Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
JULY 17, 2019
Subject
SUBJECT: WEST SANTA ANA BRANCH TRANSIT CORRIDOR PROJECT
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to:
A. EXECUTE Modification No. 7 to Contract No. AE5999300 with WSP USA Inc. for additional environmental technical work to be included in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) in the amount of $6,476,982, increasing the total contract value from $21,529,734 to $28,006,716; and
B. INCREASE Contract Modification Authority (CMA) specific to Contract No. AE5999300 in the amount of $647,698, increasing the total authorized CMA amount from $1,828,422 to $2,476,120 to support additional environmental assessment work.
Issue
ISSUE
At the December 2018 meeting, the Board approved an updated West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor (WSAB) project definition. Since December, staff has met with corridor cities, agencies and stakeholders, as project design and environmental review on alignment and station design relating to each jurisdiction and affected agency progresses.
Based on these ongoing coordination efforts, more work has been identified, necessitating a request for Board action to execute a contract modification for the additional work in order to remain on schedule for release of the Draft EIS/EIR and continue the P3 delivery procurement efforts. Board action is also required to increase the CMA for any additional environmental assessment work identified through future coordination efforts.
Background
BACKGROUND
The WSAB Project is a proposed light rail transit (LRT) line that would extend approximately 19 miles between downtown Los Angeles and southeast Los Angeles County (LA County) communities. Attachment A includes the WSAB Alignment Map. South of downtown Los Angeles, a single alignment parallel to the Blue Line has been identified following existing right-of-way (ROW) (owned by Union Pacific Railroad [UPRR]), then turning east along Randolph Street and the La Habra Branch ROW (owned by UPRR) in the City of Huntington Park, transitioning south following the San Pedro Subdivision Branch (owned by Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach), to the eight-mile abandoned Pacific Electric ROW (owned by Metro) and terminating in the City of Artesia. WSAB would traverse a highly populated area, with high numbers of low-income and heavily transit-dependent residents.
According to Measure M and Metro’s Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) financial forecast, as amended, the Project has a $4 billion (B) (2015$) allocation of funding (comprised of Measure M and other local, state, and federal sources) based on the cost estimate that was current at the time the Measure M Expenditure Plan was approved. Measure M funding becomes available in two cycles as follows:
Measure M Expected Opening Date LRTP Funding Allocation (2015$)
FY 2028 $1 billion ($535 million from Measure M)
FY 2041 $3 billion ($900 million from Measure M)
The current end-to-end project capital cost is estimated at $6.5 to $6.6B (in 2018$). This cost range includes rough order of magnitude (ROM) right-of-way estimates; however, a comprehensive capital cost estimate (not a Life of Project budget) is contingent upon further project design, negotiation with the freight railroads and ports, as well as first-last mile (FLM) costs, which will be prepared during the advanced conceptual engineering phase.
The Project is also identified in Metro’s Twenty-Eight by ’28 Initiative as a “pillar project.” Accordingly, efforts are underway to facilitate an early project delivery.
Measure M indicates that an early delivery of the subsequent project phase may be made possible with a public-private partnership (P3) delivery method. A P3 with a comprehensive delivery approach is being pursued as part of a strategy for accelerating a significantly increased project scope by 2028.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Contract Modification No. 7
The supplemental scope is to conduct additional technical and environmental work needed to complete the draft environmental document. Major tasks of the additional work include:
• Design modifications of the alignment to accommodate clearances proposed by UP near the freight railroad tracks;
• Updating sections of the environmental document as necessary resulting from alignment redesigns;
• ROW cost estimates;
• Additional Environmental (Section 4(f)) technical work; and
• Civil Rights Title VI analysis of the proposed maintenance and storage facilities.
Contract Modification Authority Increase
Due to the environmental complexity of the project, additional CMA is being requested to support unforeseen additional environmental assessment and technical work. This allows for flexibility and responsiveness necessary to maintain the project schedule.
Freight Coordination
The WSAB Project involves a shared corridor of approximately ten miles of freight-owned ROW that runs along the Wilmington and La Habra Branches (owned by UPRR) and the San Pedro Subdivision (owned by the Ports of LA and Long Beach). UPRR currently has operating rights for use of the San Pedro Subdivision. In some segments, UPRR tracks will need to be relocated to allow for the coordinated operations of both freight and passenger rail. Attachment B shows a map of the alignment and existing freight interface.
