allocated for maximum effectiveness, and vastly improve the customer experience. A similar mindset could be considered for envisioning and planning the rail network, micromobility and shared mobility, the arterial and highway network, and regional land use patterns in an integrated manner –when layered together, they form a mobility system of interlocking parts.

For rail transit, Metro has traditionally planned and delivered projects as discrete stand-alone segments. As such, the interoperability of the lines and integration of segments with the rest of the transit network –service levels, physical integration, and equipment –is sometimes overlooked. Even though numerous rail lines are in operation today and many more are under construction, there is still significant value, both in terms of financial impacts and customer experience, in taking a more holistic approach to rail network planning moving forward. What is the vision for Metro Rail and intercity regional rail? How should the rail network reinforce and support focused regional land use patterns? How will the bus network restructuring through the NextGen BusPlan be integrated with existing and future rail lines?

[andert]

This is encouraging! I feel like it's something everyone here has been asking for for a long time. I wonder what this will look like in practice.

[numble]

May 2021 overview of all projects in pre-construction phase:

May 2021 overview of all construction projects:

It looks like they are undertaking a study to try to reduce construction costs.

[numble]

Metro is asking COGs to provide a list of future strategic transportation projects.

The Westside Cities COG has developed their list already, which is a further D Line extension to Santa Monica and a lot of BRT projects. The San Gabriel Valley COG has prepared an initial list (and is asking their cities for more input), but it so far is underwhelming as it lists transit projects that are either already on Measure M (NoHo to Pasadena BRT, Gold Line Foothill Extension) or the board has already approved to be added to Measure M (San Gabriel Valley Transit Study).

[numble]

The 710 South Freeway widening project, which has a bit over $1 billion allocated in Measure R and Measure M funds, is basically dead. Phil Washington says it will need to be reimagined.
la.streetsblog.org/2021/05/18/after-federal-and-state-partners-criticism-metro-shifts-stance-on-710-freeway-widening/

[andert]

Since it's in the same general area I wonder if that money could be redirected to the WSAB to help make up the shortfall.

[jdrcrasher]

^ Or maybe even combine that money with that “second extension” (was formerly going to go to the SR-60 route) of the Gold Line Eastside extension and run a line up Atlantic blvd from Pasadena to Downey?

[numble]

May 18, 2021 17:57:32 GMT -8 andert said:

Since it's in the same general area I wonder if that money could be redirected to the WSAB to help make up the shortfall.

You read some Metro directors’ minds. Some directors made a motion for next week’s meeting which says to consider funding WSAB, the additional LA/Rio Hondo River WSAB station, and Atlantic Blvd. BRT with that money. Though I think the highway department will try to keep things as road-oriented as possible. The motion also asks to consider ExpressLanes, for instance.

[bzcat]

I agree there is too many sub forum on this message board. But that's another topic for another day.

This is a good place to share your tweets.

[numble]

NIMBYs may have killed the North San Fernando Valley BRT. This project was supposed to break ground in 2019 according to Measure M, but the board told staff to do more studies after NIMBY outcry. The latest update seems to say they are considering other options besides BRT.

[andert]

God i feel bad for csun students to have to deal with this. I wonder if they could do something down reseda to the orange line instead to connect them to the network.

[numble]

I got the list of projects that the Arroyo Verdugo subregion submitted to LA Metro:

Based on this SGVCOG committee meeting, the SGVCOG is receiving a lot of project ideas from San Gabriel Valley cities and it looks like we'll see what they will submit around June 10:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cWusARnG0U

[numble]

An updated list of San Gabriel Valley unfunded projects is on pages 11-12 of this PDF. I hope this is not the final list that will be submitted, as it is only projects from Glendora, Pasadena and South Pasadena (San Gabriel Valley should have 20-30 cities), and for Metro purposes, Pasadena and South Pasadena are part of the Arroyo Verdugo region.

555307c8-adff-4c43-a7f5-7d496a4ae77e.filesusr.com/ugd/f815d4_4ae1bcf2a3b7487b8594c5ea690ba6c2.pdf

[andert]

With Garcetti likely going to India, do we know how this will affect the Metro board? If Nury Martinez replaces him (which is possible, according to some speculation I've seen) do we know her leanings on transportation?

