Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
JULY 19, 2017
Subject
SUBJECT: VERMONT TRANSIT CORRIDOR - RAIL
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE update in response to the March 23, 2017 Board motion directing staff to study potential future rail for the Vermont Transit Corridor.
Issue
ISSUE
At the March 23, 2017 Board meeting, staff presented the findings and recommendations from the Vermont Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) technical study. At that same meeting, the Board approved a motion (Attachment A) directing staff to proceed with the Vermont BRT project as a near-term “Phase 1” transit improvement; initiate a study of extending the Red Line heavy rail along Vermont Avenue to 125th Street, specifically focusing on connecting the Wilshire/Vermont Red Line Station to the Expo Line Station at Exposition/Vermont as an initial segment rail project; include a heavy rail alternative in the Alternative Analysis and Environmental Studies; and report back to the Planning and Programming Committee on all the above during the July 2017 Board cycle.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Background
In July and October 2014, Board motions were passed (Attachments B and C) directing staff to begin technical analysis of BRT on the Vermont Avenue Transit Corridor, which was identified in the Los Angeles County Bus Rapid Transit and Street Design Improvement Study (CBRT) as a strong candidate for BRT implementation. In July 2015, staff formally kicked off the Vermont BRT technical study. The purpose of the study was to further evaluate the feasibility of implementing BRT. BRT is a high quality bus-based transit system that provides fast, comfortable, and cost effective service through the provision of a number of capital and operating improvements such as dedicated bus lanes, enhanced station stops, off-board fare payment and/or all-door boarding, branded vehicles, and enhanced transit signal priority (TSP). The Vermont Avenue Transit Corridor currently extends approximately 12.5 miles from Hollywood Boulevard to 120th Street and is the second busiest bus corridor in Los Angeles County, carrying approximately 45,000 passengers per day.
The study, which was completed in February 2017, identified four initial BRT concepts, two of which appeared to be the most promising in terms of improved passenger travel times, faster bus speeds, and increased ridership. In January and February 2017, staff held a final Technical Advisory meeting, elected officials and Board staff briefing, and an Open House for key targeted stakeholders to present and discuss the findings for the Vermont BRT study. Overall, there was strong agreement that BRT could greatly improve transit service along Vermont Avenue, but that the Corridor needed to be considered for future conversion to rail. Measure M includes conversion to LRT or HRT after FY 2067 based on ridership demand.
Vermont Rail Feasibility Study
In response to the March 23, 2017 Board motion, coupled with the community’s expressed interest to examine the potential for rail conversion, staff is proceeding with augmenting the BRT technical study with an additional scope of work to conduct a Rail Feasibility study. The augmented study will re-evaluate the initial BRT concepts identified in the initial work completed in the BRT technical study to ensure that any design of a BRT system on Vermont Avenue would not preclude a future conversion to rail. This additional scope of work will also include evaluating and comparing multiple rail modes and/or alternatives (heavy rail, light rail, streetcar/tram), including an extension of the Metro Red Line along Vermont Avenue, specifically focusing on connecting the Metro Red Line at the Wilshire/Vermont Station to the Metro Expo Line at the Exposition/Vermont Station as a first segment. The study will also identify ridership thresholds that inform the conversion of BRT to rail.
Each rail alternative identified will be evaluated based on its engineering feasibility, constructability, operability, system performance, potential environmental issues/concerns, and consistency with community goals and priorities. The study will also forecast system benefits including ridership, develop planning-level capital and operating cost estimates, and examine the potential for a phased implementation of transit improvements on the corridor beginning with BRT. Environmental clearance of the Vermont Avenue Corridor BRT could commence thereafter. The Measure M expenditure plan lists the Vermont BRT project with a groundbreaking date of FY 2024.
Environmental review of the Vermont BRT will be delayed by at least 18 months to secure a contract and complete the work on the Rail Feasibility study, which is anticipated to conclude in early 2019. The environmental review could begin thereafter and conclude in late 2021, followed by final engineering concluding mid-2023. This sequence aligns with the Measure M groundbreaking date of FY 2024. Concepts resulting from the rail feasibility study may not necessarily be incorporated into the BRT project environmental document. That determination will be made in the future upon review of the augmented study results.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding of $350,000 to initiate the Vermont Rail Feasibility study is included in the FY 2018 budget under Cost Center 4240 (Regional Transit Planning), Project 471402 (Vermont Transit Corridor). The expanded scope of work for the Rail Feasibility study in response to the March 23, 2017 Board motion is anticipated to increase the cost of the work effort by approximately 25%. Since the work on this project would be multiyear, it will be the responsibility of the cost center manager and Chief Planning Officer to budget funds in future years.
Impact to Budget
The source of funds for this recommendation is Measure M 35% which is not eligible for bus and rail operating expenditures.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will proceed immediately to procure consultant services for the Vermont Rail Feasibility study. This effort is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete from the time of contract award. Staff will keep the Board apprised of the study and return to the Board with study findings and recommendations.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - March 23, 2017 Board motion
Attachment B - July 24, 2014 Board motion
Attachment C - October 16, 2014 Board motion
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Lauren Cencic, Sr. Manager, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-7417
Martha Butler, Sr. Director, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-7651
David Mieger, EO, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-3040
Manjeet Ranu, SEO, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418-3157
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Therese W. McMillan, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-7077