Reaching consensus on project design features and ROW negotiations with UPRR is a critical component to meeting the project schedule and has cost implications. Staff has held initial coordination meetings with UPRR and Ports staff to understand their current and future operational needs, as well as design considerations related to safety, operations and ROW. Metro must work with these entities to craft a solution that meets their needs as well as this Project’s needs.
Equity Platform Consistency
The Project, and the aforementioned Project direction and actions, are consistent with the Equity Platform and will provide new benefits of enhanced mobility and regional access to minority and low-income populations within the Project Area. Approximately 60% of the corridor has been identified as having environmental justice communities. Minority residents consist of 66% of the total Project area population and 25% of Project area residents live below poverty, which is higher than the Los Angeles County average of 17%. Most of the transit service in the Project area is local with limited express buses operating on the congested roadway network. These communities have been historically underserved by transit investments. The Project provides meaningful mobility value by improving trips within southeastern Los Angeles County communities and connectivity with downtown Los Angeles. The Project will also significantly reduce travel times and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) in the Project area, which could lead to air quality, safety, and livability improvements for the Project area’s most vulnerable communities. All the aforementioned Project benefits will collectively expand economic opportunities and enhance the quality of life for residents of the Project area by greatly improving access to opportunity. Staff will ensure that Metro’s Equity Platform will guide the process for evaluating the project in the Draft EIS/EIR.
Determination_of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
These actions will not have any impact on the safety of Metro customers and/or employees because this Project is in the planning process phase and no capital or operational impacts results from this Board action.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The FY 2019-20 budget contains $8,300,000 in Cost Center 4370 (Mobility Corridors Team 2), Project 460201 (WSAB Corridor Admin) for professional services. Since this is a multi-year contract, the Cost Center Manager and Chief Planning Officer will be responsible for budgeting in future years.
Impact to Budget
The funding source for this project is Measure R 35%. As these funds are earmarked for the WSAB Transit Corridor project, they are not eligible for Metro bus and rail capital and operating expenditures.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The requested Project actions are consistent with the purpose and need of the Project, which align closely with Strategic Plan Goal 1: Provide high quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling. When complete WSAB is anticipated to provide an approximately 35-minute one-seat ride from the proposed Pioneer Station in the southern terminus to either WSAB northern terminus. Taking a similar trip today on existing Metro bus and rail lines would take approximately two to three times as long, depending on the route, number of transfers, and local traffic conditions. The WSAB corridor traverses some of Los Angeles County’s most densely-developed, historically underserved and environmental justice communities. Many of the Project area communities are characterized by heavily transit-dependent populations who currently lack access to a reliable transit network. The Project area is served by buses that operate primarily along a heavily congested freeway and arterial network with limited connections to the Metro rail system. A high-capacity and reliable transit investment between the Metro rail system and Gateway Cities would provide mobility and travel choices within the WSAB corridor and reduce dependence on auto travel. The Project aims to increase mobility, reduce travel times on local and regional transportation networks and accommodate future population and employment growth in southeastern Los Angeles County.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could decide not to approve the recommendations. This alternative is not recommended, as this would impact the project’s environmental clearance schedule and would further delay the release of the Draft EIS/EIR and the selection of the
locally preferred alternative, which could also affect the potential for a P3 delivery procurement. Declining to increase the contract modification authority would disallow the flexibility necessary to react quickly to evolving conditions inherent to this stage of the project.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will execute the contract modification for additional environmental and technical work to be included in the Draft EIS/EIR. Staff will continue to coordinate with key stakeholders, including freight operators. Community and stakeholder meetings are ongoing and will continue.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - WSAB Alignment Map
Attachment B - WSAB Freight Interface
Attachment C - Procurement Summary
Attachment D - Contract Modification/Change Order Log
Attachment E - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Meghna Khanna, Senior Director, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-3931
Ivan Gonzalez, Manager, Countywide Planning & Development (213) 922-7506
Craig Hoshijima, DEO, Countywide Planning & Development (213) 418-3384
Manjeet Ranu, SEO, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418-3157
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by:
Laurie Lombardi, Interim Chief Planning Officer, (213) 418-3251
Debra Avila, Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 418-3051
Rick Clarke, Chief Program Management Officer, (213) 922-7557
Joshua Schank, Chief Innovation Officer, (213) 418-3345
