AUGUST 23, 2019 shows a map of the corridor and study area, which includes one-half mile to either side of Verm�:mt Avenue.
The three potential.rail concepts include: 1) Light Rail Transit (LRT), 2) Heavy Rail Transit (HRT) with a direct connection to the Red Line; and 3) HRT with stand-alone operation (beginning/ending at Vermont/Wilshire). Because the cost of each rail alternative far exceeds the Measure M funding, staffinitially recommended advancing three BRT alternatives into environmental review.
However, the April Board motion directed staffto also advance the three rail concepts into environmental review to preserve the ability to deliver rail transit should additional funding materialize. The motion also directed staff to include a feasibility study of extending the Vermont Transit Corridor to the South Bay Silver Line Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) transitway station to ensure regional connectivity.
Environmental Review and South Bay Feasibility Study
In order to address the April 25, 2019 Board motion, staffis developing separate procurement documents to conduct two parallel studies. Given the importance of the Vermont Transit Corridor and desire to meet the Measure M opening date, staff will proceed with advancing the three BRT and three rail alternatives between Hollywood Boulevard and 120th Street into environmental review.
This effortis anticipated to take approximately 24 months from contract award through completion of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The six alternatives being studied in the EIR include:
1) End-to-end side-running BRT 2) Combination side- and center-running BRT 3) End-to-end center-running BRT (including possible grade separation) 4) LRT 5) HRT with direct connection to Red Line 6) HRT stand-alone service (beginning/ending at Vermont/Wilshire)
The second study assesses the feasibility of extending the BRT and rail alternatives 10 miles from 120th Street to the South Bay Silver Line PCH transitwaystation. The study will also evaluate and identifypotential Minimum Operable Segments (MOS) and whether an additional maintenance and storage facility is required. This second study is anticipated to take approximately 12 months to complete following contract award.
Both studies will be conducted in parallel and in coordination with each other. By conducting the two studies separately, the environmental review of the six concepts can move forward without delay and potentially meet the Measure M opening date.
2 NEXT STEPS Staffwill proceed immediately to procure consultant services for the environmental review of the corridor in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Staffwill also procure consultant services under a separate contract for the feasibility study. Both studies will be supported by a robust public engagement plan that clearly explains the purpose of each study and communicates key milestones forpublic input. Staffwill keep the Board apprised of both studies and provide updates at key project milestones.
ATTACHMENTS Attachment A-April 25, 2019 Board Motion Attachment B -Map of Vermont Corridor
3 ATTACHMENT A
MOTION BY:
DIRECTORS. GARCETTI, DUPONT-WALKER, HAHN, SOLIS, AND BUTTS
Planning & Programming Committee
April17,2019 Item 16: Vermont Transit Corridor MTA should always strive to deliver the besttransit project possible and not prematurely eliminate warrantedproject altematives. The VermontTransit Corridoris a significant Measure M project intended to improve mobilityalong Vermont Avenue. VermontAvenue is MTA's highest-ridershipbus corridor.Vermont connectssome of themost economicallyand socially diverse communitiesand severalmajor destinations in the Los Angeles region. Historically, Vermont Avenue was thesecond priorityfor railtransit investment afterWilshire Boulevard, as seen by the currentRed Line route northof Wilshire Boulevard.Current and futureVermont TransitCorridor usersdeserve a world-class,reliabl e, and convenienttransportation o ption. While the Bus Rapid Transit(BRT) conceptsrecommended by MTA will improve bus operations and traveltimes, the Vermont Transit Corridorrail conceptswould deliver superiorcustomer experience, connectivity, reliability, and capacity. ExpositionPark in particularis one of the significantdestinations servedby the Vermont TransitCorridor. ExpositionPark currently draws about four million visitorsper year and is developing a new master plan in anticipation of additionalgrowth. Exposition Parkis experiencingnearl y $2 billion in new and recent investments, Including theLucas Museu m of Narrative Art,the Oschin Air and Space Center, the Los Angeles MemorialColiseum renovation, and an additionto the Natural Museum. The LucasMuseum alone Is a billion investmentforecasted Historyto draw an additionalone milllon visitorsper $1 year. to .the regional park.Additionally, the Los Angeles FootballClub's
1 Banc of Califomia �tadium is a $350 million investment with a significant transit-patronattendance. Lastly, ExpositionPark will be a major venue for the future 2028 Ol�pic and ParalympicGames.
I The VermontTransit Corridor also connects to theUniversity of Southern California (USC). U�C is LACounty's second-largest privateemploye r and eighth-largest employer in LA Countyoverall. USC servesabout 47,500 students, over 20,100 facultyand staff,and many more visitors,whom share a highly constrainedparking capacity.
Withongoing development along the corridor, MTA could draw significant public-private partnershipinterest and private infrastructureinvestment. The VermontTransit Corridor Projectis a historic opportunityfor LA County to close a transit serviceconnectivity gap and to providea world-class, reliable transportationoption for people to accesseducation, employment, and entertainment. This criticalcorridor connects multiple MTA rail lines, serves variousregional employmentcenters, and connectspopulous, lower-incomecommunities who rely on transitas well as emerging transit oriented communities.
Bus servicequali tyand reliabilityimprovements on VermontAvenue are much needed. MTA:should continue to develop world-class Bus Rapid Transit alternatives for VermontAvenue to ensure transitriders experience a high-quality,seamless ride.
However, given high transit ridershipand constrained, congested conditions on Vermont Avenue, MTA must also study all technically feasible rail alternativesduring environmental review and explore innovative funding mechanisms to acceleratetheir effectuation. Additionally, should MTA recommend congestionpricing in the Downtown LAarea, a Vermontrail alternativewill ensure a high-qualitytransit option. Lastly, given that MTA seeks to advance BRT conceptsthat would not preclude future railconversion, evaluating all technicallyfeasible rail alternatives should not significantlyaffect the environmental analysis budget and schedule. I MTA should preservethe abllityto deliver the VermontTransit Corridor as a rail project should additionalfunding materialize. Historically,there Is precedentfor this. T�e Expo Phase 1 and Crenshaw/LAXprojects included both BRT and rail a�ematives in their respectiveenvironmental documents.
2 WE, THEREFORE, MOVE that the Board direct the CEO to:
A. Advance technically feasible rail concepts previously identified through the 2017 Vermont Bus Rapid Transit {BRT) Technical Study into environmental review to preserve the ability to deliver rail transit if additional funding materializes;
B. Include a feasibility study of extendingthe Vermont Transit Corridor to the South Bay Silver Line Pacific Coast Highway transitway station to ensure regional connectivity via Minimum Operable Segments, including identification of potential maintenance facility sites; and
C. Report back to the MTA Board in July 2019 with a Public Private Partnership business case approach for each Minimum Operable Segment.
3 ATTACHMENT B Map of Vermont Corridor
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MELROSE
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WASHINGTON
JEFFERSON
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ltG..EV\OI) ! N Metro Silver Line SOUIH GAlE - Metro Rail - Vermont Corridor
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