[0:02] Good morning.

[0:03] It is 10.02. We are about

[0:04] to start the meeting.

[0:25] Good morning.

[0:26] It is 1101 and we are calling

[0:28] the Planning and

[0:29] Programming Committee

[0:30] to order.

[0:33] Madam Clerk, will you please

[0:34] call the roll

[0:35] to establish a quorum?

[0:37] Vice Chair Solis is absent

[0:39] today.

[0:40] Director Butts.

[0:42] Director Horda.

[0:44] Here.

[0:45] Director Najarian.

[0:46] Here.

[0:48] Thank you.

[0:49] Here.

[0:51] Thank you.

[0:52] Times two.

[0:53] Caltrans Representative

[0:54] Benavides.

[0:55] And Chair Tupou Walker.

[0:58] I'm here.

[0:59] A quorum is present.

[1:00] Would you continue with

[1:01] reading the public comment

[1:02] instructions, Madam Deputy

[1:04] Clerk?

[1:05] To give public comment,

[1:06] each speaker needs to follow

[1:08] a three-step process.

[1:09] First, at any time

[1:10] during the meeting, the

[1:11] speaker can dial

[1:12] 1-888-978-8818 and enter the

[1:13] English or Spanish access

[1:14] codes.

[1:18] The English access code is

[1:19] 564-7249.

[1:20] The Spanish access code is

[1:22] 729.

[1:24] 2892 pound.

[1:27] This number and the access

[1:28] codes are also listed

[1:29] on the agenda for this

[1:30] meeting which can be found

[1:31] at http://boardagendas.metro.net.

[1:32] For speakers watching the

[1:33] video feed, there's a 30

[1:34] second lag

[1:35] behind the actual meeting.

[1:36] If any speakers are watching

[1:38] on video and want

[1:39] to give public comment,

[1:40] they should dial in early to

[1:41] make sure they don't miss the

[1:42] chance.

[1:43] Second, once a speaker dials

[1:44] into the public comment line,

[1:45] they have to indicate which

[1:46] item they want

[1:47] to speak on.

[1:48] When the item comes up,

[1:49] the speaker should press

[1:50] pound 2 to raise their hand

[1:51] to speak.

[1:52] Third one is the speaker's

[1:53] turn.

[1:54] The moderator will call

[1:55] out the last four digits

[1:56] of the phone number.

[1:57] Speakers will have one minute

[1:58] to make their comment or two

[1:59] minutes including

[2:00] translation.

[2:01] Consistent with the board

[2:02] rules posted on the agenda,

[2:03] individuals requesting

[2:04] to speak will be allowed

[2:05] to speak for a total

[2:06] of three minutes per meeting

[2:07] on agenda items in one-minute

[2:08] increments per item plus one

[2:09] minute

[2:10] for general public comment.

[2:11] General public comment is

[2:12] to be used only

[2:13] for items not

[2:14] on the agenda.

[2:15] Please be advised that

[2:16] sign-up for public comment

[2:17] will close immediately once

[2:18] the public comment portion

[2:19] of that item begins.

[2:20] If you wish to speak,

[2:21] make sure

[2:22] to register beforehand.

[2:24] Written public comments

[2:25] received by 5 p.m.

[2:26] the day before the meeting

[2:27] are compiled and sent

[2:28] to the board.

[2:29] Please make sure

[2:30] to include the item number

[2:31] with your comment and your

[2:32] position of for, against,

[2:33] general comment, or item

[2:34] needs more consideration.

[2:35] You may email your comment

[2:36] to BoardClerk of http://Metro.net or

[2:37] mail it to Board

[2:38] Administration, 1 Gateway

[2:40] Plaza, Mail Stop 99-3-1, Los

[2:41] Angeles, CA 90012.

[2:45] In accordance with LACMTA's

[2:46] Administrative Ordinance

[2:47] Section 2-01-130,

[2:48] limitations

[2:50] of public comment, and

[2:51] at the discretion of the

[2:52] Chair of the Board

[2:53] Committee, limitations may be

[2:54] placed on the total number

[2:55] of speakers, the amount

[2:57] of time for each speaker,

[2:58] and the amount of time

[2:59] for all speakers

[3:00] on any particular matter.

[3:01] If this limitation were

[3:02] to occur, additional

[3:03] directions will be shared

[3:04] for those that were not able

[3:05] to speak so they are able

[3:06] to submit their comments.

[3:08] Chair, back to you.

[3:09] Thank you.

[3:12] And would you share anything

[3:13] that we need to

[3:14] about this?

[3:16] the access.

[3:18] Sure.

[3:20] Right now, we are not able

[3:21] to live stream this meeting.

[3:22] It will be recorded, and the

[3:23] recording will be posted

[3:24] later.

[3:26] Members of the public are

[3:27] able to call in and listen

[3:28] to the meeting, but again,

[3:30] will not be able

[3:31] to watch it live.

[3:32] They are also able to do

[3:34] public comment via telephone.

[3:36] There is a 30-second delay,

[3:38] as Dee has mentioned

[3:40] previously.

[3:41] They are also able

[3:42] to do public comment

[3:43] in person.

[3:45] Thank you, Chair.

[3:46] Thank you to you and to the

[3:47] excellent team working, I

[3:48] guess, 24-7.

[3:49] I hope you went home and got

[3:50] some rest so that today we

[3:52] could have our meeting.

[3:53] We have two items listed

[3:54] on the consent agenda.

[3:56] Did anyone wish to pull?

[3:58] Madam Chair, I need

[4:00] to recuse from Item 6, so I

[4:02] just would

[4:05] like clear direction

[4:06] on whether I should step out

[4:07] or that can be acknowledged.

[4:09] I'll leave it to advice

[4:11] of the clerk.

[4:12] If it's done

[4:14] on the consent calendar,

[4:17] you're fine to stay in.

[4:18] I do have you noted as

[4:19] conflicted.

[4:20] So when you do the vote,

[4:21] it's totally fine.

[4:22] If we do pull it, either way,

[4:23] I do have your conflict

[4:24] noted.

[4:25] Okay.

[4:27] I just want to be clear.

[4:28] Yep.

[4:29] Got you.

[4:30] Thank you.

[4:31] Colleagues, I'd like

[4:32] to pull items five and six

[4:33] from the consent agenda.

[4:34] I've heard

[4:35] from several members

[4:36] of the public

[4:37] with questions,

[4:38] and I hope that

[4:39] with presentation

[4:40] by our staff, we'll be able

[4:41] to.

[4:42] have answers to those

[4:43] questions so i would like

[4:45] to move items five and six

[4:46] from the consent agenda to

[4:48] the non-consent agenda madam

[4:49] clerk

[4:55] since we've moved those items

[4:57] from the non-consent agenda

[4:58] and the public would then

[4:59] have an opportunity

[5:01] to concern

[5:04] on each item as it is heard

[5:05] Yes, that's correct.

[5:06] Moving forward

[5:07] with the non-consent agenda,

[5:08] item five, federal transit,

[5:10] I'm sorry, item five, 2027

[5:14] Federal Transportation

[5:16] Improvement Program adoption.

[5:17] Mr.

[5:18] Sosa?

[5:24] Thank you, Chair, committee

[5:26] members, Ray Sosa, Chief

[5:27] Planning Officer.

[5:28] Joining here with me is

[5:29] Senior Director Nancy

[5:30] Marquin.

[5:32] Executive Officer Mark

[5:33] Yamarone, who will lead us

[5:34] in the presentation.

[5:36] Thank you.

[5:38] Good morning, Madam Chair,

[5:41] members of the committee.

[5:42] Our recommendation today is

[5:44] to adopt the resolution

[5:46] for the 2027 Los Angeles

[5:48] County Transportation

[5:50] Improvement Program, as shown

[5:55] in Attachment A.

[5:59] A little bit

[6:00] of background.

[6:01] SCAG, which is the Southern

[6:02] California Association of

[6:04] Governments, is the

[6:05] Metropolitan Planning

[6:06] Organization.

[6:08] The six-county region that

[6:09] includes Los Angeles County

[6:12] is required,

[6:15] under federal and state law,

[6:18] to develop a federal

[6:21] transportation improvement

[6:23] program every two years.

[6:24] The 2027 FTIP is a required

[6:25] six-year programming document

[6:26] that advances the planning

[6:28] and construction

[6:30] of projects funded

[6:31] with federal, state,

[6:32] and local funds.

[6:34] The 2027 FTIP covers the

[6:36] period

[6:37] from federal fiscal year 27

[6:40] to federal fiscal year 32.

[6:44] It includes nearly 995

[6:45] projects in Los Angeles

[6:47] County, totaling nearly $33

[6:48] billion,

[6:50] and that includes projects

[6:52] for about 100 agencies

[6:54] throughout the state of Los

[6:56] Angeles County.

[6:58] Adopting the resolution

[6:59] for the 2027 FDIP would allow

[7:01] agencies in Los Angeles

[7:02] County to program and receive

[7:03] funding allocations

[7:05] for the on-time delivery of

[7:06] projects.

[7:07] I'll just add that the

[7:08] resolution simply certifies

[7:10] that the funding capacity

[7:11] within Los Angeles County is

[7:12] available

[7:14] for the projects.

[7:15] It doesn't individually

[7:16] approve every project.

[7:17] Upon board approval

[7:18] of the recommendation, staff

[7:19] will submit the resolution

[7:20] to staff by the March 31st

[7:21] deadline.

[7:22] And that concludes my

[7:23] presentation.

[7:24] I'm happy to answer any

[7:25] questions.

[7:26] Thank you for that

[7:27] presentation.

[7:28] It's such a significant

[7:29] effort.

[7:30] especially since there are

[7:31] nearly, I believe, 1,000

[7:32] projects and about $33

[7:33] billion in investments

[7:34] across the entire county.

[7:35] And we appreciate the

[7:36] coordination that it brings

[7:38] in order to make this effort

[7:39] a success.

[7:40] As chair, I want

[7:41] to focus my comments, though,

[7:42] on equity, because ultimately

[7:43] this program is not just

[7:45] about delivering projects.

[7:46] It's about who benefits from

[7:48] those investments and whether

[7:49] we are meaningfully

[7:52] addressing disparities.

[7:53] across all communities.

[7:55] The report notes that the

[7:57] FTIP incorporates multiple

[7:59] layers

[8:01] of accountability and aligns

[8:02] with Metro's equity platform,

[8:04] and

[8:05] about that we are pleased, as

[8:07] well as the regional efforts

[8:09] like SCAG's racial equity

[8:10] action plan.

[8:11] Those are important

[8:12] frameworks.

[8:15] But I do think the

[8:17] presentation report leaves

[8:19] some key questions

[8:20] unanswered, and I hope that

[8:22] we can...

[8:23] I have some answers for that

[8:25] in a few moments.

[8:27] For example, we hear that

[8:28] equity considerations are

[8:30] being incorporated,

[8:31] but it is less clear to me

[8:32] how funding is ultimately

[8:33] distributed across

[8:34] disadvantaged communities or

[8:35] how we are measuring whether

[8:36] these investments are

[8:37] improving access

[8:38] to opportunity,

[8:40] reducing environmental

[8:44] burdens,

[8:46] or closing longstanding gaps

[8:48] in mobility.

[8:50] So I'd like to ask, can you

[8:51] clarify how equity is being

[8:53] operationalized in this

[8:54] program specifically?

[8:56] How investments are

[8:57] prioritized for disadvantaged

[8:59] communities?

[9:01] What matrix are being used

[9:02] to track outcomes?

[9:04] And how the board will be

[9:05] able to monitor whether these

[9:06] equity goals are actually

[9:08] being achieved

[9:09] over time?

[9:12] I will start with some

[9:14] additional information.

[9:15] The projects included in the

[9:17] FTIP...

[9:18] are all selected by the

[9:19] nominating agency,

[9:21] in our case LA Metro, and

[9:23] they do go through a

[9:24] competitive process,

[9:25] whether our historic call for

[9:26] projects or the most recent

[9:28] CMAC SDBG call

[9:30] for projects, which each have

[9:31] equity components

[9:33] in them as far as the...

[9:35] Project evaluation.

[9:39] They're also, all the

[9:43] projects are consistent

[9:44] with both, for Metro, our

[9:45] long-range transportation

[9:47] plan,

[9:48] which has equity as one

[9:49] of its pillars.

[9:51] And each agency also uses

[9:52] their own evaluation.

[9:54] And as you mentioned,

[9:55] as it's noted

[9:56] in the report, SCAG also

[9:58] applies an equity measure

[9:59] to it as well.

[10:01] How it's measured is all

[10:03] these projects are rolled up

[10:05] into...

[10:06] Transportation Plan,

[10:07] but the SCAG Regional

[10:09] Transportation Plan, which is

[10:11] a four-year document that

[10:13] does measure and model how

[10:15] all those projects together

[10:17] do perform.

[10:21] I don't know, Nancy, if you

[10:23] have any other No, I think

[10:26] you answered that.

[10:27] Thank you.

[10:29] I think that level

[10:31] of clarity is important,

[10:33] not just

[10:34] for accountability, but

[10:36] to ensure that we move

[10:37] forward with adopting this

[10:39] program and securing these

[10:40] funds.

[10:42] We're doing so in a way that

[10:43] truly advances equity

[10:44] across the region.

[10:46] Thank you.

[10:48] Do any of the board members

[10:49] have questions?

[10:50] I don't see any names.

[10:54] Can we hear from members

[10:55] of the public who may have

[10:56] questions or wish to speak

[10:58] on this item?

[10:59] This is public comment

[11:00] for item five.

[11:01] Please press

[11:02] down two if you'd like

[11:03] to make a comment on item

[11:04] five.

[11:05] I have one caller on the

[11:06] line.

[11:07] Please unmute.

[11:10] Caller ending in 3139, please

[11:11] state your name.

[11:13] You have one minute

[11:14] to state your comment.

[11:16] Good morning, Alton Metro.

[11:17] My name is Ross.

[11:18] I just wanted to bring to the

[11:20] board's attention that it was

[11:21] very hard

[11:22] to hear the speaker talk.

[11:23] during the presentation.

[11:25] I don't know if he was far

[11:26] away or if there's a tech

[11:27] issue, but just wanted to let

[11:29] you know it was really hard

[11:30] to hear the speaker speak.

[11:32] Thank you.

[11:35] Thank you very much.

[11:36] We'll be going forward.

[11:37] That was the last public

[11:38] comment.

[11:39] Okay.

[11:40] This is an action item.

[11:41] I could have a motion.

[11:42] Madam Clerk, please call the

[11:43] roll.

[11:49] Director Butts, Director

[11:52] Najarian.

[11:54] Aye.

[11:56] Director Horvath.

[11:57] Aye.

[11:58] And Chair DuPont-Walker.

[11:59] Yes.

[12:00] The motion carries.

[12:01] Thank you.

[12:02] We'll move to Item 6 of

[12:03] Federal Transit

[12:04] Administration Section

[12:05] 5310, Grant Program

[12:06] Awards.

[12:07] Mr.

[12:09] Sosa, do we have a

[12:10] presentation,

[12:11] or are you going

[12:12] to handle it?

[12:13] We do, Chair.

[12:15] Thank you very much.

[12:16] Again, Ray Sosa, Chief

[12:17] Planning Officer.

[12:18] And joining me to make the

[12:19] presentation is...

[12:20] Senior Manager Ruben

[12:22] Cervantes and Deputy

[12:24] Executive Officer Isidro

[12:25] Panuco.

[12:39] Good morning.

[12:40] Taking into consideration the

[12:41] last caller, thank you.

[12:42] The recommendation

[12:43] before you is

[12:45] to approve the Federal

[12:46] Transit Administration

[12:47] Section 5310 funding awards.

[12:49] totaling $10,752,739 as shown

[12:53] in attachments to AD&C,

[12:55] made available through

[12:57] Metro's Section 5310

[12:59] Enhanced Mobility of Seniors

[13:00] and Individuals with

[13:02] Disabilities Grant

[13:04] Program.

[13:06] Also authorizing the CEO or

[13:08] the designee to negotiate and

[13:10] execute pass-through funding

[13:12] agreements with sub-recipient

[13:13] agencies receiving the

[13:14] approved awards, delegating

[13:16] to the CEO or the designee

[13:17] authority to administratively

[13:18] approve minor changes

[13:19] to the scope of approved

[13:20] Section 5310 awards.

[13:21] Certifying that the 5310

[13:22] funds are fairly and

[13:23] equitably allocated to

[13:24] eligible subrecipients and

[13:25] were feasible,

[13:26] that projects are coordinated

[13:27] with transportation services

[13:28] assisted by other federal

[13:29] departments and agencies,

[13:30] and certifying that the

[13:31] Section 5310 projects

[13:33] selected

[13:35] for funding are included

[13:37] in the Board-adopted

[13:38] 2025-2028 Coordinated Plan

[13:41] in compliance with federal

[13:42] requirements.

[13:45] A little background on the

[13:48] 5310 grant program.

[13:49] So Metro is the LA County

[13:51] designated recipient and

[13:53] administrator for the FTA

[13:55] Section 5310 grant program in

[13:56] the three large urbanized

[13:57] areas in LA County, which

[13:59] includes the Los Angeles,

[14:00] Long Beach, Anaheim urbanized

[14:02] area, Lancaster, Palmdale,

[14:03] and Santa Clarita urbanized

[14:05] areas.

[14:06] Section 5310 funds support

[14:07] capital and operating

[14:09] projects serving seniors and

[14:10] individuals

[14:11] with disabilities.

[14:12] So following the board

[14:13] adoption of the 2025

[14:14] through 2028 coordinated

[14:15] plan.

[14:17] and authorization to release

[14:18] the 5310 solicitation, Metro

[14:19] conducted a competitive

[14:20] solicitation for the 2025

[14:21] funding cycle.

[14:22] The Board approval is

[14:26] required to proceed

[14:27] with the funding awards,

[14:28] identifying and attachments

[14:30] A, B, and C.