[numble]

May 27, 2021 10:32:06 GMT -8 andert said:

With Garcetti likely going to India, do we know how this will affect the Metro board? If Nury Martinez replaces him (which is possible, according to some speculation I've seen) do we know her leanings on transportation?

If she becomes mayor, even if it is just interim, I think she gets to replace Garcetti's appointees on the board (Bonin, Krekorian and Dupont-Walker), but one of her appointees has to come from the LA City Council. Since she has appointed Bonin to be the chair of the LA City Council Transportation Committee, there probably is a high chance that at least Bonin stays.

The only thing I recall is that she blocked Metro and LADOT from putting in bus-only lanes on Van Nuys Blvd:
clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2019/19-0503_mot_05-15-2019.pdf

[masonite]

May 27, 2021 10:32:06 GMT -8 andert said:

With Garcetti likely going to India, do we know how this will affect the Metro board? If Nury Martinez replaces him (which is possible, according to some speculation I've seen) do we know her leanings on transportation?

I remember her saying she felt unsafe traveling on the Red Line in the past.

[numble]

Updates on the strategic project lists:
South Bay Cities COG - Green Line extension to Blue Line
They also seem to have updated the definition of the "Crenshaw LAX Track Enhancement Project" in Measure M to be for the Green Line platform extensions. Metro had previously said this project was to cover the trench next to LAX.
www.southbaycities.org/sites/default/files/steering_committee/8_06.2021%20Memo%20%26%20Project%20List%20on%20SRTP%20for%20Metro.pdf

The latest San Gabriel Valley list (page 12 and on - I think it will still continue to be updated). Nothing really interesting. I think there is a deficiency in the SGVCOG process--they are relying on individual cities to submit projects, and so the projects being submitted are city-specific. Besides projects that are already planned for Measure M, they aren't really thinking of anything that seems to span across their region, though maybe they will think of projects when they have their actual meetings with each other.
555307c8-adff-4c43-a7f5-7d496a4ae77e.filesusr.com/ugd/f815d4_ccc1cc3dbc1041958cb6725f5657b0ca.pdf

Updated list from Westside Cities COG (page 42 and on - I'm not sure what has changed from the last round). static1.squarespace.com/static/5c3fcf8bd274cb51623a4255/t/60bde3b67e99d538c4d8448f/1623057392628/WSCCOG+Board+Meeting+Agenda+Packet+061021+%28Final%29.pdf

[fissure]

SGV needs to dump money into the San Bernardino Line. I don't know what combination of double track, DMU, or electrification would be best, but that's the obvious place to invest.

[jdrcrasher]

Jun 8, 2021 11:11:06 GMT -8 fissure said:

SGV needs to dump money into the San Bernardino Line. I don't know what combination of double track, DMU, or electrification would be best, but that's the obvious place to invest.

Honestly Metrolink needs to somehow negotiate with UP and use the Alameda East ROW for the SB Line, with stations in Old Town San Gabriel (near SGUSD), Alhambra Palms/Shorb (extra space storage business), and in Lincoln Park/North USC Keck area.

There WAS an at-grade track on the North side of the ROW that UP left alone, but evidently cities of San Gabriel Alhambra had it removed for..... you guessed it, right-turning lanes on Mission

[numble]

June 2021 planning and construction updates.

Planning: Vermont environmental contract expected to be awarded this month, WSAB Draft EIR coming out next month, and there should be decisions/updates on Purple Line 1’s first/last mile plan, North San Fernando Valley BRT, and the BRT Early Action program this summer.

Construction: Crenshaw expected service date delayed another month, Purple Line 2 tunnels seem to finally start making good progress, and Airport Metro Connector Station groundbreaking ceremony expected at end of the month.

