[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.