[14:31] And all recommended projects

[14:33] align with the Board-adopted

[14:34] coordinated plan to improve

[14:36] and expand mobility options

[14:37] for seniors and persons

[14:38] with disabilities throughout

[14:40] L.A.

[14:41] County.

[14:44] There was approximately

[14:45] $10.75 million in Section

[14:46] 5310 funds that were

[14:47] available

[14:48] through this solicitation.

[14:49] Funds were allocated

[14:50] by urbanized area.

[14:52] So for the Los Angeles, Long

[14:53] Beach, Anaheim urbanized

[14:54] area,

[14:55] there was approximately

[14:57] $10.22 million.

[14:59] Lancaster, Palmdale,

[15:01] $311,000.

[15:02] And Santa Clarita,

[15:03] $222,000.

[15:04] The board approved 2025

[15:05] solicitation was released

[15:06] on September 26th

[15:08] of last year

[15:09] with applications due

[15:10] November 14th. And there was

[15:11] a max awarded limit of

[15:12] $800,000 per applicant.

[15:14] We did do extensive outreach

[15:15] efforts to promote this

[15:17] solicitation.

[15:18] So we sent notifications out

[15:21] to over 5,700 public

[15:24] nonprofit stakeholders

[15:25] throughout L.A.

[15:26] County.

[15:28] We distributed the

[15:29] solicitation

[15:30] through the networks of 11

[15:31] community-based

[15:33] organizations.

[15:34] and all LA County Council

[15:35] governments.

[15:36] An applicant webinar was held

[15:38] during the solicitation

[15:39] process.

[15:40] We had a total of 56

[15:41] participants that represent

[15:42] all five LA County

[15:44] Supervisory Districts.

[15:45] We also did presentations

[15:46] to all five Metro Advisory

[15:47] Subcommittees.

[15:49] We received 42 applications.

[15:52] They were all evaluated and

[15:54] they requested approximately

[15:55] $19.6 million.

[15:57] Projects were scored

[15:59] by evaluation panel.

[16:00] And you have

[16:01] to receive a minimum of 70

[16:03] points out of 100

[16:04] to be eligible

[16:06] for funding.

[16:07] 23 projects, only $10.75

[16:10] million, are recommended

[16:12] following this evaluation and

[16:13] Metro's tax appeals process.

[16:15] The recommended awards

[16:17] support both public and

[16:18] nonprofit providers,

[16:20] including 10 governmental and

[16:22] 13 nonprofit projects.

[16:24] 48 paratransit vehicles will

[16:26] be replaced or added

[16:27] through capital projects to

[16:29] improve service.

[16:30] capacity and reliability.

[16:32] Nine operating projects will

[16:33] support volunteer driver

[16:35] on-demand and door-to-door

[16:36] transportation services.

[16:38] Four mobility management

[16:39] travel training projects will

[16:41] enhance trip planning, rider

[16:43] education,

[16:44] and independent mobility

[16:45] for seniors, individuals with

[16:47] disabilities throughout the

[16:48] county.

[16:49] And recommended awards

[16:51] provide benefits throughout

[16:52] LA County and ensure

[16:53] geographic equity across all

[16:56] five county supervisor

[16:57] districts.

[16:58] The next steps is to approve

[16:59] the staff recommendations

[17:00] for the 5310 awards.

[17:02] We will then, upon approval,

[17:03] we will then submit a 5310

[17:04] grant application to the FTA

[17:05] on behalf of all

[17:06] of the approved projects.

[17:07] Following the FTA approval,

[17:10] we will then execute

[17:11] pass-through funding

[17:13] agreements, and we will

[17:14] oversee the project

[17:15] implementation to ensure

[17:17] project consistency and

[17:18] federal compliance.

[17:20] This concludes my

[17:24] presentation.

[17:26] I'm happy to answer any

[17:29] questions.

[17:30] Thank you.

[17:31] Thank you

[17:32] for that presentation and

[17:33] for allowing us

[17:34] to bring this item forward.

[17:35] We appreciate the work that

[17:36] has been done in

[17:37] administering this program

[17:38] and advancing mobility

[17:39] options

[17:40] for seniors and individuals

[17:42] with challenges across Los

[17:43] Angeles County.

[17:46] For me, elders and those

[17:48] with mobility, audio, and

[17:49] sight challenges are a major

[17:51] demographic

[17:52] in my work life.

[17:54] In fact,

[17:56] the fastest growing segment

[17:57] of the population is 80 and

[17:58] above.

[18:00] So we do have a growing

[18:02] demographic to service.

[18:03] So this is an important

[18:04] investment, over 10.7 million

[18:06] supporting 23 projects.

[18:07] And it's encouraging

[18:09] to see that the focus is

[18:10] on expanding access

[18:12] to vehicles, ongoing demand

[18:14] services, and mobility

[18:18] programs.

[18:21] I also want to acknowledge

[18:23] the intentional efforts

[18:25] around outreach,

[18:27] and inclusion in the

[18:29] equity-focused communities as

[18:31] we evaluate.

[18:32] That is a strong foundation

[18:33] and so consistent with what

[18:34] this board believes is

[18:35] important,

[18:36] community outreach.

[18:38] That said,

[18:40] from an equity perspective,

[18:42] I do think the presentation

[18:43] of the board should leave a

[18:45] few more important questions

[18:46] unanswered,

[18:47] so if I could ask them now.

[18:49] We hear that projects were

[18:50] prioritized based on need,

[18:51] and that equity

[18:52] considerations were

[18:54] incorporated in the scoring

[18:55] and the outreach.

[18:56] But it was less clear to me

[18:58] how those input translated

[18:59] to outcome, specifically

[19:01] whether the final funding

[19:02] distribution is actually

[19:03] reducing disparities for the

[19:06] communities we're trying

[19:08] to reach.

[19:09] For example, while the report

[19:13] notes geographic coverage

[19:15] across all five supervisorial

[19:16] districts, Geographic

[19:18] distribution.

[19:19] A loan doesn't necessarily

[19:21] mean equitable distribution.

[19:22] How do we capture impact

[19:24] on the city of Los Angeles in

[19:25] ways that similar demographic

[19:27] analysis have been done?

[19:28] Yeah, so the coordinated plan

[19:29] and equity focus community

[19:31] section was actually worth

[19:37] 25 points out

[19:40] of the application.

[19:42] So that's something that we

[19:44] prioritize

[19:46] with this solicitation.

[19:47] The coordinated plan was a

[19:49] planning study that we did

[19:50] last year.

[19:51] We went to the board, I

[19:52] believe, in July

[19:53] for approval, adoption

[19:54] of the coordinated plan.

[19:56] The coordinated plan did an

[19:57] in-depth analysis to

[19:58] determine what are the

[19:59] current services we offer

[20:00] in LA County

[20:02] for seniors and persons

[20:03] with disabilities.

[20:04] That allowed us,

[20:06] we did a lot of outreach

[20:07] for that as well in a lot

[20:09] of ESC communities

[20:10] to determine where the gaps

[20:12] in services are.

[20:13] So that determined,

[20:14] we call it high-need areas,

[20:15] and then we also have

[20:16] Metro's internal

[20:17] equity-focused communities.

[20:18] So that was built into the

[20:19] scoring criteria where

[20:20] projects that were

[20:21] identifying new, enhanced,

[20:22] and expanded projects into a

[20:23] high-priority area and or EFC

[20:24] area receive more points

[20:25] versus a project that is not

[20:27] in this area.

[20:29] This allowed us to ensure

[20:30] that we're focusing funding

[20:31] on some of those highest-need

[20:32] areas that were identified.

[20:34] Throughout the...

[20:37] the project implementation,

[20:38] we collect quarterly progress

[20:40] reports.

[20:41] In these reports, we collect

[20:43] data, one-way passenger

[20:45] trips, and also how many

[20:46] seniors, persons with

[20:48] disabilities were afforded

[20:50] mobility as a result

[20:52] of this project.

[20:54] That data is collected on a

[20:55] quarterly basis and it's also

[20:57] reported to the FTA.

[20:59] And once a year, normally

[21:01] toward the end of the year,

[21:03] what we do is we take all

[21:06] that data,

[21:07] we do a comparison based

[21:09] on what they propose

[21:10] in their application.

[21:14] And if we do identify any

[21:15] high variance,

[21:16] we work together

[21:17] with the subrecipients to

[21:18] identify corrective action.

[21:19] Many

[21:20] of those corrective action

[21:21] has to do with the marketing

[21:22] and marketing

[21:23] to seniors and persons

[21:24] with disabilities

[21:25] to identify,

[21:26] to ensure that they're aware

[21:27] of all these various services

[21:28] that are available

[21:29] in this community.

[21:30] So it sounds

[21:31] like we have a lot

[21:32] of data.

[21:33] Would it be possible if I had

[21:34] the technology to overlay the

[21:35] city's boundaries and get a

[21:36] view?

[21:40] Director Walker, we actually

[21:41] have a zip code included as

[21:42] part of the process,

[21:43] so we did include that

[21:44] in this evaluation process.

[21:45] Oh, good.

[21:49] Thank you.

[21:50] If I could add to that,

[21:51] about two solicitations ago,

[21:52] I actually worked

[21:54] with the equity team, and we

[21:55] identified that zip code

[21:56] level data may be helpful

[21:57] for future updates

[21:58] to the ESV map as well.

[22:00] So we incorporated that zip

[22:01] code level data that we are

[22:02] collecting.

[22:03] And upon approval

[22:05] of this award, I plan

[22:06] to share that data

[22:07] with them.

[22:09] You reaffirm that you still

[22:10] are the best department

[22:11] in the whole of Metro.

[22:12] Just a few.

[22:16] The CEO is telling me calm

[22:18] down.

[22:19] Could you briefly explain how

[22:21] these funds are being

[22:23] directed to the highest needs

[22:25] communities and how the board

[22:26] is able to track whether

[22:28] investments are actually

[22:30] improving the mobility

[22:31] outcomes?

[22:34] Yeah, so part of our analysis

[22:36] that we do every year, I

[22:37] mentioned, was focused on the

[22:39] performance measure data.

[22:40] This is also data.

[22:41] We collect a lot of

[22:43] information regarding the

[22:45] actual use of this data

[22:47] from the agency.

[22:49] So in our application,

[22:50] we also collect all that.

[22:52] We have a performance measure

[22:53] section because what we want

[22:55] to do is we want to ensure

[22:57] that they have the staff and

[22:59] they have the process

[23:00] in place to capture the data

[23:01] that we need.

[23:03] to identify where the impact

[23:04] is are made

[23:06] for these funding sources.

[23:07] So that data is collected,

[23:08] and we plan.

[23:10] We use a lot of that data

[23:12] every time we do an update

[23:14] to the coordinated plan,

[23:17] which we have

[23:18] to do every four years.

[23:19] All that data is also taken

[23:20] into consideration.

[23:21] That helps us identify where

[23:22] funding,

[23:24] where there's still a lack

[23:25] of funding based on the

[23:26] awards that we have given,

[23:27] and that determines the next.

[23:29] highest priority need to

[23:30] ensure that we continue

[23:32] filling in the gaps

[23:33] in services we keep investing

[23:35] into those high need areas.

[23:36] Okay.

[23:39] Thank you.

[23:40] Thank you.

[23:42] That clarifies a lot, and I

[23:43] think hopefully the people

[23:45] who asked me those questions

[23:46] are also listening,

[23:48] and I'm supportive of moving

[23:50] this program forward because

[23:51] these are very critical

[23:52] services.

[23:54] I think, though,

[23:55] it's also important

[23:57] to continue to track,

[23:58] as you have already been

[23:59] doing, such an excellent

[24:00] manner so that we can be

[24:02] confident the investments are

[24:04] reaching those who need it

[24:05] the most and who we intended

[24:07] to benefit.

[24:08] I'd like to ask that we have

[24:10] you report back to the board

[24:12] with an initial update

[24:13] within 12 months, followed by

[24:15] an annual update so that we

[24:16] can track both performance

[24:18] and outcomes.

[24:19] Thank you both.

[24:21] Any other colleagues have

[24:23] questions?

[24:25] Okay, I see no hand up.

[24:29] Do we have any requests

[24:31] to speak from the public?

[24:33] There's public comment

[24:34] for item six.

[24:35] Please press down, too,

[24:36] if you'd like

[24:37] to make a comment.

[24:38] We have two callers

[24:39] on the line.

[24:40] Please unmute the first

[24:41] caller.

[24:45] Next caller, your line is

[24:46] unmuted.

[24:47] Please state your name.

[24:48] You have one minute to state

[24:49] your comment.

[24:50] I would like

[24:51] to thank the chair

[24:52] for her comment.

[24:53] Many times in discussions

[24:54] of progress, members

[24:56] of our community

[24:57] with mobility issues

[24:58] of any kind fail

[24:59] to be acknowledged and fail

[25:00] to be included

[25:01] in the planning

[25:03] of that progress.

[25:04] Thank you.

[25:13] Next speaker.

[25:18] Moving on to the next caller.

[25:19] Caller ending in 0547.

[25:21] Please state your name.

[25:24] You have one minute

[25:25] to state your comment.

[25:27] Hi, I'm Jack Galanti.

[25:28] I'm a disabled resident of

[25:30] L.A.

[25:31] County, and I just wanted to

[25:32] uplift what the chair

[25:34] mentioned earlier.

[25:36] I really appreciate you guys

[25:37] bringing this

[25:38] to the attention of the

[25:40] Metro Board, as oftentimes

[25:41] this...

[25:42] Accessibility and

[25:44] accessibility issues are

[25:45] often overlooked

[25:47] in the planning stage, so I

[25:48] really appreciate you guys

[25:49] making this a priority.

[25:51] Thank you.

[25:52] That was the last public

[25:53] comment.

[25:54] This closes the public

[25:55] comment period, and let me

[25:56] assure the public that this

[25:57] board is very focused on all

[25:58] of our ridership and

[26:00] especially those

[26:01] with mobility challenges.

[26:02] Were you ready to speak?

[26:06] Okay.

[26:09] This is an action item.

[26:11] I will receive a motion and a

[26:12] second.

[26:15] I'm sure.

[26:18] I'll second the item.

[26:20] Madam Clerk, will you please

[26:21] call the roll?

[26:22] Director Butts.

[26:27] Let's record him as a yes.

[26:28] Director Butts.

[26:30] Director Nazarian.

[26:32] Yes.

[26:34] Director Horvath is absent.

[26:35] And Chair DuPont-Walker.

[26:37] Resounding yes.

[26:38] The motion carries.

[26:40] Thank you very much.

[26:41] We're now at Item 7, K-Line

[26:43] Northern Extension, Locally

[26:45] Preferred Alternative.

[26:47] I'd like for the record

[26:48] to reflect that due

[26:50] to perceived conflict and

[26:54] out of my own abundance

[26:55] of caution,

[26:57] I'm recusing myself

[26:59] from commenting

[27:00] on this item.

[27:01] As the meeting is conducted

[27:03] pursuant to Robert's Rules

[27:04] of Orders,

[27:05] In my capacity as chair

[27:06] of the Program and Planning

[27:07] Committee, I have the

[27:08] authority to designate an

[27:10] acting chair when the vice

[27:11] chair is unavailable.

[27:13] Accordingly, I have asked and

[27:14] he's accepted Director

[27:16] Legerian

[27:18] to serve as acting chair

[27:19] for Item 7.

[27:20] Director Legerian.

[27:22] Thank you.

[27:24] Thank you very much, Madam

[27:29] Chair.

[27:37] Okay, item seven, Mr.

[27:39] Sosa.

[27:41] Thank you, Chair.

[27:42] Ray Sosa again, Chief

[27:43] Planning Officer here with

[27:45] Executive Officer Anthony

[27:46] Crump from Community

[27:47] Relations and Deputy

[27:48] Executive Officer Georgia

[27:51] Sheridan, who will lead us

[27:52] in the presentation.

[27:59] Good morning.

[28:00] On behalf of the K-Line

[28:01] Extension team, I'm going to

[28:02] present our staff

[28:03] recommendation today.

[28:04] for the selection of the

[28:06] locally preferred

[28:07] alternative,

[28:08] also called the LPA.

[28:10] This is a critical milestone

[28:11] for the project being led

[28:12] under the early project

[28:14] delivery framework.

[28:16] So I'm going to walk

[28:20] through this recommendation.

[28:21] The recommendation is

[28:22] for the board

[28:24] to consider approving the

[28:29] San Vicente-Fairfax

[28:31] alignment,

[28:33] which was evaluated in the

[28:34] 2024 draft environmental

[28:35] impact report.

[28:37] also called the draft EIR,

[28:38] as the LPA for the project

[28:40] contingent upon the formation

[28:41] of an enhanced infrastructure

[28:42] financing district,

[28:44] also called an EIFD, by the

[28:47] City of West Hollywood

[28:50] in coordination with Los

[28:51] Angeles County to provide

[28:53] additional local sources

[28:55] of funding, at least 25% of

[28:57] the capital cost estimate per

[28:58] the early project delivery.

[29:01] with An initial operating

[29:04] segment called an IOS

[29:06] from the Expo Crenshaw

[29:09] Station

[29:10] at the E-K line terminus to

[29:12] Wilshire-Fairfax

[29:14] at the D line, with an

[29:17] adjusted tunnel alignment

[29:19] in Mid-City to continue

[29:21] to maximize the use

[29:22] of public right-of-way to

[29:24] reduce subsurface easements.

[29:25] This is described as the

[29:27] Crenshaw right-of-way or

[29:29] option two in the Mid-City

[29:32] Additional Alignment

[29:35] Analysis Report and a

[29:37] commitment to work

[29:39] with the owner of the

[29:40] Midtown Crossing Shopping

[29:41] Center

[29:42] to preserve the opportunity

[29:43] to relocate the supermarket

[29:44] at an alternate location

[29:46] on acquired property adjacent

[29:47] to the construction site

[29:48] prior to the start

[29:49] of construction.