[numble]

City of LA’s strategic project list:

[andert]

Well that's a hefty list haha. I guess they're just putting in everything the other cities didn't. I'd never heard the silver line mentioned as a candidate for rail conversion before. I always thought the el monte portion would be a good purple line extension (though arts district sort of nixes that), but the 110 portion will be so close to vermont that both being rail feels like overkill.

also interesting that the OTHER silver line - SGV-hollywood - is listed with century city as a terminus. I figured that was a non starter as the fault will make underground nonviable on santa monica there, and anyone who thinks BH is going to let above-ground rail happen there is, well, more optimistic than I am.

Love that a long beach extension and DTLA/LAX express are on there. hope for the harbor sub express train lives.

[bzcat]

Love how LA is giving Santa Monica the D... by proposing to only extend the D line to Bundy.

Century City to SGV corridor? Who's been cribbing notes from my fantasy map?

DTLA to LAX doesn't seem possible now that Harbor sub has been severed into Crenshaw and the Rail to River bike path.

Green line extension to Santa Monica needs to happen. Less sure about extension to Long Beach... it is passing through a lot of industrial area with very little residential or employment density. Unless some sort of drastic rezoning take place to I don't know... add 1 million units of affordable housing in LA County.

Rail conversion on BRT corridors is really putting cart before the horse. But I guess it needs to be on the list to be even considered in the future.

[culvercitylocke]

Since the Century City to Silver Line SGV would presumably cover the Crenshaw Spur routing, the only thing missing is Crenshaw North extension from the Hollywood Bowl to Burbank (connecting to both WB & Disney lots and hospital by Disney)

[culvercitylocke]

Jun 15, 2021 19:46:06 GMT -8 andert said:

Well that's a hefty list haha.
also interesting that the OTHER silver line - SGV-hollywood - is listed with century city as a terminus. I figured that was a non starter as the fault will make underground nonviable on santa monica there, and anyone who thinks BH is going to let above-ground rail happen there is, well, more optimistic than I am.

the 2017 coverage of the hollywood fault zones has been refined, and mapped more closely. I think they are in the clear for SMB based routings. Maybe not into century city and BH jurisdiction, but certainly to Cedars Sinai.



www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-21/the-hollywood-fault-is-an-invisible-earthquake-danger-running-under-the-heart-of-l-a

[andert]

Jun 16, 2021 9:27:40 GMT -8 culvercitylocke said:

Jun 15, 2021 19:46:06 GMT -8 andert said:

Well that's a hefty list haha.
also interesting that the OTHER silver line - SGV-hollywood - is listed with century city as a terminus. I figured that was a non starter as the fault will make underground nonviable on santa monica there, and anyone who thinks BH is going to let above-ground rail happen there is, well, more optimistic than I am.

the 2017 coverage of the hollywood fault zones has been refined, and mapped more closely. I think they are in the clear for SMB based routings. Maybe not into century city and BH jurisdiction, but certainly to Cedars Sinai.



www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-21/the-hollywood-fault-is-an-invisible-earthquake-danger-running-under-the-heart-of-l-a

Oh nice. Yeah I thought I remembered that there was a fault directly beneath SMB at century city and downtown BH, but that could be old data too.

I agree that a northward extension of Crenshaw to Burbank metrolink feels like a slam dunk project, and extending that further north to Burbank airport's northern station, adjacent to the future new terminal, feels like the best way to connect Burbank airport to the metro.

[numble]

Jun 15, 2021 19:46:06 GMT -8 andert said:

Well that's a hefty list haha. I guess they're just putting in everything the other cities didn't. I'd never heard the silver line mentioned as a candidate for rail conversion before. I always thought the el monte portion would be a good purple line extension (though arts district sort of nixes that), but the 110 portion will be so close to vermont that both being rail feels like overkill.

also interesting that the OTHER silver line - SGV-hollywood - is listed with century city as a terminus. I figured that was a non starter as the fault will make underground nonviable on santa monica there, and anyone who thinks BH is going to let above-ground rail happen there is, well, more optimistic than I am.

Love that a long beach extension and DTLA/LAX express are on there. hope for the harbor sub express train lives.