[29:54] And lastly,

[29:55] a terminus station at the

[29:56] Hollywood Bowl.

[29:57] The K-Line Extension Project

[30:00] extends the existing K-Line,

[30:01] which you can see in pink,

[30:03] to close a gap in our

[30:04] regional rail network.

[30:06] extending the K line

[30:07] from the E line

[30:10] to the D line at Wilshire

[30:14] Boulevard and the B line in

[30:16] Hollywood.

[30:17] In doing so, it closes a gap

[30:19] and connects four of our

[30:20] major metro rail lines and

[30:21] six of our busiest bus lines

[30:22] in the county,

[30:24] serving major activity

[30:25] centers, job centers,

[30:26] and regional destinations.

[30:28] This is one of our Measure M

[30:29] projects.

[30:30] It has $2.24 billion in 2015

[30:31] dollars.

[30:33] with a groundbreaking set as

[30:36] 2041 to begin construction

[30:37] with an estimated opening

[30:39] of 2047 to 2049.

[30:41] Metro has prepared the draft

[30:42] DIR to inform the selection

[30:44] of an LPA under the early

[30:46] project delivery strategy.

[30:47] So we started public scoping

[30:51] in spring of 2021.

[30:54] We published a draft DIR in

[30:58] 2024 for public comment.

[31:01] And based

[31:04] on comments that we received

[31:05] on the draft EIR, we've

[31:07] conducted additional

[31:09] engagement and additional

[31:11] studies that were published

[31:12] last summer in 2025.

[31:14] And now we have taken the

[31:16] input and the studies

[31:17] to inform our recommendation

[31:18] for the LPA.

[31:22] Draft EIR evaluates three

[31:23] fully underground light rail

[31:25] alignments.

[31:26] Starting from west to east,

[31:29] the San Vicente-Fairfax

[31:30] alignment in green is the

[31:31] longest alignment, almost 10

[31:33] miles with nine stations.

[31:34] Fairfax in yellow in the

[31:36] middle has seven stations,

[31:38] almost eight miles, and La

[31:39] Brea about six miles

[31:41] with six stations.

[31:43] All of these options allow

[31:45] for an extension to the

[31:46] Hollywood Bowl, which was

[31:48] studied as an optional

[31:50] terminus.

[31:51] And all alignments require

[31:52] the expansion of Division

[31:54] 16, which is the maintenance

[31:55] yard.

[31:57] that serves the existing K

[31:58] line near LAX.

[32:00] We also studied a high

[32:02] frequency bus alternative and

[32:03] a no project alternative.

[32:05] These do not meet the project

[32:06] need for a high capacity fast

[32:08] light rail connection.

[32:10] The project would be

[32:14] constructed using tunnel

[32:18] boring machines or TBMs and

[32:19] would be implemented in

[32:21] sections or phases as we've

[32:22] done with other metro rail

[32:24] projects.

[32:26] The first phase, or IOS,

[32:28] would connect the E line

[32:30] to the D line.

[32:31] The second phases for La

[32:33] Brea and Fairfax would

[32:35] connect to the B line.

[32:37] And for the San

[32:38] Vicente-Fairfax, the second

[32:39] phase would connect

[32:42] to the heart of West

[32:43] Hollywood at San

[32:44] Vicente-Santa Monica

[32:46] with a third section or phase

[32:47] to Hollywood.

[32:49] The Hollywood Bowl would be

[32:50] constructed as part

[32:51] of the final phase.

[32:53] Based on our...

[32:55] experience,

[32:57] each phase would take 8 to

[32:58] 12 years to construct, and

[32:59] each phase or section

[33:01] requires its own tunnel

[33:02] boring launch site.

[33:06] As part of the environmental

[33:08] review process, we conducted

[33:09] extensive studies not only

[33:10] on environmental impacts, but

[33:12] as well as project benefits,

[33:14] things like ridership,

[33:15] travel time savings,

[33:17] regional economic benefits,

[33:19] reduction

[33:22] of vehicle miles traveled.

[33:24] The map

[33:26] on the right shows the

[33:27] density of jobs

[33:29] around the stations

[33:30] under study.

[33:32] As you can see,

[33:33] the western alignments

[33:34] connect

[33:35] to higher density job center.

[33:37] Of the alignment study, the

[33:39] San Vicente-Fairfax alignment

[33:40] provides the greatest amount

[33:41] of benefits as it connects

[33:43] to the highest numbers

[33:44] of stations,

[33:46] including major job centers

[33:47] like Cedars-Sinai, as well as

[33:49] other regional destinations

[33:51] like The Grove, Los

[33:53] Angeles.

[33:55] Farmers Market, CBS

[33:57] Studios, the Rainbow

[33:58] District in West

[34:00] Hollywood.

[34:04] The project includes several

[34:06] segments where tunnels would

[34:07] travel below homes or private

[34:08] properties,

[34:10] which you can see

[34:11] on the map here

[34:13] in the dark black outline.

[34:14] This is in order

[34:16] to create fast connections

[34:18] between stations where the

[34:20] tunnels need to turn off

[34:21] of primary streets.

[34:24] During the draft EIR comment

[34:25] period, we heard concerns

[34:27] from Mid-City residents

[34:28] regarding lack of engagement

[34:30] about the tunnel alignment

[34:31] in Mid-City and concerns

[34:32] about tunneling below older

[34:34] homes and historic

[34:35] neighborhoods,

[34:38] as well as negative impacts

[34:39] to property values and

[34:41] businesses.

[34:42] As part of additional

[34:45] outreach,

[34:47] we conducted a survey

[34:49] of the age of homes in

[34:50] Mid-City neighborhoods,

[34:51] including Wellington Square

[34:52] and Lafayette Square.

[34:53] and found that a majority

[34:55] of homes are constructed

[34:56] in the 1920s. However, there

[34:57] are homes that date back to

[34:59] 1900 to 1910.

[35:00] This study helped inform case

[35:01] studies that we looked

[35:02] at as part

[35:04] of our tunnel safety report.

[35:06] As part

[35:08] of the additional analysis,

[35:09] we completed three studies.

[35:11] The first is the Mid-City

[35:13] Additional Alignment

[35:14] Analysis, the map which you

[35:16] can see here in the center,

[35:18] as well as a study on

[35:19] property considerations and

[35:21] tunnel safety.

[35:22] Based on comments we received

[35:24] from residents in Mid-City

[35:25] during the draft EIR comment

[35:26] period, we developed 12

[35:28] additional alignment options

[35:30] in Mid-City.

[35:34] based on routes that were

[35:36] suggested

[35:38] by the committee.

[35:39] These alignments we studied

[35:41] to understand if they were

[35:42] feasible to construct and how

[35:44] we could travel

[35:45] below public streets

[35:46] to find ways

[35:48] to minimize easements.

[35:49] Of these 12 options, we found

[35:51] that six were feasible

[35:52] to construct and were able

[35:54] to connect to stations

[35:55] at the D-line.

[35:56] All six required use of the

[35:58] Midtown Shopping Center as

[36:00] both a station and a

[36:01] construction staging area.

[36:03] And all six require that

[36:06] there are some areas where we

[36:08] would travel

[36:09] below private properties.

[36:11] The diagram on the right

[36:13] shows the relative depth

[36:15] of tunnels

[36:16] in these neighborhoods,

[36:18] which ranges from 80 to 120

[36:19] feet below ground.

[36:21] The studies as well as.

[36:22] fact sheets and FAQs are

[36:24] available on our website to

[36:26] help distill the findings.

[36:28] As part of this analysis,

[36:32] we shared these 12 options

[36:35] with the community at

[36:36] community meetings as well as

[36:38] briefings,

[36:39] which we'll discuss later

[36:41] in our presentation.

[36:42] Of these, we then asked

[36:44] for input.

[36:46] The three alignments here are

[36:48] those that received the

[36:50] highest support as part

[36:52] of this additional outreach.

[36:53] An analysis, starting

[36:55] with the draft DIR alignment

[36:57] on the left, this had 159

[36:59] subsurface tunnel easements,

[37:01] 29 in the historic neighbor

[37:03] of Wellington Square, and 29

[37:06] in Lafayette Square, which is

[37:09] an historic preservation

[37:10] overlay zone, as well as 64

[37:12] in Miracle Mile and 37

[37:13] in other neighborhoods.

[37:17] The Crenshaw right-of-way,

[37:18] which is shown in the middle

[37:20] in orange, is the alignment

[37:22] that we are recommending.

[37:24] This is able

[37:25] to reduce overall easements

[37:26] in the project area from 159

[37:28] down to 114.

[37:32] It eliminates easements in

[37:34] Wellington Square and

[37:35] minimizes them in Lafayette

[37:38] Square.

[37:39] It's also able to create

[37:41] flexibility at the Midtown

[37:43] Crossing Station

[37:46] to address some impacts

[37:48] to businesses.

[37:49] The West Boulevard alignment

[37:50] shown in purple also received

[37:51] community support.

[37:53] These are not recommended as

[37:54] they increase the overall

[37:55] number of easements and also

[37:57] had negative impacts

[37:58] to the station area,

[38:00] which was of concern

[38:01] to residents.

[38:03] Here, as part

[38:05] of our alignment analysis,

[38:06] we looked at how the

[38:07] alignment affects the layout

[38:09] of the station and the

[38:10] construction staging area.

[38:12] So the staff recommendation

[38:13] is a balance of both.

[38:15] reducing alignments as well

[38:16] as maximizing access to the

[38:17] station and minimizing

[38:19] long-term impacts by locating

[38:23] the station and the tunnels

[38:25] as close to San Vicente as

[38:26] possible.

[38:28] This creates the greatest

[38:30] flexibility to allow us

[38:31] to coordinate

[38:33] with the property owner

[38:35] to look

[38:37] into relocating the business,

[38:38] the grocery store,

[38:40] in advance of construction,

[38:41] given that we have a lot

[38:43] of time

[38:44] to continue our analysis.

[38:46] Option three, which also

[38:47] receives community support

[38:48] and travels below Crenshaw,

[38:50] pushes the station box

[38:51] further

[38:52] into the private property,

[38:54] which makes it more difficult

[38:55] to mitigate impacts to

[38:57] businesses and also pushes

[38:58] the entrance further away

[39:00] from the street.

[39:01] And option four is a more

[39:03] extreme version of this,

[39:05] pushing the station box

[39:06] further away from the

[39:08] intersection and having a

[39:09] less optimal layout, both for

[39:11] the station and...

[39:12] future opportunities for

[39:14] these reasons we are

[39:15] recommending option two next

[39:17] i want to talk a little bit

[39:21] about the tunnel safety

[39:22] report which was completed as

[39:25] part of this additional

[39:27] analysis this is our most

[39:28] extensive tunnel report to

[39:30] date includes data collected

[39:31] by our construction teams for

[39:33] the d-line k-line and

[39:34] regional connector as well as

[39:36] case studies evaluating

[39:40] tunneling in cities locals

[39:41] Abroad and peer review

[39:43] by an independent panel

[39:45] of experts,

[39:47] our tunnel advisory panel.

[39:51] What we found is that using

[39:52] modern tunnel construction

[39:54] techniques, which include

[39:55] extensive pre-construction

[39:57] surveys, monitoring,

[39:59] mitigations,

[40:01] and advanced tunnel boring

[40:02] machines, which have sensors,

[40:05] is a very safe and successful

[40:06] way to construct tunnels.

[40:07] The tunnels throughout the

[40:09] project area are 40 to 120

[40:11] feet below ground and

[40:12] within mid-city are 80 to

[40:14] 100 feet.

[40:15] These are some of the deepest

[40:17] tunnels.

[40:18] At these depths, there would

[40:19] not be noise and vibration.

[40:21] Similarly, we have

[40:24] successfully tunneled

[40:25] in similar soil conditions at

[40:27] similar depths and have not

[40:28] had issues

[40:29] with settlement.

[40:31] We have not had property

[40:33] damage.

[40:34] We do not anticipate.

[40:36] any impacts

[40:37] to properties above,

[40:39] and this has been seen

[40:40] across the globe with

[40:41] successful tunneling using

[40:43] the same type

[40:44] of tunnel boring machines.

[40:45] In addition, we studied

[40:47] tunnel easements and found

[40:48] that they would not affect

[40:50] the property and structures,

[40:51] the ability

[40:52] to remodel or develop, they

[40:53] would not affect historic

[40:54] designation or zoning, and

[40:56] they would not affect

[40:57] underground oil rights,

[40:58] which are thousands of feet

[41:00] below ground.

[41:01] Lastly, we did a study Thank

[41:03] you.

[41:07] of the Westwood area studying

[41:09] home sales prices

[41:11] for properties

[41:12] with easements and those

[41:14] without and found no

[41:15] meaningful difference

[41:16] in property values.

[41:17] We also looked

[41:19] at property values for homes

[41:20] near transit and found a

[41:24] positive correlation

[41:25] between homes

[41:26] within a half mile of

[41:27] stations and property values.

[41:28] So these findings are online

[41:29] and were shared

[41:30] with the community through

[41:31] extensive engagement.

[41:33] And I'll now turn it to

[41:35] Anthony Crump

[41:36] to discuss some

[41:38] of the engagement.

[41:39] Thank you, Georgia.

[41:40] Anthony Crump, Executive

[41:41] Officer for Community

[41:42] Relations.

[41:43] As Georgia indicated, we did

[41:44] an extensive outreach effort

[41:46] after the close

[41:47] of the draft Environmental

[41:48] Impact Report comment period.

[41:49] This included four coffee

[41:50] conversations with the city

[41:51] leaders where we actually

[41:52] listened to them,

[41:54] solicited their feedback,

[41:55] helped to identify the issues

[41:56] that were of most importance

[41:57] to them.

[41:58] We confirmed that we got

[42:00] those issues correct, and

[42:01] then we went out.

[42:02] and did additional research

[42:03] and analysis to address those

[42:04] issues as much as possible.

[42:06] Once we had the opportunity

[42:07] to do the studies that

[42:08] Georgia mentioned previously,

[42:09] we went back to the community

[42:11] and reported those out

[42:12] through a series

[42:13] of community meetings.

[42:15] We did four community

[42:16] meetings in August and

[42:17] October.

[42:18] We had approximately 234

[42:20] attendees.

[42:21] We also included as part of

[42:22] that a tunnel safety tour

[42:23] that included Directors

[42:24] Mitchell and DuPont Walker,

[42:25] where we actually physically

[42:26] walked the Westwood

[42:28] neighborhood.

[42:29] and looked at homes and a

[42:30] community that actually had

[42:31] in-place underground

[42:32] easements related to the

[42:33] Purple Line Section 3

[42:35] construction so that people

[42:36] could actually experience

[42:37] what it was like to be in a

[42:39] neighborhood that had

[42:40] underground easements and a

[42:41] tunnel running through the

[42:42] neighborhood itself.

[42:44] In addition, we answered

[42:45] questions and provided

[42:46] additional information both

[42:47] on our website as well as

[42:48] through email to those

[42:49] communities that had those

[42:51] concerns and impacts.

[42:53] Recognizing that this project

[42:54] is a regional project,

[42:56] one that connects many, many

[42:57] communities, we continue

[42:59] to elevate the project itself

[43:00] through a series

[43:03] of pop-up events.

[43:04] We actually had briefings

[43:06] with Council Member Heather

[43:08] Hutt's office.

[43:09] We met monthly

[43:11] with board staff

[43:12] to update them on the

[43:14] outreach and engagement and

[43:15] provided updates via the

[43:16] project website and the

[43:18] stakeholder database as well

[43:20] as social media toolkits.

[43:21] Overall, this project would

[43:22] provide important benefits,

[43:23] not just for the communities

[43:25] that are immediately

[43:28] along the proposed alignment,

[43:29] but also

[43:30] through connectivity

[43:31] to the larger MetroRail

[43:32] network.

[43:33] This would connect

[43:34] to the expanded Metro D-Line,

[43:35] as well as connect to the

[43:36] Metro E-Line,

[43:37] providing access not only

[43:38] to Hollywood and Torrance and

[43:39] the South Bay, but also to

[43:40] Santa Monica, to the VA

[43:41] Center, and all the way out

[43:42] to East Los Angeles

[43:43] on the east side.

[43:44] So our community outreach and

[43:45] engagement has really

[43:46] encompassed not just the

[43:47] concerns expressed

[43:49] by the mid-city community,

[43:50] but also those that were

[43:51] expressed up and

[43:52] down the entire corridor.

[43:58] So in conclusion,

[44:01] we're going to recap the

[44:02] staff recommendation,

[44:04] which is for a locally

[44:05] preferred alternative

[44:07] along the San

[44:08] Vicente-Fairfax alignment,

[44:10] which creates the greatest

[44:11] number of benefits contingent

[44:12] upon the formation

[44:13] of an EIFD by the City of

[44:14] West Hollywood

[44:16] in coordination with Los

[44:17] Angeles County to provide

[44:19] additional local sources

[44:20] of funding at least 25% of

[44:22] the capital costs per the

[44:23] early project delivery.

[44:25] And you can see the

[44:27] boundaries of the City of

[44:29] West Hollywood in pink.

[44:31] This recommendation includes

[44:32] an initial operating segment

[44:33] to Wilshire-Fairfax at the

[44:35] D-Line as this project is

[44:37] large enough

[44:38] to be phased and constructed

[44:41] in sections.

[44:43] And based on input and

[44:44] additional analysis, we are

[44:45] recommending adjusting the

[44:46] tunnel alignment in Mid-City

[44:48] to the Crenshaw right-of-way

[44:49] to reduce tunnel easements

[44:50] below historic residential

[44:52] neighborhoods

[44:54] with a commitment to work

[44:55] with the property owner

[44:56] at the Midtown Shopping

[44:58] Center to preserve the

[44:59] neighborhood grocery store

[45:01] in advance of construction so

[45:02] that grocery store could

[45:04] continue to serve the

[45:05] community throughout the

[45:06] construction and beyond.

[45:12] And lastly, the

[45:13] recommendation suggests a

[45:15] terminus at the Hollywood

[45:16] Bowl.

[45:17] This is a major regional

[45:19] cultural center.

[45:20] It's also an optimal

[45:22] construction site

[45:23] for the final phase

[45:25] of construction

[45:27] for the last segment

[45:30] in the north.

[45:32] As you can see

[45:33] on the diagram here,

[45:34] we are very early in the

[45:36] project development process.

[45:37] We've completed the draft EIR

[45:38] and additional studies.

[45:40] The LPA selection is a

[45:41] necessary step in the

[45:42] planning process initiated

[45:44] under early project delivery

[45:46] for future planning, funding,

[45:47] and coordination purposes.

[45:49] The LPA selection is not

[45:53] project approval.

[45:57] There would be additional

[45:58] engineering and environmental

[45:59] analysis,

[46:01] and we are still very early

[46:02] in design.

[46:03] However, that analysis will

[46:04] be on hold as...

[46:06] Progress is made

[46:07] to address additional funding

[46:09] under the early project

[46:10] delivery strategy, and

[46:11] further planning and

[46:13] construction would then

[46:15] remain subject

[46:16] to board approval

[46:18] for formal acceleration.

[46:20] That concludes our

[46:21] presentation,

[46:22] and we're now available

[46:25] for questions and comments.

[46:26] Thank you.

[46:28] Well, thank you very much for

[46:29] your presentation.

[46:30] I had a slight sidebar

[46:31] with...

[46:33] Supervisor Horvath who

[46:34] indicates we may be losing

[46:36] some people if we

[46:37] on the board, on the

[46:41] committee start discussions.

[46:42] So it's my intention to let

[46:44] the public speak first and

[46:45] on the subject

[46:48] of the public speaking,

[46:52] we have close to 120 speakers

[46:54] who have requested an

[46:55] opportunity to address the

[46:57] committee.

[46:58] I'm going to Set the time

[47:01] limit at 30 seconds

[47:03] for each speaker.

[47:05] That's within my purview, and

[47:06] the reason we're doing that

[47:07] is to make sure each and

[47:08] every one

[47:09] of you has a chance

[47:10] to address the committee.

[47:12] And we do have another

[47:13] committee meeting also

[47:14] scheduled at 1 p.m.

[47:16] So let's jump right

[47:18] into it, 30 seconds, and we

[47:20] appreciate your patience

[47:22] throughout this ordeal.

[47:25] I do apologize we can't give

[47:26] you the typical one minute on

[47:27] other items that we usually

[47:28] do.

[47:32] This is public comment

[47:33] for item 7.

[47:34] If you're on the phone,

[47:35] please press down to now.

[47:36] We'll be closing the signing

[47:37] up in about 30 seconds.

[47:39] In the room, I would like

[47:40] to call Chelsea Byers

[47:42] for lectern A, John

[47:44] Erickson, lectern B, Carl

[47:45] Dumont, lectern A, Lauren

[47:47] Smith, lectern A, Mia

[47:49] Morano, lectern B, and Skye

[47:50] Saulnier, lectern B.

[47:52] I'll be calling more names

[47:54] voluntarily.

[47:57] Please go ahead.

[48:01] Thank you.

[48:02] My name is Chelsea Byers.

[48:03] I'm a council member

[48:04] for the City of West

[48:05] Hollywood, and I'm also here

[48:06] representing the West Side

[48:07] Cities Council of

[48:08] Government.

[48:09] We urge your support for

[48:10] staff recommendations today

[48:11] and without delay.

[48:12] The City of West Hollywood is

[48:13] prepared to launch the EIFD

[48:14] as soon as we possibly can,

[48:15] and we can only do that

[48:16] with a decision

[48:18] on the LPA.

[48:19] We know this is going

[48:21] to be a game changer

[48:22] for the entire region, but

[48:23] it's the billions and

[48:24] resources that the city is

[48:25] prepared

[48:27] to cultivate that we want to

[48:28] make sure are highlighted

[48:29] today, and we thank you

[48:30] for your partnership

[48:31] on this great project.

[48:32] Hello, Councilmember John

[48:33] Erickson and former mayor

[48:34] for the City of West

[48:35] Hollywood representing my

[48:36] great city.

[48:37] West Hollywood wants

[48:38] to give Metro and the county

[48:39] $2.2 billion in our EIFD to

[48:40] make sure we prioritize this

[48:42] project in not only

[48:44] connecting our communities,

[48:46] but our regions.

[48:47] We want to work

[48:49] with everyone

[48:50] to make this a win, because

[48:51] when our communities are

[48:52] connected, we all thrive as

[48:53] Los Angelinos.

[48:54] We're here, we want to work

[48:55] with you all, and we urge a

[48:56] recommendation today so we

[48:58] can get moving and get

[48:59] in a rail and come on down

[49:00] to Metro Station.

[49:05] Good morning, my name is

[49:06] Carl Dumont.

[49:07] I'm a community member at

[49:08] Lafayette Square.

[49:09] I want to say thank you

[49:10] for having this opportunity

[49:11] for us

[49:12] to share our voices.

[49:13] And I am against going

[49:15] through Lafayette Square

[49:18] for multiple reasons,

[49:22] and there's not enough time

[49:23] to go through it,

[49:25] but I am ultimately

[49:27] against going through

[49:30] Lafayette Square.

[49:31] Thank you.

[49:32] Hold on,

[49:33] before you start speaking,

[49:35] we're going

[49:36] to call somebody.

[49:38] For Lecture A, David James

[49:40] Henry, Maryamand Duster,

[49:42] Kelly, Deepak Krishna.

[49:47] For Lecture B, Andrew

[49:49] Solomon, Anita Goswam, David

[49:50] Eichmann, and Matthew

[49:51] Valetti.

[49:52] Hello, Metro Board members.

[49:53] My name is Mia Morano, and

[49:54] I'm the Square and

[49:55] Parabellities, who absolutely

[49:56] supports having a Metro to

[49:57] strongly voice my opposition

[49:58] to any alignment that goes

[49:59] under...

[50:00] We are now discussing

[50:01] alignment options, but our

[50:03] community was entirely left

[50:04] out of the conversation

[50:05] about the placement

[50:06] of the station once Hancock

[50:07] blocked this Wilshire and

[50:08] Crenshaw stop.

[50:10] A draft ERR was presented

[50:11] to our community with 28

[50:13] easement plans.

[50:14] The ERA was presented

[50:15] to the I want to point out

[50:16] that not all easements are

[50:17] the same.

[50:18] An easement on a residential

[50:20] street with little traffic

[50:21] and historic old homes is not

[50:22] the same as an easement

[50:23] on a very traffic street

[50:24] with newer homes, especially

[50:25] when the latter is a viable

[50:26] option.

[50:27] Additionally, comparing

[50:28] impact...

[50:29] Thank you.

[50:30] We have to go

[50:31] to the next speaker.

[50:32] Go ahead.

[50:33] Hi, my name is Lauren

[50:34] Smith.

[50:35] I'm with Lafayette Square.

[50:36] We do appreciate the

[50:37] engagement

[50:38] from our metro partners.

[50:39] They have been very wonderful

[50:40] to work with, and we

[50:42] appreciate the opportunity

[50:43] to be here.

[50:48] However, I will stand

[50:49] with my neighbors

[50:50] in not supporting any

[50:51] drilling under Lafayette

[50:53] Square.

[50:55] We appreciate your attention,

[50:57] and thank you for additional

[50:58] community engagement as we

[50:59] move forward.

[51:03] I am Skye Sommier.

[51:04] I am the vice president of

[51:05] Lafayette Square

[51:06] Association.

[51:07] We're here discussing option

[51:08] two because the original plan

[51:09] to meet the Purple Line at

[51:10] Crenshaw and Wilshire was

[51:11] stopped by Hancock Park.

[51:12] Now Metro is looking

[51:13] for ways to meet needs

[51:14] of other communities.

[51:16] We've asked

[51:18] to not receive transparency

[51:19] from the MTA on lawsuits

[51:20] from private homeowners.

[51:22] No one has asked us what our

[51:23] needs are.

[51:24] We need to protect our

[51:25] historic community,

[51:26] and we need to be asked what

[51:27] our transportation needs are,

[51:28] and not simply always meeting

[51:29] other communities' needs.

[51:33] Thank you.

[51:37] My name is David James

[51:38] Henry.

[51:39] I'm a metro user and an

[51:40] employee at the Writers

[51:41] Guild of America West.

[51:42] WGAW headquarters sits at

[51:43] Fairfax and 3rd, and our

[51:44] members and tourists would be

[51:45] well served by the

[51:46] recommended route as

[51:48] proposed.

[51:49] I'm also a former Hollywood

[51:52] Bowl employee,

[51:53] and I personally work

[51:55] with my co-workers

[51:57] to direct thousands

[51:58] of patrons to shuttles

[52:00] to destinations like Culver

[52:01] City, Santa Monica, Sherman

[52:04] Oaks, West Hollywood, and

[52:06] Torrance, a Hollywood Bowl

[52:07] station.

[52:08] would well serve to clear the

[52:09] clog on Highland Avenue's

[52:10] artery every night

[52:11] during bowl season.

[52:12] Thank you.

[52:13] Hi, Andrew Solomon, City of

[52:14] West Hollywood.

[52:15] I'm a dad.

[52:16] I've got a three-year-old,

[52:17] and I know that nothing will

[52:18] affect her world more than

[52:19] the decision that you make

[52:20] today and next Thursday.

[52:21] West Hollywood isn't

[52:22] like most communities.

[52:23] We come to the Metro and say

[52:24] we want rail

[52:25] in our backyard.

[52:26] We went so far as to say that

[52:28] we would create an EIFD

[52:29] to help pay for it.

[52:30] Not only did we create it, we

[52:31] lobbied the state legislature

[52:32] to change the law to make it

[52:34] more practical and make it a

[52:35] reality.

[52:36] Build the pink line to the

[52:37] Pink Pony Club.

[52:38] Thanks.

[52:44] My name is Nariman Dasher,

[52:45] and I'll be a future user

[52:46] once the D-line extends

[52:48] to the West.

[52:50] And when it does...

[52:52] And much later, you have this

[52:53] K-Line extension.

[52:55] I strongly support the staff

[52:56] recommendation so that we can

[52:57] get access to the rest

[53:03] of the Metro lines,

[53:04] which will be very important

[53:05] in terms of usage by all

[53:06] of us.

[53:11] Anita Goswami.

[53:12] I'm a resident of West

[53:13] Hollywood for the last 38

[53:15] years.

[53:16] I'm a Metro bus and train

[53:17] rider.

[53:18] I got here on the number

[53:19] four.

[53:20] I love my number four.

[53:22] This is the most complex

[53:24] option, the most expensive

[53:25] option, contingent

[53:26] on several billion dollars

[53:27] from the very tiny city of

[53:28] West Hollywood, which is

[53:29] mortgaging decades of its

[53:30] future so developers can

[53:31] start using SB79.

[53:33] That's why those property

[53:34] values went up

[53:35] over the half mile.

[53:36] Please consider the less

[53:37] expensive, less complex

[53:38] option, because otherwise

[53:39] Metro's legacy will be

[53:41] destroyed neighborhoods and a

[53:42] large debt.

[53:44] Thank you.

[53:45] Before you start,

[53:47] we're going

[53:48] to call some more names.

[53:49] Hold on.

[53:50] For Lecture A, I have Deb

[53:51] Height, Pete Walgesigan,

[53:52] Josh Ott, Jeff Ciccarelli,

[53:55] Ernesto Pantoja, and Edgar

[53:56] Suarez.

[53:59] For Lecture B, I have Al

[54:02] Cromer, Yazad Dester,

[54:04] Danielle Silvera, Carrie

[54:06] Seam, and Travis Morgan.

[54:13] On behalf of the Public

[54:15] Facilities Infrastructure and

[54:16] Recreation Commission

[54:17] for the City of West

[54:18] Hollywood, we would like

[54:19] to strongly advocate

[54:20] for the K-Line extension

[54:21] to run

[54:22] through the additional stops

[54:23] in West Hollywood.

[54:24] We know this will not only

[54:25] improve the lives of 35,000

[54:26] residents of West

[54:27] Hollywood,

[54:28] but also serve the greater

[54:29] Los Angeles area, providing

[54:30] public transportation

[54:31] to our parks, restaurants,

[54:33] music venues, and shops

[54:34] in our city,

[54:35] while also providing ease

[54:36] of access to some

[54:37] of the best medical centers

[54:38] in the country.

[54:39] Please vote for the San

[54:40] Vicente Fairfax extension,

[54:42] and thank you

[54:43] for your time.

[54:44] I'm sorry,

[54:45] what's your name?

[54:46] Callie Rogers.

[54:47] Thank you.

[54:51] I have a deeper question.

[54:53] Matthew Valenti, Lafayette

[54:55] Square resident.

[54:56] Metro has a record of damage

[54:58] and not taking responsibility

[54:59] for it.

[55:00] Lafayette Square is

[55:01] historically too important

[55:02] to Los Angeles

[55:03] to take that risk.

[55:04] Please, choose a route.

[55:06] avoids it and other historic

[55:07] areas.

[55:17] Hi there, I'm Deb Height.

[55:18] As a resident

[55:19] of the historic Lafayette

[55:20] Square, I'm here to express

[55:22] my strong opposition

[55:23] to the LPA Option 2

[55:24] for the K-Line Northern

[55:26] Extension.

[55:27] My primary concern is about

[55:28] Metro's construction record

[55:29] and reliability risks.

[55:30] It's a consistent and

[55:31] verifiable pattern across

[55:33] Metro's major tunneling

[55:34] projects in which the

[55:35] agency...

[55:36] minimizes foreseeable

[55:38] impacts, disclaims direct

[55:39] responsibility,

[55:40] and implements mitigation

[55:41] only after harm occurs.

[55:48] Thank you.

[55:50] Good morning.

[55:51] David Eichmann, Chair

[55:52] of the West Hollywood

[55:53] Transportation and Mobility

[55:54] Commission.

[55:55] We support staff

[55:57] recommendation.

[55:59] The numbers speak

[56:01] for themselves.

[56:03] 100,000 daily trips.

[56:04] To quote Supervisor

[56:05] Horvath, nowhere in L.A.

[56:07] County has a city stood so

[56:08] unanimously in support of

[56:09] bringing transit.

[56:11] and all the benefits that

[56:12] come with it

[56:13] inside its borders.

[56:15] Please make sure it's done

[56:16] by 2047.

[56:18] I'll be 87 years old.

[56:21] Make sure the elevators work.

[56:22] Hi, my name is Edgar

[56:23] Suarez.

[56:24] I'm a General Services

[56:26] Supervisor and an AFSCME

[56:27] Union Steward.

[56:28] On behalf of AFSCME Local

[56:29] 3634, Metro Supervisors, and

[56:31] its 900 members who have

[56:32] continued to build

[56:33] Adelaide's Metro-Growing

[56:34] Transportation Network, I

[56:35] would like

[56:36] to express my strong support

[56:38] for the staff-recommended

[56:39] LPA.

[56:41] and ask for your approval

[56:42] today.

[56:43] Hi, I'm Travis Morgan, and I

[56:44] serve on Culver City's

[56:45] Bicycle and Pedestrian

[56:46] Advisory Committee, though

[56:47] today I'm speaking for

[56:48] myself.

[56:49] I rode the K-Line here today,

[56:50] and so this project as a

[56:51] Fox Hills resident is

[56:52] personal to me.

[56:53] My comment is yes and.

[56:54] A strong yes to the locally

[56:55] preferred alternative and a

[56:56] request to seriously study

[56:57] cut and cover, particularly

[56:58] in Phase 2 north of

[56:59] Wilshire.

[57:00] Please expand Metro's...

[57:04] bore tunnel vision and look

[57:06] beyond deep bores instead of

[57:10] casually dismissing cut and

[57:12] cover.

[57:14] Thank you very much.

[57:18] Good morning,

[57:19] chair and members.

[57:20] My name is Pete Wogelgen.

[57:21] I'm a 26-year member of UA

[57:22] Local 250, pipefitters,

[57:23] welders,

[57:24] and refrigeration.

[57:25] I'm here to speak on behalf

[57:26] of the LAOC Building

[57:27] Trades.

[57:28] This project is a game

[57:29] changer for regional

[57:30] connectivity and ridership.

[57:31] But for our members,

[57:32] it means real work.

[57:33] The staff recommendation

[57:34] represents more than 10,000

[57:35] well-paid union jobs, nearly

[57:36] 10 billion in labor income,

[57:37] and about 23 billion

[57:39] in economic output.

[57:40] The building trade strongly

[57:41] recommends the committee vote

[57:42] yes on the staff

[57:43] recommendation and send this

[57:45] to a final board vote

[57:46] for approval.

[57:47] Thank you.

[57:53] Hi, my name is Yeza Duster.

[57:54] I'm a born and raised

[57:55] Angeleno, and I'm a resident

[57:57] of the Crenshaw District.

[57:58] I'm in support

[58:00] of the K-Line extension.

[58:01] This extension would

[58:03] effectively create a link

[58:04] between Crenshaw to West

[58:06] Hollywood, not to mention

[58:07] connecting residents

[58:09] along this corridor to one of

[58:10] our most revered cultural

[58:12] centers, the Hollywood

[58:13] Bowl.

[58:16] Thank you.

[58:17] Good morning, Honorable

[58:18] Chair.

[58:20] My name is Ernesto

[58:21] Pantoja.

[58:22] Here on behalf of Sergio

[58:24] Rasc n, Business Manager of

[58:25] Labor's Local 300,

[58:28] in support

[58:32] of the staff recommendation,

[58:33] this alignment will be able

[58:35] to pull most

[58:36] of the best communities on

[58:37] the local higher alignment.

[58:38] The other thing is laborers

[58:39] and operators are the ones

[58:40] that build the tunnels.