Jun 16, 2021 9:27:40 GMT -8 culvercitylocke said:

Jun 15, 2021 19:46:06 GMT -8 andert said:

Well that's a hefty list haha.
also interesting that the OTHER silver line - SGV-hollywood - is listed with century city as a terminus. I figured that was a non starter as the fault will make underground nonviable on santa monica there, and anyone who thinks BH is going to let above-ground rail happen there is, well, more optimistic than I am.

the 2017 coverage of the hollywood fault zones has been refined, and mapped more closely. I think they are in the clear for SMB based routings. Maybe not into century city and BH jurisdiction, but certainly to Cedars Sinai.



www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-21/the-hollywood-fault-is-an-invisible-earthquake-danger-running-under-the-heart-of-l-a

There are some other faults near Santa Monica Blvd. See page 11 of this report:
media.metro.net/projects_studies/westside/images/fault_report.pdf

The report seems to say they can design tunnels to tunnel around Santa Monica Blvd, though they don't want stations located on faults.

[culvercitylocke]

Jun 16, 2021 9:36:51 GMT -8 andert said:

I agree that a northward extension of Crenshaw to Burbank metrolink feels like a slam dunk project, and extending that further north to Burbank airport's northern station, adjacent to the future new terminal, feels like the best way to connect Burbank airport to the metro.

Crenshaw north to Burbank is my new favorite project. :-D But if they are going to build a yellow line (the union station Glendale burbank airport rail corridor metro mentions) and/or a Santa ana Branch extension north or west out of downtown (also mentioned by metro) either of those could go to burbank airport (or WSAB could unite to the Crenshaw spur for the santa ana branch)

Not to mention the red line to burbank airport extension is mentioned. So not everything has to go there, and both capacity issues interlining and or management operations issues interlining make me cautious to send everything there. probably better to terminate crenshaw north at glenoaks connecting to the light rail corridor metro is proposing from burbank airport to downtown.

pondering how a WSAB extension north and/or west from 8th/flower is very interesting as a puzzle.

[andert]

Jun 16, 2021 10:40:25 GMT -8 culvercitylocke said:

Jun 16, 2021 9:36:51 GMT -8 andert said:

I agree that a northward extension of Crenshaw to Burbank metrolink feels like a slam dunk project, and extending that further north to Burbank airport's northern station, adjacent to the future new terminal, feels like the best way to connect Burbank airport to the metro.

Crenshaw north to Burbank is my new favorite project. :-D But if they are going to build a yellow line (the union station Glendale burbank airport rail corridor metro mentions) and/or a Santa ana Branch extension north or west out of downtown (also mentioned by metro) either of those could go to burbank airport (or WSAB could unite to the Crenshaw spur for the santa ana branch)

Not to mention the red line to burbank airport extension is mentioned. So not everything has to go there, and both capacity issues interlining and or management operations issues interlining make me cautious to send everything there. probably better to terminate crenshaw north at glenoaks connecting to the light rail corridor metro is proposing from burbank airport to downtown.

pondering how a WSAB extension north and/or west from 8th/flower is very interesting as a puzzle.

I've been putting together a new long-term vision map to talk about in a new video when the new LRTP projects are compiled. Here's an annotated version: imgur.com/e8mEsmK
I think a crenshaw line extension takes over olive, which means a noho/pas brt conversion that's an extension of an orange line conversion reverts to chandler - and i think by taking the glenoaks route it keeps a wsab extension from going to burbank, but rather ending at glendale. the issue here is that you now have 2 transfers from downtown to burbank airport... at least on metro. if metrolink service is more frequent, there's a direct express.

[bluelineshawn]

Jun 16, 2021 11:13:09 GMT -8 andert said:

I've been putting together a new long-term vision map to talk about in a new video when the new LRTP projects are compiled. Here's an annotated version: imgur.com/e8mEsmK
I think a crenshaw line extension takes over olive, which means a noho/pas brt conversion that's an extension of an orange line conversion reverts to chandler - and i think by taking the glenoaks route it keeps a wsab extension from going to burbank, but rather ending at glendale. the issue here is that you now have 2 transfers from downtown to burbank airport... at least on metro. if metrolink service is more frequent, there's a direct express.

Great map. If only I'd live that long.

"Lower Westside" and "Washington" along PCH in Carson? Typos?