[58:41] We are the most qualified,

[58:42] and with Metro's support, we

[58:43] have opened up apprenticeship

[58:44] opportunities

[58:45] in the tunnels,

[58:46] the best work they can get.

[58:47] We urge your support

[58:48] for this.

[58:49] Thank you.

[58:50] Hi, my name is Daniel

[58:51] Silvera.

[58:52] Thanks so much for having me.

[58:53] I've lived in L.A.

[58:56] my entire life.

[58:58] I've been using public

[59:00] transit since I was 13 years

[59:02] old, and I wanted to...

[59:04] reframe this question a

[59:08] little bit.

[59:09] We have to think

[59:10] about what we want this city

[59:11] to look like, not

[59:13] in the next couple years,

[59:14] but in the next couple

[59:15] generations.

[59:17] And I think that this project

[59:18] is going to connect so many

[59:20] different communities and

[59:21] will be just in the long term

[59:22] what this city will look back

[59:23] on as

[59:24] like a good historic moment,

[59:25] creating this line for all

[59:26] of the people.

[59:27] Morning, my name is Josh

[59:28] Ott.

[59:29] I'm the president and

[59:30] legislative rep for TCU

[59:31] 1315.

[59:32] On behalf of our 1,300

[59:33] members and their families,

[59:34] I'm here in strong support of

[59:35] the staff-recommended LPA and

[59:36] urge that the committee and

[59:37] board approve it.

[59:38] The K-Line Extension is a

[59:39] transformative project

[59:40] connecting the South Bay, LAX

[59:41] area, South LA, Inglewood,

[59:42] Crenshaw Corridor,

[59:43] Mid-City, West Hollywood, and

[59:44] Hollywood.

[59:45] The San Vicente-Fairfax

[59:47] alignment would generate

[59:48] over 10,000 jobs, nearly

[59:50] 2,000 more than the next

[59:51] highest alternative,

[59:52] while delivering fast,

[59:53] reliable transit.

[59:55] Thank you.

[59:57] Before you start speaking,

[59:58] we're going

[59:59] to call the last batch

[1:00:00] of those that have signed up

[1:00:01] in the room.

[1:00:02] And this is a reminder,

[1:00:03] if you're

[1:00:04] on the phone and you would

[1:00:05] like to speak,

[1:00:06] please press pound two.

[1:00:07] For Lettern A,

[1:00:08] Roshayaglimai, Sarah Shaw.

[1:00:10] Eli Lipman, Electron B.

[1:00:11] Dennis Zane, Jeremy Winter,

[1:00:12] and Jaleesa Hazad.

[1:00:14] Hi, Carrie Seim, a resident

[1:00:20] of Lafayette Square, here

[1:00:23] to speak out strongly

[1:00:24] against Option 2.

[1:00:26] We are for public transit.

[1:00:28] We are not for an alignment

[1:00:29] that is a dangerous impact to

[1:00:31] our historic and historically

[1:00:33] targeted neighborhood.

[1:00:35] The destructive and alarming

[1:00:36] impact

[1:00:37] of the underground transit in

[1:00:38] these residential

[1:00:39] communities,

[1:00:40] including recent studies,

[1:00:42] some from Metro itself,

[1:00:43] documenting severe

[1:00:44] vibrations, noise,

[1:00:45] and structural damage,

[1:00:47] which provide an undue burden

[1:00:48] to our neighborhood.

[1:00:50] Many of these homes have

[1:00:51] deteriorating crippled walls,

[1:00:52] heavy foundation settlement.

[1:00:53] And thank you

[1:00:54] for listening.

[1:00:55] Thank you for the time.

[1:00:57] Thank you very much.

[1:00:58] Hi, I'm Jeff Ciccarelli.

[1:00:59] I'm a resident of East

[1:01:00] Hollywood, and I'm here

[1:01:01] to speak in favor of the

[1:01:02] San Vicente-Fairfax

[1:01:03] Extension.

[1:01:04] I think it's important

[1:01:05] to connect West Hollywood and

[1:01:06] the Hollywood Bowl.

[1:01:07] It's long overdue.

[1:01:08] And I also hope this gets

[1:01:09] more people out

[1:01:10] of their cars on the way

[1:01:11] to LAX.

[1:01:12] Thank you.

[1:01:15] Good afternoon.

[1:01:16] I'm Al Cromer, president

[1:01:17] of ASPE Local 3634 Metro

[1:01:18] Supervisors.

[1:01:19] I stand here for the K-Line

[1:01:21] Northern Extension

[1:01:22] Project.

[1:01:23] It will connect riders to

[1:01:24] 110,000...

[1:01:25] jobs within one half mile

[1:01:28] of stations, over 40,000 more

[1:01:29] jobs than the next highest

[1:01:30] Fairfax alternative.

[1:01:32] I would like

[1:01:35] to thank the board and staff

[1:01:36] for putting forward this

[1:01:37] recommendation, and I ask

[1:01:38] that this committee approve

[1:01:39] the recommendation

[1:01:40] before you today.

[1:01:42] Thank you.

[1:01:45] Hi, my name is Zara Shaw.

[1:01:46] I am a lifelong LA resident

[1:01:47] and a current USC student,

[1:01:48] and I am urging the LA

[1:01:50] Metro Board

[1:01:51] to I'm strongly urging the LA

[1:01:52] Metro Board to support the

[1:01:53] San Vicente-Fairfax alignment

[1:01:54] of the K-Line North

[1:01:56] extension.

[1:01:59] This is an incredibly

[1:02:01] important project when it

[1:02:02] comes

[1:02:04] to changing how people move

[1:02:05] through Los Angeles and

[1:02:06] connecting our most important

[1:02:07] cultural centers.

[1:02:09] And I think if we don't

[1:02:10] support this, then we're

[1:02:13] basically selling our future

[1:02:14] down the line.

[1:02:15] So I don't know.

[1:02:16] I have to boo.

[1:02:19] Board members, my name is

[1:02:21] Denny Zane.

[1:02:22] I'm here representing Move LA

[1:02:23] and the original R&M

[1:02:24] coalition that moved the

[1:02:25] measures to the ballot

[1:02:26] to raise the funds

[1:02:29] for this remarkable moment.

[1:02:30] This remarkable moment when

[1:02:33] we have an opportunity to

[1:02:34] complete the planning and

[1:02:35] commitments

[1:02:36] of the vision embedded

[1:02:37] in measures R and M.

[1:02:40] We've about

[1:02:41] to open the first stations

[1:02:43] on the subway

[1:02:45] toward the sea.

[1:02:46] We've made decisions

[1:02:48] about the Sepulveda Transit

[1:02:49] Pass, and now we must make

[1:02:51] the commitment

[1:02:52] to move the system to the

[1:02:54] Hollywood Bowl.

[1:02:56] Thank you.

[1:02:58] Thank you.

[1:03:00] Hi, my name is Jaleesa

[1:03:01] Hazard.

[1:03:02] I'm a 49-year resident of

[1:03:03] Lafayette Square.

[1:03:04] I can remember when there

[1:03:06] were no grocery stores

[1:03:07] near us.

[1:03:08] There were no places to go

[1:03:10] to get your meds.

[1:03:12] And right now...

[1:03:14] You're talking about taking

[1:03:16] away something we waited

[1:03:17] almost 25 years to get.

[1:03:19] And I'm thinking that's a

[1:03:20] step back versus a step

[1:03:21] forward.

[1:03:23] I hope I am here to say no

[1:03:24] to any of the current things

[1:03:25] that are going to go under

[1:03:26] Lafayette Square.

[1:03:28] Thank you.

[1:03:30] Hello, my name is Jeremy

[1:03:34] Winter.

[1:03:35] LA Metro has two major

[1:03:36] problems,

[1:03:37] poor land use and a lack

[1:03:38] of crosstown connectivity

[1:03:40] between rail routes.

[1:03:41] This extension is the perfect

[1:03:43] chance

[1:03:44] to fix this problem.

[1:03:45] The San Vicente alignment has

[1:03:46] far more jobs and homes

[1:03:47] in its routing than any

[1:03:48] of the other options.

[1:03:49] And with connections

[1:03:50] to the B and D line, the

[1:03:51] extension will supercharge

[1:03:53] the whole metro system.

[1:03:54] It solves two

[1:03:55] of the biggest problems

[1:03:57] in one stroke.

[1:03:58] Also, modern deep-water

[1:03:59] drilling techniques are

[1:04:01] proven

[1:04:02] to be safe and unobstructed.

[1:04:03] Please vote in favor

[1:04:04] of the K line extension.

[1:04:05] Thank you very much.

[1:04:06] Hi, I'm Rosha Yagmai,

[1:04:07] lifelong Angeleno.

[1:04:08] I am against this route.

[1:04:09] I'm very pro-metro.

[1:04:12] I'm excited to connect

[1:04:14] to the Hollywood Bowl,

[1:04:16] but I feel like this route is

[1:04:20] prioritizing the Midtown

[1:04:22] Crossing station

[1:04:23] over the local needs, and I

[1:04:24] wish there was a little more

[1:04:26] time to talk about that.

[1:04:27] Okay.

[1:04:31] Thank you.

[1:04:32] Again.

[1:04:33] Thank you.

[1:04:34] We are now going

[1:04:35] on the phone lines.

[1:04:37] We have 22 raised hands so

[1:04:38] far and can grow.

[1:04:39] Please send me the first

[1:04:40] caller.

[1:04:42] Moving on to the caller.

[1:04:43] Please state your name.

[1:04:44] You have 30 seconds

[1:04:46] to state your comment.

[1:04:47] In the 1960s, the Mid-City

[1:04:51] community was cut apart

[1:04:53] for the building of the

[1:04:54] Santa Monica Freeway.

[1:04:55] The 1994 Northridge

[1:04:56] earthquake epicenter, 14

[1:04:58] miles away, caused major

[1:04:59] infrastructure malfunction

[1:05:00] of the Santa Monica Freeway

[1:05:01] at Fairfax.

[1:05:03] Midtown Crossing is two miles

[1:05:04] away from Fairfax.

[1:05:05] Metro must acknowledge...

[1:05:06] during the entire process

[1:05:08] of this project, the above-

[1:05:10] and below-ground trauma this

[1:05:12] community has dealt with.

[1:05:13] Indies will say that's

[1:05:14] history.

[1:05:16] Okay, 2026, three weeks ago,

[1:05:17] Metro Construction in

[1:05:18] Beverly Hills reportedly

[1:05:19] caused a water main break.

[1:05:21] Thank you.

[1:05:26] Caller, caller ending at

[1:05:27] 1480.

[1:05:29] You have 30 seconds to state

[1:05:30] your comment.

[1:05:33] Hi, I'm Jay, a West

[1:05:35] Hollywood resident for over

[1:05:37] 25 years.

[1:05:38] Unlike many supporting this

[1:05:40] plan, I'm not a paid law

[1:05:41] petition tied

[1:05:44] to interest.

[1:05:45] I'm one of thousands of

[1:05:48] residents who oppose this

[1:05:49] extension.

[1:05:50] Our biggest concern is real

[1:05:51] on-the-ground damage.

[1:05:52] The San Vicente and La

[1:05:53] Cienega areas sit

[1:05:54] on a high aquifer, and we're

[1:05:55] already seeing the effects

[1:05:56] of dewatering.

[1:05:57] With cracked foundations,

[1:05:58] damaged homes,

[1:05:59] failing doors and windows,

[1:06:00] expanding this for a subway

[1:06:01] with widespread irreversible

[1:06:02] harm across West Hollywood

[1:06:03] and likely lawsuits.

[1:06:04] And for what, three stations

[1:06:05] in a city

[1:06:06] under two square miles?

[1:06:07] It's excessive.

[1:06:10] Moving on to the next caller.

[1:06:11] Caller ending in 2-9-0-3.

[1:06:13] Let's not clap, please,

[1:06:15] if we can.

[1:06:17] Yeah, 30 seconds

[1:06:18] to say your comment.

[1:06:19] Okay.

[1:06:20] My name is Ig.

[1:06:22] I'm a long-time West

[1:06:23] Hollywood resident.

[1:06:24] I can assure you that West

[1:06:25] Hollywood residents do not

[1:06:27] want the K-Line subway stops.

[1:06:28] Our city of just 1.9 square

[1:06:30] miles doesn't have the

[1:06:31] business centers which need

[1:06:32] them, and the $4 billion cost

[1:06:33] to our taxpayers is

[1:06:34] disproportionate.

[1:06:35] These stops would be a gift

[1:06:36] for developers who,

[1:06:38] under SB79,

[1:06:39] can build luxury apartments

[1:06:40] near these stops, destroying

[1:06:41] affordable housing.

[1:06:43] A better option is for West

[1:06:44] Hollywood

[1:06:45] to extend the route

[1:06:46] of its shuttle two blocks,

[1:06:47] connecting the city

[1:06:48] to the subway station on

[1:06:49] Walsh-Gerald-La Cienega.

[1:06:51] Saving billions

[1:06:52] of dollars and decades

[1:06:53] of construction.

[1:06:55] Thank you.

[1:06:57] Moving on

[1:06:58] to the next caller.

[1:07:00] Caller ending in 0229.

[1:07:01] State your name and your

[1:07:02] comment.

[1:07:03] You have 30 seconds

[1:07:04] to state your comment.

[1:07:07] Hi, my name is Nick Amber.

[1:07:08] I live in the Fairfax

[1:07:09] District.

[1:07:10] I'd like to urge the

[1:07:11] committee to recommend the

[1:07:12] hybrid alignment be approved

[1:07:13] without any further delay.

[1:07:14] If the mayor attempts

[1:07:15] to delay further,

[1:07:16] then I urge an amendment

[1:07:17] to return to the D.A.R.

[1:07:18] tunnel for phase one

[1:07:19] of the full board meeting.

[1:07:20] $165 million and 28 seconds

[1:07:22] of travel time to appease

[1:07:23] Lafayette Square's

[1:07:24] scientifically unfounded

[1:07:25] anxieties is shameful, and

[1:07:26] even further delay is

[1:07:28] unacceptable.

[1:07:29] They've gotten 18 months

[1:07:30] of additional engagement to

[1:07:31] demonstrate that tunneling

[1:07:32] will have zero impact,

[1:07:34] and that's enough.

[1:07:36] Please respect truth,

[1:07:37] reality,

[1:07:41] and respect your staff.

[1:07:42] Thank you.

[1:07:43] Moving on to the next caller.

[1:07:44] Caller ending in 9152.

[1:07:45] You have 30 seconds

[1:07:46] to state your comment.

[1:07:48] Hello, my name is Kathy

[1:07:49] Ramirez, organizer with Move

[1:07:50] LA.

[1:07:51] We fully support the K-Line

[1:07:52] Northern Extension, LPA.

[1:07:53] I strongly urge you

[1:07:55] to send this recommendation

[1:07:56] to the board for approval.

[1:07:57] Once built, this would be the

[1:07:58] busiest light rail line

[1:08:00] in the country.

[1:08:01] I'd like to specifically

[1:08:02] highlight the high ridership

[1:08:03] by San Vicente and connect us

[1:08:04] in the South Bay

[1:08:05] of the region to key

[1:08:06] destinations and medical

[1:08:07] centers that are only covered

[1:08:09] by my father's insurance,

[1:08:10] who is now unable

[1:08:12] to drive.

[1:08:13] Thank you so much.

[1:08:18] Moving on

[1:08:20] to the next caller.

[1:08:21] Caller ending in 4535.

[1:08:24] Please state your name.

[1:08:25] You have 30 seconds

[1:08:26] to state your comment.

[1:08:27] My name is Brian.

[1:08:29] I'm located in Studio City,

[1:08:30] Universal Stop.

[1:08:31] Love taking the Metro.

[1:08:32] I weekly visit Santa Monica

[1:08:33] and Manhattan Beach and plan

[1:08:34] to be at the Redondo Stop

[1:08:36] tonight.

[1:08:37] Please keep in mind long term

[1:08:38] the grid, the mesh that L.A.

[1:08:40] public transit could be.

[1:08:41] in favor of visiting West

[1:08:43] Hollywood,

[1:08:46] but please leave stations

[1:08:48] open for stubs for La Brea

[1:08:49] on a 100-year plan.

[1:08:52] This stuff lasts a long time.

[1:08:54] Thank you.

[1:08:56] Moving on to the next caller,

[1:08:58] caller ending in 0547.

[1:09:00] Please state your name.

[1:09:02] You have 30 seconds

[1:09:03] to state your comment.

[1:09:11] All right, moving on

[1:09:12] to the next caller,

[1:09:15] caller ending at 1924.

[1:09:16] Please state your name.

[1:09:17] You have 30 seconds

[1:09:18] to state your comment.

[1:09:22] Hi, my name is Marissa

[1:09:23] Garcia with Move LA,

[1:09:24] and I strongly support the

[1:09:25] San Vicente Fairfax LPA.

[1:09:26] As an asthmatic, I know that

[1:09:27] clean, breathable air starts

[1:09:28] with replacing gridlock

[1:09:31] with reliable,

[1:09:32] high-capacity transit.

[1:09:34] This route is also a lifeline

[1:09:36] for accessibility,

[1:09:37] providing a direct connection

[1:09:38] to Cedar-Sinai for others

[1:09:39] with chronic conditions.

[1:09:41] many of whom depend

[1:09:42] on transit to access

[1:09:43] essential health care.

[1:09:46] Thank you.

[1:09:48] Moving on to the next caller.

[1:09:49] Caller ending in 0735.

[1:09:50] Please state your name.

[1:09:51] You have 30 seconds

[1:09:52] to state your comment.

[1:09:53] Yes.

[1:09:56] My name is Ann Rubin.

[1:09:57] I live in Carthage Circle,

[1:09:58] Mid-Wilshire.

[1:09:59] We've been living

[1:10:00] with negative impacts

[1:10:01] of D-line construction

[1:10:03] for a long time,

[1:10:07] and I look forward

[1:10:08] to the opening

[1:10:09] of the subway.

[1:10:10] Most of us can't take 20

[1:10:11] years

[1:10:12] of more train planning, but I

[1:10:14] know that preferred alignment

[1:10:15] is moving forward.

[1:10:16] I asked Metro and our City

[1:10:17] of LA to uncouple SB 79

[1:10:18] for the time being

[1:10:19] until we actually get closer

[1:10:20] to the light rail functioning

[1:10:21] around Fairfax and 3rd and

[1:10:22] Beverly and La Cienega.

[1:10:23] With that the effect of July

[1:10:24] 1 we'll see up zoning and

[1:10:25] land speculation

[1:10:26] in neighborhoods

[1:10:27] without the actual use

[1:10:28] of the plane.

[1:10:29] More empty chain link lots.

[1:10:33] Moving on

[1:10:34] to the next caller.

[1:10:35] Caller ending at 9326.

[1:10:36] Please state your name.

[1:10:38] You have 30 seconds

[1:10:41] to state your comment.

[1:10:44] Good afternoon my name is

[1:10:45] Jeff Mullen.

[1:10:46] I'm a resident of the city

[1:10:47] of West Hollywood and creator

[1:10:48] of the Rainbow Village.

[1:10:49] I'm calling

[1:10:50] to express my support

[1:10:51] for the San Vicente Fairfax

[1:10:52] alignment.

[1:10:53] That alignment will bring

[1:10:54] transformational change

[1:10:55] in the city of West

[1:10:56] Hollywood and the western

[1:10:57] region.

[1:10:59] And it's the greatest

[1:11:00] opportunity that Metro has

[1:11:01] for investing

[1:11:02] in the region.

[1:11:05] So I hope that the board will

[1:11:06] accept other planning and

[1:11:08] programming committee will

[1:11:10] approve the San Vicente

[1:11:13] FedEx alignment.

[1:11:16] Thank you.

[1:11:17] Moving on

[1:11:18] to the next caller.

[1:11:19] Caller ending 4886.

[1:11:21] Please state your name.

[1:11:23] You have 30 seconds

[1:11:25] to state your comment.

[1:11:27] Hello there.

[1:11:29] My name is Oliver Mather.

[1:11:30] I am in full support of San

[1:11:31] Vicente Fairfax alignment.

[1:11:32] I believe that connecting the

[1:11:33] most important in some

[1:11:34] of the most important hubs

[1:11:35] in LA along with the

[1:11:37] Hollywood Bulls is a gracious

[1:11:39] and necessary goal.

[1:11:40] We need to make sure that

[1:11:41] transit access is available

[1:11:42] for all those and

[1:11:43] to connect those

[1:11:44] to our other lines.

[1:11:45] In conclusion,

[1:11:46] support the draft.

[1:11:47] Thank you very much.

[1:11:49] Bye.

[1:11:50] Moving on

[1:11:51] to the next caller.

[1:11:52] Caller ending in 3746.

[1:11:53] Please state your name.

[1:11:54] You have 30 seconds

[1:11:56] to say your comment.

[1:11:57] Good morning, LA Metro.

[1:11:59] Thank you for your time.

[1:12:00] My name is Erin Sorenson, and

[1:12:01] I am a resident of

[1:12:02] Lafayette Square, and I

[1:12:03] oppose LPA option 2.

[1:12:04] I am a Metro user and

[1:12:05] supportive

[1:12:07] of the K-Line extension,

[1:12:08] but I implore you to pursue

[1:12:09] an alternative route that

[1:12:10] avoids unnecessary impacts to

[1:12:12] historic preservation overlay

[1:12:13] zone neighborhoods.

[1:12:14] and preserves critical local

[1:12:15] resources with the only

[1:12:17] grocery store and pharmacy

[1:12:18] in this area.

[1:12:20] Thank you.

[1:12:23] Moving on

[1:12:24] to the next caller.

[1:12:25] Caller ending with 5681.

[1:12:26] Please state your name.

[1:12:28] You have 30 seconds

[1:12:30] to state your comment.

[1:12:31] Hi, I'm Caitlin Dietz, and I

[1:12:32] live near USC

[1:12:33] with my partner,

[1:12:34] a USC student

[1:12:35] without a car, and we're

[1:12:36] considering LA as a long-term

[1:12:37] home, but my main concern is

[1:12:38] LA's lack of public

[1:12:40] transportation that

[1:12:41] discourages residents

[1:12:42] from enjoying parts

[1:12:44] of the city for fear of

[1:12:48] frustrating traffic and

[1:12:49] expensive parking, and that's

[1:12:50] if they have a car.

[1:12:51] I vehemently support this

[1:12:52] alignment,

[1:12:53] crucially including the

[1:12:54] Hollywood Bowl extension.

[1:12:55] We'd love

[1:12:56] to explore these important

[1:12:57] L.A.

[1:12:58] landmarks and support the

[1:12:59] L.A.

[1:13:00] economy more than we

[1:13:01] currently can when so much of

[1:13:02] our disposable income is

[1:13:03] eaten up by high gas and

[1:13:04] parking costs.

[1:13:05] Please vote yes

[1:13:06] on this alignment with the

[1:13:07] Hollywood Bowl extension.

[1:13:08] Thank you.

[1:13:09] Moving on to the next caller.

[1:13:10] Caller ending in 9813.

[1:13:11] Please state your name.

[1:13:12] You have 30 seconds

[1:13:13] to state your comment.

[1:13:14] Hello, this is Daryl Clark,

[1:13:15] Sierra Club, Angeles

[1:13:16] Chapter.

[1:13:17] Transportation share, I

[1:13:18] commend the LPA staff

[1:13:19] recommendation to serve major

[1:13:20] destinations and dense

[1:13:21] population in this important

[1:13:22] and difficult to access part

[1:13:23] of the city.

[1:13:24] I also hope you can find some

[1:13:25] cost reductions as planning

[1:13:26] continues.

[1:13:27] Thank you.

[1:13:35] Moving on

[1:13:36] to the next caller.

[1:13:38] Caller ending in 5719.

[1:13:39] Please state your name.

[1:13:40] You have 30 seconds

[1:13:43] to state your comment.

[1:13:44] Good morning, my name is

[1:13:45] Connor Webb.

[1:13:46] I strongly support the San

[1:13:47] Vicente Fairfax alignment and

[1:13:48] Hollywood Bowl terminus.

[1:13:49] However, I urge the committee

[1:13:50] to reject the

[1:13:51] Crenshaw-Rideaway alignment

[1:13:52] and select the DER alignment

[1:13:54] instead.

[1:13:55] The Crenshaw-Rideaway weighs

[1:13:57] 319 rider hours daily, adds

[1:13:58] 215 million

[1:14:00] in capital costs, and barely

[1:14:01] reduces subservice easements

[1:14:02] in Lafayette Square.

[1:14:03] As you've heard

[1:14:05] in comments, it doesn't even

[1:14:06] appease the the opposers that

[1:14:07] it's meant to.

[1:14:08] So please put riders first.

[1:14:10] Please select the DER

[1:14:11] alignment and let's get this

[1:14:12] project done.

[1:14:13] Thank you.

[1:14:15] Moving on

[1:14:16] to the next caller.

[1:14:17] Caller ending at 9800.

[1:14:18] Please state your name.

[1:14:19] You have 30 seconds

[1:14:21] to state your comment.

[1:14:22] Hello.

[1:14:23] My name is Renita Smith, and

[1:14:24] I'm a resident of

[1:14:26] Wellington Square.

[1:14:27] Let me start by saying

[1:14:28] clearly I love public transit

[1:14:29] and I love the Hollywood

[1:14:31] Bowl,

[1:14:32] but I'm vigorously opposed to

[1:14:33] this K-Line extension.

[1:14:34] I urge you

[1:14:35] to give equal weight to

[1:14:36] another cultural treasure

[1:14:38] other than the Hollywood

[1:14:39] Bowl, the Lafayette Square

[1:14:40] neighborhood.

[1:14:42] Many of us are not opposed

[1:14:43] to public transportation,

[1:14:44] but we are opposed

[1:14:46] to tunneling

[1:14:47] under this neighborhood, and

[1:14:50] this option asks historically

[1:14:52] disenfranchised communities

[1:14:53] to once again bear the

[1:14:54] burden, threaten property

[1:14:55] values, disrupt quality

[1:14:56] of life, and continue the

[1:14:57] pattern where our voices are

[1:14:59] heard, but not heard.

[1:15:00] We'll go on

[1:15:01] to the next caller.

[1:15:02] Caller ending in 0283, please

[1:15:03] state your name.

[1:15:04] You have 30 seconds

[1:15:05] to state your comment.

[1:15:06] My name is Joanne Johnson.

[1:15:08] I'm a resident of

[1:15:09] Lafayette.

[1:15:10] Square and I will also

[1:15:11] reiterate that I do support

[1:15:12] public transportation but

[1:15:13] there's a you know there

[1:15:15] there is no reason rationally

[1:15:16] why the route cannot be

[1:15:17] modified to avoid tunneling

[1:15:18] under the historic

[1:15:20] neighborhoods.

[1:15:21] They are historic in LA for a

[1:15:23] reason and right if you just

[1:15:24] make a slight deviation and

[1:15:26] review the studies and the

[1:15:27] routes,

[1:15:29] they can't it can be done

[1:15:30] without tunneling

[1:15:32] under the neighborhood.

[1:15:33] And additionally the launch

[1:15:35] of Moving on

[1:15:39] to the next caller,

[1:15:42] caller ending at 8713.

[1:15:46] Please state your name.

[1:15:49] You have 30 seconds

[1:15:51] to state your comment.

[1:15:52] Hi, my name is Max Payne, and

[1:15:54] I'm speaking in favor

[1:15:55] of the San Vicente Fairfax

[1:15:57] alignment.

[1:15:58] I think it will be very

[1:15:59] important to connect LAX

[1:16:00] with several cultural hubs,

[1:16:01] such as SoFi Stadium and

[1:16:02] Hollywood Bowl.

[1:16:03] And there's also a lot

[1:16:04] of nightlife around this

[1:16:05] route.

[1:16:07] I think it will be important

[1:16:08] to help get drunk drivers

[1:16:09] off the road and also

[1:16:10] to make our air cleaner.

[1:16:12] So I'm fully in support

[1:16:13] of this alignment.

[1:16:14] Thank you for listening.

[1:16:15] Moving on

[1:16:16] to the next caller.

[1:16:17] Caller ending in 0412.

[1:16:18] Please state your name.

[1:16:19] You have 30 seconds

[1:16:20] to say your comment.

[1:16:21] My name is Susan Rudick.

[1:16:22] I am a Lafayette Square

[1:16:23] resident.

[1:16:24] I am against option two.

[1:16:25] I am pro-metro, like a lot

[1:16:26] of you, but I am

[1:16:27] against this option.

[1:16:28] Do not drill under our

[1:16:30] historic neighborhood.

[1:16:31] You can alternatively go up

[1:16:32] Crenshaw or La Brea and turn

[1:16:33] on Olympic or Pico.

[1:16:34] Thank you.

[1:16:40] If you're on the phone and

[1:16:41] you have already spoken,

[1:16:42] please do not raise your hand

[1:16:43] again.

[1:16:44] We are trying to clear the

[1:16:45] queue and ensure that

[1:16:47] everyone that wants

[1:16:48] to speak has the opportunity

[1:16:49] to speak.

[1:16:50] Thank you.

[1:16:53] All right, moving

[1:16:54] to the next caller.

[1:16:55] Caller ending in 4823.

[1:16:56] Please state your name.

[1:16:58] You have 30 seconds

[1:16:59] to state your comment.

[1:17:00] Hi, I'm Robbie Reed, resident

[1:17:02] of Lafayette Square,

[1:17:04] in support

[1:17:05] of public transportation,

[1:17:06] but not in support

[1:17:07] of any tunneling under our

[1:17:09] historically preserved

[1:17:10] neighborhood and easements

[1:17:11] that will affect our homes

[1:17:12] and disrupt the quality

[1:17:14] of life.

[1:17:16] in this area, but very much

[1:17:18] support public

[1:17:19] transportation.

[1:17:21] Thank you.

[1:17:25] Moving on

[1:17:26] to the next caller.

[1:17:27] Caller ending in 7299.

[1:17:29] Please state your name.

[1:17:30] You have 30 seconds

[1:17:33] to state your comment.

[1:17:34] Hello, I am Fran and I'm a

[1:17:35] long time resident

[1:17:36] of the historic Victoria

[1:17:38] Park neighborhood in the city

[1:17:39] and I respectfully urge the

[1:17:40] decision makers

[1:17:42] to reconsider the plans

[1:17:43] to construct the metro line

[1:17:45] under The O'Neill historic

[1:17:46] neighborhoods such as

[1:17:48] Victoria Park or Lafayette, I

[1:17:50] oppose the proposed

[1:17:51] construction under the

[1:17:52] historic neighborhoods due

[1:17:54] to the well-documented risks

[1:17:55] of vibration and structural

[1:17:56] damage to our homes, which

[1:17:58] are not speculative concerns

[1:17:59] but well-established impacts

[1:18:02] that threaten the integrity

[1:18:03] of these structures.

[1:18:11] All right, moving

[1:18:12] to the next caller.

[1:18:13] Caller ending at 4-6-0-1,

[1:18:14] please say your name.

[1:18:15] You have 30 seconds

[1:18:17] to say your comment.

[1:18:18] My name is Ryan Bird.

[1:18:20] I'm a resident of Lafayette

[1:18:21] Square.

[1:18:22] I am against any option that

[1:18:23] would tunnel

[1:18:25] under this neighborhood

[1:18:26] for adversely affected.

[1:18:27] Thank you.

[1:18:33] Moving to the next caller.

[1:18:34] Caller ending at 1415.

[1:18:36] Please state your name.

[1:18:37] You have 30 seconds

[1:18:40] to state your comment.

[1:18:42] Hi, this is Michael

[1:18:43] Schneider with Streets for

[1:18:44] All.

[1:18:45] I want to reiterate Streets

[1:18:46] for All's strong support

[1:18:47] for the Center Center

[1:18:48] Fairfax alignment.

[1:18:49] I also want

[1:18:50] to say I hear the fear

[1:18:52] in the homeowners' voices

[1:18:53] in Lafayette Square and

[1:18:55] Wellington Square.

[1:18:56] Metro spent 18 months and $2

[1:18:58] million to study to make sure

[1:18:59] there would be no impact.

[1:19:00] Let's listen to that study

[1:19:01] and get this bill.

[1:19:02] Thank you.

[1:19:03] Moving on to the next caller.

[1:19:04] Caller ending in 1954.

[1:19:05] Please state your name.

[1:19:06] You have 30 seconds

[1:19:08] to state your comment.

[1:19:10] Hi, my name is Sam Goss.

[1:19:11] I am a Metro...

[1:19:13] User, and I'm not a car owner

[1:19:14] by choice because I want

[1:19:16] to end the cycle

[1:19:17] of vehicular violence.

[1:19:20] Off-Bite Square residents

[1:19:21] have already delayed us by

[1:19:22] 18 months.

[1:19:23] I live near a new D-Line

[1:19:24] station impacted

[1:19:25] with minimal.

[1:19:26] We must approve the proposal

[1:19:27] and evaluate cut and cover

[1:19:28] to reduce costs.

[1:19:29] We as a city have destroyed

[1:19:30] so many communities

[1:19:33] with highways.

[1:19:35] Here we will just annoy one

[1:19:36] community to make a

[1:19:38] city-changing rail

[1:19:39] connection.

[1:19:40] We must do this.

[1:19:41] Thank you.

[1:19:44] Moving on to the last caller.

[1:19:45] Caller ending in 3796.

[1:19:47] Please state your name.

[1:19:48] You have 30 seconds

[1:19:49] to state your comment.

[1:19:52] Hi, my name is Peter Auer.

[1:19:53] I've been a resident of

[1:19:54] Studio City, West

[1:19:55] Hollywood, now in the

[1:19:56] Calder Palms area.

[1:19:58] I'm writing to express my

[1:19:59] support and enthusiasm

[1:20:00] for the Metro staff

[1:20:01] recommended San Jacinto

[1:20:02] Fairfax, one of the K-Line

[1:20:03] North expansions.

[1:20:04] West Hollywood is an

[1:20:05] absolutely critical

[1:20:06] destination

[1:20:08] for every possible reason,

[1:20:09] be it employment,

[1:20:10] restaurants, living

[1:20:12] neighborhoods,

[1:20:14] and nightlife.

[1:20:16] It's also the largest

[1:20:17] walkable and bikeable

[1:20:20] community in LA,

[1:20:21] and it really deserves a

[1:20:22] Metro route that capitalizes

[1:20:23] on that.

[1:20:24] I hear the fears.

[1:20:25] In the Lafayette residence, I

[1:20:26] understand.

[1:20:27] I just really don't think

[1:20:28] that that sort

[1:20:29] of B-board tunneling is going

[1:20:30] to cause problems.

[1:20:31] I really hope you guys

[1:20:32] support this alignment and

[1:20:33] continue this project.

[1:20:34] Thank you.

[1:20:35] That was the last public

[1:20:36] comment.

[1:20:37] Okay, thank you.

[1:20:38] I appreciate everyone coming

[1:20:39] forward,

[1:20:40] making concise arguments.

[1:20:41] And you have allowed us

[1:20:42] to move on

[1:20:43] in an appropriate,

[1:20:44] timely manner.

[1:20:45] And I'm going to go to my

[1:20:46] colleagues and recognize

[1:20:47] Director Horvath.

[1:20:50] Thank you, Mr.

[1:20:52] Chair, and thank you

[1:20:53] for the presentation and

[1:20:55] for the many comments

[1:20:56] from everyone who was able

[1:20:57] to join us today, and I know

[1:20:58] there will be more coming

[1:21:00] forward as well.

[1:21:01] The comprehensiveness is a

[1:21:02] testament

[1:21:04] to the incredible amount

[1:21:05] of work that's been done

[1:21:06] to bring us to this point,

[1:21:08] and as was mentioned

[1:21:09] by staff, what we have before

[1:21:11] us is a major milestone and

[1:21:12] one of the most

[1:21:13] transformative rail projects

[1:21:14] in metro history.

[1:21:15] I've been working with Metro

[1:21:17] staff and members

[1:21:19] of this board

[1:21:20] for more than a decade,

[1:21:21] since early in the Measure M

[1:21:23] campaign and even

[1:21:24] before that, to advance the

[1:21:25] San Vicente-Fairfax alignment

[1:21:26] for the K-Line Northern

[1:21:30] Extension.

[1:21:34] Since my time as a council

[1:21:35] member and mayor in West

[1:21:36] Hollywood, I have always

[1:21:37] known how transformative this

[1:21:38] alignment would be

[1:21:40] for the region,

[1:21:41] for our agency, and for the

[1:21:42] many communities that have...

[1:21:44] have historically been an

[1:21:45] afterthought in our regional

[1:21:47] transit investments.

[1:21:48] This project and the

[1:21:50] investment we're making

[1:21:51] in diverse communities along

[1:21:53] the alignment is a sign that

[1:21:54] the board is course

[1:21:56] correcting.

[1:21:57] First and foremost, I want

[1:22:00] to thank the many Metro team

[1:22:01] members who have gotten us

[1:22:03] to this point.

[1:22:04] Ray, Anthony, Georgia,

[1:22:06] Mary, Roger, and of course,

[1:22:08] Nicole and our CEO,

[1:22:09] Stephanie Wiggin.

[1:22:10] I also want to thank the many

[1:22:15] labor leaders, the building

[1:22:16] trades, Liuna Local 300, and

[1:22:17] I know you gave specific time

[1:22:18] to be here today, AFSCME and

[1:22:20] TCU, the Chambers of

[1:22:23] Commerce from Torrance to

[1:22:25] Crenshaw to Hollywood, the

[1:22:27] transit and mobility

[1:22:28] advocates, Move LA and

[1:22:30] Streets for All,

[1:22:32] among others, Cedar Sinai and

[1:22:33] the major stakeholders in the

[1:22:35] project area who have

[1:22:37] forcefully stood up

[1:22:38] in support of the project.

[1:22:39] and the thousands of

[1:22:40] community members and

[1:22:42] countless others who have

[1:22:44] continued

[1:22:46] to voice their support for

[1:22:47] the project and the alignment

[1:22:48] up

[1:22:51] to our consideration today.

[1:22:53] It takes a village

[1:22:54] to make a project

[1:22:55] like this happen, and you all

[1:22:56] have my gratitude.

[1:22:58] The project

[1:22:59] before us and the recommended

[1:23:00] San Vicente-Fairfax alignment

[1:23:02] would build nine new stations

[1:23:03] between the B and E lines,

[1:23:04] connecting four rail lines

[1:23:06] and six

[1:23:08] of the region's top.

[1:23:10] 10 busiest bus lines.

[1:23:12] The estimated 100,000 daily

[1:23:14] trips would rival the highest

[1:23:16] ridership light rail lines

[1:23:17] across the country,

[1:23:19] not just our county,

[1:23:21] the entire country.

[1:23:22] That is how much this

[1:23:24] alignment is needed

[1:23:26] in our region.

[1:23:28] It would bring an estimated

[1:23:30] 325,000 residents and nearly

[1:23:32] 250,000 workers to hundreds

[1:23:35] of regional destinations and

[1:23:36] major employment centers.

[1:23:38] It's an alignment that is

[1:23:39] estimated

[1:23:41] to create more than 10,000

[1:23:42] well-paying construction

[1:23:43] jobs, generating $9.7 billion

[1:23:45] of labor income,

[1:23:46] and connecting riders

[1:23:47] to more than 125,000 jobs

[1:23:49] within a half mile

[1:23:50] of our stations.

[1:23:53] This transforms not just our

[1:23:56] physical landscape, but our

[1:23:58] culture and our environment.

[1:24:01] Most importantly, the

[1:24:03] alignment will serve those

[1:24:04] who rely

[1:24:06] on our system the most.

[1:24:07] More than two-thirds

[1:24:09] of the trips would be made

[1:24:10] by low-income individuals,

[1:24:12] those coming from

[1:24:13] equity-focused communities,

[1:24:14] many of whom cannot be here

[1:24:15] today because

[1:24:17] of their work commitments.

[1:24:18] Director Mitchell wrote

[1:24:20] something

[1:24:21] in her motion related

[1:24:23] to the K-Line to Torrance

[1:24:24] project that caught my

[1:24:26] attention and I think applies

[1:24:27] well here today.

[1:24:28] Lower costs and ease of

[1:24:29] construction should not be

[1:24:30] conflated with best value.

[1:24:32] nor should they serve as the

[1:24:33] primary determinants

[1:24:35] of alignment selection

[1:24:36] at the expense of long-term

[1:24:38] community benefits.

[1:24:39] And I truly couldn't have

[1:24:41] said it better.

[1:24:42] But this project, and the

[1:24:44] San Vicente-Fairfax alignment

[1:24:45] specifically, is a unique

[1:24:47] opportunity because of the

[1:24:48] financial commitment the

[1:24:50] City of West Hollywood has

[1:24:51] made

[1:24:52] to delivering the project.

[1:24:54] Nowhere else in L.A.

[1:24:55] County has a city stood so

[1:25:00] strongly In support of

[1:25:02] bringing transit and all the

[1:25:04] benefits that come with it

[1:25:06] within its borders,

[1:25:07] nor has any city committed

[1:25:08] to bringing this significant

[1:25:11] of an amount of funding

[1:25:13] to a project.

[1:25:15] The City of West Hollywood

[1:25:18] has said yes to transit,

[1:25:21] to mobility, to jobs,

[1:25:22] to housing.

[1:25:24] and to bringing the financial

[1:25:25] resources to the table to

[1:25:26] make this project a reality.

[1:25:27] To that end, I want

[1:25:28] to thank Mayor Heilman, who

[1:25:29] has been at the forefront

[1:25:30] of this effort for years,

[1:25:32] Vice Mayor Danny Hing,

[1:25:33] Council Members Byers and

[1:25:34] Erickson, who are here today,

[1:25:35] and Council Member Meister

[1:25:36] for their continued

[1:25:37] commitment to bringing rail

[1:25:39] to West Hollywood.

[1:25:40] Now, as Mayor Bass said

[1:25:41] in a letter to Metro,

[1:25:42] advocating

[1:25:44] for the acceleration

[1:25:45] of this project, Delaying

[1:25:46] construction risks...

[1:25:48] missing a rare opportunity

[1:25:49] to leverage over $5 billion

[1:25:50] in LAX-related investment and

[1:25:52] grassroots passion in West

[1:25:54] Hollywood.

[1:25:55] Metro has taken that

[1:25:57] direction seriously.

[1:25:58] And in 2018, a couple years

[1:26:00] after the adoption of

[1:26:02] Measure M, the Metro Board

[1:26:03] approved an early project

[1:26:05] delivery policy,

[1:26:07] providing a critical avenue

[1:26:08] for acceleration for some of

[1:26:10] our more transformative

[1:26:11] projects.

[1:26:13] Some of those who voted to

[1:26:14] support the EPD policy are...

[1:26:16] still on the board today.

[1:26:17] And so in August 2020, the

[1:26:18] board directed staff

[1:26:20] to begin work

[1:26:21] to prepare a draft EIR.

[1:26:22] In April 2021, Metro

[1:26:24] initiated public scoping

[1:26:25] for an environmental document

[1:26:27] with a 45-day scoping period.

[1:26:28] Following the public scoping,

[1:26:30] Metro prepared advanced

[1:26:31] conceptual engineering

[1:26:33] drawings for project

[1:26:35] alignments and design

[1:26:36] options, including

[1:26:46] refinements, and advanced

[1:26:48] environmental analysis and

[1:26:50] technical studies.

[1:26:51] And in July 2024, Metro

[1:26:54] released the draft EIR

[1:26:55] for public review

[1:26:59] over a 60-day comment period.

[1:27:01] Toward the end

[1:27:02] of that period, we heard

[1:27:03] from mid-city residents in

[1:27:05] Lafayette and Wellington

[1:27:06] Squares who expressed

[1:27:07] concerns

[1:27:08] about tunnel safety,

[1:27:09] dissatisfaction

[1:27:10] with proposed alignment

[1:27:11] between the E and D lines,

[1:27:12] as we've heard today,

[1:27:13] and impacts

[1:27:15] to property values.

[1:27:16] So in October 2024, our board

[1:27:18] allocated another $2.3

[1:27:19] million

[1:27:21] for further technical

[1:27:23] analysis

[1:27:24] to address these concerns.

[1:27:25] We also devoted another 18

[1:27:26] months

[1:27:28] to community engagement with

[1:27:29] the mid-city communities

[1:27:30] specifically.

[1:27:32] And I can only hope that a

[1:27:34] similar level

[1:27:35] of engagement,

[1:27:37] of collaboration, and

[1:27:38] investment will be made if

[1:27:39] and when concerns arise

[1:27:40] in other communities

[1:27:41] along this alignment.

[1:27:43] So because of that...

[1:27:44] Continued investment.

[1:27:46] I have a few questions.

[1:27:47] First, I understand that this

[1:27:48] alignment was originally

[1:27:50] proposed above ground,

[1:27:52] and it was actually driven

[1:27:53] by the community

[1:27:55] to underground, first

[1:27:57] by requests from those

[1:27:58] in the West Hollywood

[1:28:02] community, and later

[1:28:04] for an equity focus to ensure

[1:28:06] that the entire alignment was

[1:28:08] made underground.

[1:28:09] Is that correct?

[1:28:13] During the 1990s, when the

[1:28:15] major investment study

[1:28:17] on the Crenshaw alignment was

[1:28:18] being looked at, it was

[1:28:20] always an alignment that

[1:28:23] would look to connect the

[1:28:24] South Bay to what would be a

[1:28:26] future extension of the

[1:28:30] Purple Line at the time,

[1:28:32] or even West Side extension

[1:28:34] at the time, now D-Line.

[1:28:36] During those...

[1:28:38] Reviews of alternatives,

[1:28:40] alignments,

[1:28:41] there were a number

[1:28:42] of different configurations,

[1:28:43] at-grade.

[1:28:45] In this particular segment,

[1:28:46] we looked at at-grade aerial

[1:28:48] configurations.

[1:28:49] Because of the underground

[1:28:51] configuration of the D-line

[1:28:54] that was selected and because

[1:28:57] of the location

[1:28:58] of the stations,

[1:28:59] there was a commitment

[1:29:01] to look at underground

[1:29:04] alternatives extending.

[1:29:06] the alignment north

[1:29:07] of the E line,

[1:29:10] which is why the K line

[1:29:11] at the E line, the K line is

[1:29:13] in an underground

[1:29:15] configuration.

[1:29:16] And are the Lafayette and

[1:29:18] Wellington Square communities

[1:29:20] the only communities that

[1:29:21] will experience

[1:29:24] undergrounding tunneling

[1:29:25] for this alignment?

[1:29:27] No, there will be a number

[1:29:28] of communities along the

[1:29:30] entire alignment that will

[1:29:31] have underground easements

[1:29:32] throughout the alignment.

[1:29:33] Okay, and as you noted, there

[1:29:35] were three additional

[1:29:36] technical studies conducted

[1:29:38] at the request of the

[1:29:40] Lafayette and Wellington

[1:29:41] Square communities,

[1:29:43] an additional alignment

[1:29:44] analysis, a tunnel safety

[1:29:45] study, and property impacts

[1:29:47] analysis.

[1:29:48] So can you go into more

[1:29:50] detail?

[1:29:53] We have continued to hear

[1:29:54] those concerns raised.

[1:29:55] Can you go into more detail

[1:29:56] on the results

[1:29:57] of those studies?

[1:30:00] Some of our speakers today

[1:30:01] did mention previous impacts.

[1:30:02] So if you can speak

[1:30:04] to what you know

[1:30:05] about that as well

[1:30:07] in reference to that and how

[1:30:08] you can be certain That there

[1:30:09] will not be the impacts that

[1:30:10] the community fears Start

[1:30:12] with some of the tunnel

[1:30:13] safety findings.

[1:30:20] So we collected data from the

[1:30:22] regional connector

[1:30:23] construction teams,

[1:30:27] D-line construction teams,

[1:30:30] and K-line, as well as

[1:30:32] previous research that had

[1:30:33] been collected as part

[1:30:35] of other linements, like the

[1:30:36] B-line and the E-line that

[1:30:38] goes to East LA.

[1:30:41] We looked at groundwater,

[1:30:43] seismic issues, noise,

[1:30:45] vibration,

[1:30:46] gassy grounds.

[1:30:48] a whole host of issues and

[1:30:49] found that our recent

[1:30:53] construction had performed

[1:30:55] very successfully.

[1:30:56] No building damage,

[1:30:58] no noise and vibration.

[1:30:59] We've tunneled

[1:31:01] below very sensitive uses,

[1:31:03] including sensitive sound

[1:31:05] recording studios

[1:31:07] in downtown Los Angeles.

[1:31:11] We're very close to the

[1:31:13] Walt Disney Disney Hall and

[1:31:15] the Colburn School, where we

[1:31:16] worked very closely

[1:31:19] with those stakeholders.

[1:31:22] on noise and vibration

[1:31:25] concerns.

[1:31:26] Similarly, the B-Line goes

[1:31:27] near the Kaiser Hospital,

[1:31:28] where we've worked

[1:31:30] with those owners, so we have

[1:31:31] a very successful track

[1:31:32] record.

[1:31:35] We also worked with the

[1:31:37] Tunnel Advisory Panel that

[1:31:38] advises on projects outside

[1:31:40] of L.A.

[1:31:42] County to other transit

[1:31:45] agencies in Seattle and

[1:31:46] abroad, and found that with

[1:31:47] modern tunnel-boring

[1:31:50] machines,

[1:31:52] which include sensors

[1:31:54] below ground as well as

[1:31:55] at the surface, There's

[1:31:56] extensive monitoring that

[1:31:57] occurs

[1:31:58] to prevent damage as part

[1:31:59] of tunneling.

[1:32:01] And so tunneling

[1:32:02] at this point

[1:32:03] across the globe is in a very

[1:32:04] safe and successful state

[1:32:05] of affairs.

[1:32:06] Similarly, your previous

[1:32:07] question, there was a map in

[1:32:08] the presentation that showed

[1:32:09] that we do tunnel

[1:32:10] below several parts of

[1:32:11] L.A.

[1:32:12] County today.

[1:32:13] We have done so safely.

[1:32:14] We most recently tunneled

[1:32:15] below the D line in

[1:32:16] Westwood.

[1:32:17] And Beverly Hills, we have

[1:32:18] other sections that go

[1:32:19] below the mountains, the

[1:32:20] Hollywood Hills along the B

[1:32:21] line and other parts

[1:32:22] of the county.

[1:32:23] This project would include

[1:32:24] several areas where there

[1:32:25] would be tunneling

[1:32:26] below private properties,

[1:32:27] and that's because we want

[1:32:28] to have safe,

[1:32:30] efficient connections

[1:32:31] between stations.

[1:32:32] The tunnels themselves cannot

[1:32:33] make a 90-degree turn.

[1:32:35] And part of the benefit of

[1:32:36] subways is that they're

[1:32:37] high-capacity, fast-moving

[1:32:39] tunnels, unlike a streetcar,

[1:32:40] for example,

[1:32:42] which would travel

[1:32:43] above ground at a slower pace

[1:32:44] and be subject

[1:32:45] to the street grid.

[1:32:47] The subway tunnels are able

[1:32:48] to travel below ground,

[1:32:49] and they do need to have safe

[1:32:51] turns where we need

[1:32:52] to connect to stations.

[1:32:54] And when you tunneled under

[1:32:58] the communities that you had

[1:33:00] mentioned for the variety

[1:33:03] of other alignments that

[1:33:04] exist in the network, Did you

[1:33:06] hear similar concerns as we

[1:33:07] heard today?

[1:33:10] The greatest concerns we

[1:33:11] heard during the draft D.R.

[1:33:12] comment period were from the

[1:33:14] mid-city neighborhoods, but

[1:33:15] tunneling is a concern that

[1:33:16] we hear

[1:33:17] from other neighborhoods and

[1:33:19] on other projects.

[1:33:20] And did you want to add

[1:33:22] to that?

[1:33:23] Yeah, I would say we've also

[1:33:24] heard, as we would normally

[1:33:25] for tunneling segments, any

[1:33:27] place when there's a land use

[1:33:28] that has sensitive equipment,

[1:33:30] like hospitals and so forth.

[1:33:31] We have heard concerns as

[1:33:33] well related to any

[1:33:34] of those types of uses

[1:33:35] along our alignment.

[1:33:36] And when you have heard those

[1:33:38] concerns, I know we've built

[1:33:40] other projects.

[1:33:41] Were you able to allay

[1:33:43] in total those concerns

[1:33:44] before proceeding?

[1:33:45] We've worked with different

[1:33:49] property owners and tenants

[1:33:53] to address their concerns as

[1:33:56] we continue

[1:33:58] to do the engineering.

[1:33:59] We have to respond

[1:34:01] to all the comments

[1:34:02] on the draft environmental.

[1:34:04] We do continue to do outreach

[1:34:05] and provide the list

[1:34:06] of things that can be done to

[1:34:08] allay those concerns

[1:34:09] regarding being proactive

[1:34:11] in mitigation, surveying the

[1:34:12] buildings that are

[1:34:13] in the vicinity

[1:34:17] of the tunnel, doing

[1:34:22] before and

[1:34:24] after investigations, and

[1:34:26] developing mitigation plans

[1:34:27] that are monitored.

[1:34:28] If federally funded by the

[1:34:30] federal government as well as

[1:34:32] by us throughout

[1:34:33] construction, do we satisfy

[1:34:34] everybody's concern?

[1:34:38] No, but we do our best to

[1:34:42] address the concerns and

[1:34:44] comments raised.

[1:34:48] I don't know if Anthony wants

[1:34:50] to add more to that.

[1:34:51] No, I think that that sums it

[1:34:52] up, but I will say that

[1:34:53] during construction, we

[1:34:56] actively monitor both

[1:34:57] mitigation measures that have

[1:34:58] been identified as part of

[1:35:00] the environmental process as

[1:35:01] well as just the construction

[1:35:02] methodology.

[1:35:04] We have sensors that are

[1:35:05] placed within buildings,

[1:35:06] within the streetscape.

[1:35:07] We also regularly communicate

[1:35:08] with residents and business

[1:35:09] owners to ensure that any

[1:35:10] concerns are addressed by our

[1:35:11] contractors when they're

[1:35:12] under construction.

[1:35:13] As Georgia mentioned, we have

[1:35:14] tunneled successfully and

[1:35:15] safely.

[1:35:16] Some of the most challenging

[1:35:17] soil conditions in Los

[1:35:19] Angeles County, including

[1:35:20] right next to the La Brea

[1:35:22] Tar Pits, in front of the

[1:35:23] Peterson Museum, where you

[1:35:25] actually have ground seepage

[1:35:26] of tar.

[1:35:27] We've gone through

[1:35:29] methane-rich areas, all

[1:35:30] safely, and continue

[1:35:31] to do that as we move forward

[1:35:32] with the D-Line extension as

[1:35:33] well.

[1:35:34] I think that's important to

[1:35:35] note.

[1:35:37] I think you also rightly

[1:35:38] noted that this conversation

[1:35:39] began in the 1990s.

[1:35:41] Not everyone has been here

[1:35:42] for that entire journey, and

[1:35:43] we heard today that some

[1:35:45] community members appreciated

[1:35:46] the additional engagement

[1:35:47] that Metro did

[1:35:49] over these past 18 months

[1:35:50] in particular to make sure

[1:35:52] that they were able to ask

[1:35:53] their questions directly.

[1:35:56] And I would expect you

[1:35:58] highlighted a timeline of how

[1:36:01] this project would move

[1:36:02] forward from this juncture,

[1:36:04] how it eventually reaches

[1:36:05] completion.

[1:36:07] And it would be

[1:36:09] at least my expectation,

[1:36:10] and I would think our full

[1:36:11] boards,

[1:36:13] that you continue that level

[1:36:15] of engagement

[1:36:17] with communities to ensure

[1:36:18] that they have the

[1:36:20] opportunity to express

[1:36:22] concern and have those

[1:36:24] questions answered

[1:36:25] to the best

[1:36:26] of our ability as an agency.

[1:36:28] And so to that end, I want

[1:36:29] to once again thank you,

[1:36:30] as well as all of the

[1:36:31] residents and stakeholders

[1:36:32] who see the benefits

[1:36:33] of this project

[1:36:34] for the region and

[1:36:35] for our future.

[1:36:36] And who have stood up

[1:36:37] to say not only yes,

[1:36:38] but also sooner than 2041.

[1:36:40] I don't want

[1:36:41] to amend the recommendation

[1:36:43] before us.

[1:36:44] Staff, I believe,

[1:36:46] has done tremendous work

[1:36:47] to get us to this point.

[1:36:48] And I understand we will also

[1:36:50] be taking a pencils

[1:36:52] down approach to the project

[1:36:53] following board approval.

[1:36:54] So in that vein, I just want

[1:36:56] to offer a couple

[1:36:57] of comments before I

[1:36:59] conclude.

[1:37:04] I understand there are

[1:37:06] segments of the project,

[1:37:07] particularly areas

[1:37:08] near stations where Metro is

[1:37:09] contemplating cut and cover.

[1:37:11] And as much as it is feasible

[1:37:12] and would contribute

[1:37:13] to a reduction

[1:37:14] in overall project costs,

[1:37:15] once engineering work is back

[1:37:17] up and running,

[1:37:18] I would ask that Metro

[1:37:19] undertake a robust value

[1:37:20] engineering analysis,

[1:37:22] including the use

[1:37:23] of cut and cover in areas

[1:37:24] of segments two and three

[1:37:25] to bring down costs as much

[1:37:26] as possible.

[1:37:28] The depth of the tunnels in

[1:37:31] the mid-city area.

[1:37:32] likely wouldn't be conducive

[1:37:33] to cut and cover.

[1:37:35] But given that we're

[1:37:36] tunneling

[1:37:38] at a much shallower depth

[1:37:39] in segments two and three,

[1:37:40] there may be opportunities to

[1:37:41] realize additional

[1:37:43] efficiencies.

[1:37:44] And as an agency,

[1:37:46] we know that we have

[1:37:47] to be mindful of all

[1:37:48] of the additional costs.

[1:37:50] We are making additional

[1:37:51] investment in this alignment

[1:37:52] at the request

[1:37:53] of communities

[1:37:55] to address concerns,

[1:37:57] including the relocation of a

[1:37:59] grocery store that is much

[1:38:01] needed in this neighborhood.

[1:38:03] I haven't seen Metro do

[1:38:04] anything like that before,

[1:38:06] so I am glad to see that we

[1:38:08] are taking that extraordinary

[1:38:09] measure for this community

[1:38:10] this time.

[1:38:11] And I hope you will also

[1:38:13] consider these opportunities

[1:38:14] to create cost efficiencies

[1:38:15] so we can make those proper

[1:38:17] investments in communities

[1:38:18] that deserve them.

[1:38:24] Thank you very much.

[1:38:26] Thank you very much.

[1:38:29] Thank you very much.

[1:38:32] See any other...

[1:38:34] Director Butts, did you want

[1:38:35] to weigh in on this?

[1:38:36] I'll give you a pass if

[1:38:37] that's your desire.

[1:38:38] Okay, very good.

[1:38:44] Well, I have a few comments

[1:38:45] to make.

[1:38:46] First of all, I would very

[1:38:48] much like to applaud the

[1:38:51] multi-year efforts of

[1:38:53] Director Horvath as well as

[1:38:57] the members, elected members

[1:38:58] of the City of West...

[1:38:59] Hollywood, the support

[1:39:01] groups, the commissioners,

[1:39:03] and everyone.

[1:39:05] This was a project that was

[1:39:07] very far

[1:39:09] off just a few years ago,

[1:39:12] and now, lo and behold, it's

[1:39:13] before us.

[1:39:15] So I think it is a testament

[1:39:16] to your perseverance,

[1:39:18] both as a let's see,

[1:39:21] you started out I don't even

[1:39:23] think you were

[1:39:25] on the you were

[1:39:28] off council.

[1:39:29] You got on council,

[1:39:32] became mayor.

[1:39:33] off again and then back

[1:39:34] to supervisor.

[1:39:35] So it was a long-term effort.

[1:39:36] Regardless

[1:39:37] of your position, you were a

[1:39:38] fierce advocate.

[1:39:39] I don't think anyone can

[1:39:40] dispute that.

[1:39:41] So congratulations

[1:39:42] for bringing this forward.

[1:39:44] And it is sometimes a rare

[1:39:45] feat where members of the

[1:39:47] community so often support a

[1:39:48] transit project.

[1:39:50] Boy, do I have problems

[1:39:52] in my neck of the woods just

[1:39:53] to get a BRT through.

[1:39:54] That's another story,

[1:39:56] but I do applaud.

[1:39:57] all of your support

[1:39:58] of transit.

[1:39:59] Second, the San

[1:40:00] Vicente-Fairfax alignment

[1:40:03] before us is a very

[1:40:04] compelling route.

[1:40:06] You really can't argue

[1:40:07] with the metrics.

[1:40:09] before us.

[1:40:10] I don't know if you remember

[1:40:11] that slide, but almost every

[1:40:16] category that is measured

[1:40:19] supports strongly the San

[1:40:24] Vicente-Fairfax alignment,

[1:40:26] and I think it would be

[1:40:28] really difficult

[1:40:30] to make any argument

[1:40:36] against that route.

[1:40:38] As far as the Lafayette

[1:40:41] Square, the option two,

[1:40:43] alignment goes.

[1:40:44] Clearly, we've heard

[1:40:45] concerns.

[1:40:47] These concerns came to my

[1:40:49] attention just perhaps a week

[1:40:54] or so ago.

[1:40:56] I have heard the technical,

[1:41:04] I guess, analysis and the

[1:41:05] arguments, not arguments, but

[1:41:07] the support and the position

[1:41:08] that drilling the tunnels are

[1:41:09] not going to cause any

[1:41:12] significant impact.

[1:41:14] at 90 feet.

[1:41:15] However, I'm not an expert

[1:41:18] in that.

[1:41:20] It's my history and

[1:41:24] experience that it's

[1:41:25] generally a safe level

[1:41:27] of drilling, of boring.

[1:41:29] But let me just say that that

[1:41:31] is something that has come

[1:41:33] to my attention

[1:41:34] at this point.

[1:41:36] I do want to also say that I

[1:41:38] have heard from directors,

[1:41:40] other directors who would

[1:41:41] like to weigh in on this

[1:41:44] issue and would not

[1:41:46] necessarily

[1:41:47] like this committee

[1:41:49] to make a decision prior to

[1:41:51] the full board meeting.

[1:41:52] I think in any event, this

[1:41:54] issue would be addressed

[1:41:56] fairly fully

[1:41:57] at the full board.

[1:42:01] There are representatives,

[1:42:02] elected representatives

[1:42:04] of the Lafayette Square area

[1:42:06] who are not here,

[1:42:07] who are not present.

[1:42:10] to make an argument either

[1:42:11] for an adjustment,

[1:42:14] opposing option two, or

[1:42:16] supporting option two.

[1:42:18] I think that we ought

[1:42:21] to give them a chance.

[1:42:22] And when I say them,

[1:42:24] in particular,

[1:42:26] I believe that there's at

[1:42:27] least one other county

[1:42:28] supervisor's district,

[1:42:29] as well as the mayor of

[1:42:31] L.A., because that area

[1:42:32] definitely is the city of

[1:42:33] Los Angeles at that point.

[1:42:34] I know that there are

[1:42:36] probably residents.

[1:42:37] who also want to come back

[1:42:39] and have a more full

[1:42:40] discussion.

[1:42:41] I did only give you 30

[1:42:43] seconds.

[1:42:47] I know you were all very

[1:42:48] capable

[1:42:49] in making that argument,

[1:42:50] but there may be others

[1:42:52] out there who wish to give a

[1:42:53] full minute discussion.

[1:42:54] I can't promise that you

[1:42:56] would have that opportunity

[1:42:57] at the full board,

[1:42:59] but clearly

[1:43:00] at this hearing we did ask

[1:43:02] you to cut down.

[1:43:03] And lastly, I think we need

[1:43:06] to follow the precedent that

[1:43:08] we set

[1:43:10] with the K-Line extension,

[1:43:12] and that was when it did come

[1:43:13] to the planning committee

[1:43:15] that we did send it

[1:43:16] to the full board.

[1:43:19] We made comments

[1:43:20] at the planning committee,

[1:43:22] as many

[1:43:24] of us are doing now,

[1:43:26] but we did give it to the

[1:43:27] full board because this is a

[1:43:28] very important project, as

[1:43:30] you have all admitted and

[1:43:32] attested to.

[1:43:33] It is a game changer.

[1:43:35] It's going

[1:43:37] to change the lives of your

[1:43:38] young children who are now

[1:43:40] just a few years old.

[1:43:42] Perhaps some of us older

[1:43:43] members might not see this

[1:43:44] occurring,

[1:43:45] but that's the nature of an

[1:43:46] elected official's job.

[1:43:47] You plan in the future.

[1:43:48] You decide things that you

[1:43:49] might not even be here

[1:43:51] to see.

[1:43:52] I would prefer, and let's be

[1:43:53] clear,

[1:43:54] I strongly support the San

[1:43:55] Vicente-Fairfax alignment.

[1:43:56] I have some questions

[1:44:01] on the Lafayette Square.

[1:44:03] I'm leaving my...

[1:44:04] My mind open

[1:44:06] for that.

[1:44:07] I can't say I'm

[1:44:08] for it.

[1:44:09] I can't say I'm against it

[1:44:10] at this point.

[1:44:12] But I would like this to go

[1:44:13] to the full board

[1:44:15] for a continued discussion.

[1:44:16] And I think, Supervisor,

[1:44:18] Director, your compelling

[1:44:20] discussion of this, I think,

[1:44:22] would be best suited

[1:44:23] in a more august forum.

[1:44:25] The full board,

[1:44:26] rather than my friend.

[1:44:33] And Mayor Butts, myself, and

[1:44:34] yourself, we don't even have

[1:44:36] a full committee

[1:44:37] before us.

[1:44:38] We have some absences and

[1:44:40] some other conflicts.

[1:44:41] That's where I'm leaning.

[1:44:44] I'm not sure if Mayor Butts

[1:44:46] wants to weigh in

[1:44:48] on this or just...

[1:44:50] Let me tell you something.

[1:44:52] You said everything that

[1:44:53] needed to be said,

[1:44:54] but when you said Auguste, I

[1:44:55] had to weigh in, okay?

[1:44:57] You know, I tell you, I

[1:44:58] really appreciate everybody

[1:45:00] that came

[1:45:01] down and spoke.

[1:45:03] both for and

[1:45:05] against and talked

[1:45:06] about lafayette square

[1:45:07] but this is big and it's just

[1:45:09] like the last big hearing we

[1:45:10] had and i want to compliment

[1:45:12] the supervisor former mayor

[1:45:13] former councilman It was

[1:45:14] Hollywood

[1:45:16] for the work that she's done

[1:45:18] on this,

[1:45:19] and it deserves a hearing

[1:45:20] before the full board,

[1:45:21] so I agree with you.

[1:45:23] But you got me with a gust,

[1:45:24] buddy.

[1:45:25] And I hope I'm not causing

[1:45:26] you disappointment,

[1:45:27] Director.

[1:45:29] I am very stunned and awed

[1:45:30] at the work that you've done

[1:45:33] to bring this forward.

[1:45:34] You have

[1:45:36] to be given the chance

[1:45:38] to bring this to the full

[1:45:39] board and invite the

[1:45:41] supporters so the whole board

[1:45:42] can weigh in on it and no one

[1:45:43] can say this wasn't fully

[1:45:45] vetted.

[1:45:46] And I hope to be alive,

[1:45:47] at least

[1:45:49] for the groundbreaking

[1:45:50] of this in 2041.

[1:45:51] Would you be so upset if we

[1:45:53] asked to move this

[1:45:56] to the full board? Well, I

[1:45:58] see where the votes are. But

[1:45:59] I will say that we could make

[1:46:01] a recommendation today and it

[1:46:02] still goes

[1:46:04] to the full board.

[1:46:05] But if it is the will

[1:46:06] of this committee to move

[1:46:10] in that direction, I

[1:46:11] understand that that's what

[1:46:13] will happen today. Well,

[1:46:15] thank you. That's very

[1:46:16] diplomatic and

[1:46:17] stateswoman-like. I do

[1:46:18] strongly support the San

[1:46:19] Vicente Fairfax. Let there be

[1:46:20] no doubt about that. So if

[1:46:22] there's no objection, then

[1:46:24] this will be the direction

[1:46:25] of the committee to give it

[1:46:26] to the full board, to that

[1:46:31] august body, one more time,

[1:46:33] Director Butts, to hear this

[1:46:35] out and

[1:46:38] for the benefits that... The

[1:46:40] director and the community

[1:46:45] has raised for the San

[1:46:47] Vicente Fairfax alignment

[1:46:49] to be brought forward and to

[1:46:50] have perhaps some further

[1:46:52] discussion allaying some

[1:46:54] of the concerns,

[1:46:55] addressing the concerns

[1:46:56] of the option to alignment

[1:46:58] through the sensitive

[1:47:00] Lafayette Square area. So if

[1:47:02] no objection,

[1:47:03] that will be the decision

[1:47:04] of this committee. Thank you,

[1:47:06] but you unfortunately don't

[1:47:08] get a vote. But come back.

[1:47:09] Come back. So that's the

[1:47:11] whole point. Come back. No

[1:47:12] decision has been made

[1:47:15] at all. No decision has been

[1:47:19] made at all. So I'm going

[1:47:21] to turn this over back

[1:47:23] to our chairwoman

[1:47:26] to complete the balance

[1:47:28] of this agenda. Thank you,

[1:47:32] Director Najarian. I hope it

[1:47:34] went well.

[1:47:36] But what we know is that next

[1:47:37] Thursday

[1:47:39] for the board meeting,

[1:47:41] the matter will come back

[1:47:42] on the agenda. Thank you

[1:47:44] to everyone. Let me join my

[1:47:45] colleagues

[1:47:46] in saying how important it is

[1:47:47] to hear from the public.

[1:47:49] This is one of the arenas

[1:47:50] where public comment is

[1:47:52] heard, received, and

[1:47:54] considered very strongly. I

[1:47:56] believe next we have general

[1:47:58] public comment. This is

[1:48:00] general public comment.

[1:48:01] Please press bound two if

[1:48:02] you'd like

[1:48:04] to make a comment. Please

[1:48:07] unmute the caller. I do not

[1:48:14] see any raised hands

[1:48:17] on my end. I see 0735. Can

[1:48:18] you unmute that line,

[1:48:20] please? Once I only refresh.

[1:48:26] Still do not see any hands

[1:48:32] raised on my end. I think

[1:48:35] there's a technical error

[1:48:38] on your end. Okay. There are

[1:48:39] no public comments. Thank

[1:48:40] you. No further comments

[1:48:41] by colleagues. We have

[1:48:44] completed the agenda. The

[1:48:47] meeting stands adjourned.

Planning and Programming Committee on 2026-03-18 11:00 AM

Agenda

Transcript