Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 23, 2024
Subject
SUBJECT: K LINE NORTHERN EXTENSION PROJECT
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to negotiate and execute:
A. Modification No. 4 to Contract No. AE64930000 for a Not-to-Exceed (NTE) amount of $2,300,000 with Connect Los Angeles Partners, Joint Venture (WSP USA Inc. and AECOM Technical Services, Inc.) to prepare additional technical environmental analysis and conceptual engineering to respond to public comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the K Line Northern Extension Project and support future community engagement efforts increasing the contract value from $50,367,851 to a NTE $52,667,851; and
B. Modification No. 3 to Task Order No. PS44432008-030 for an NTE amount of $550,000 with Lee Andrews Group (LAG) to prepare additional community engagement as part of the environmental review process, increasing the task order value from $903,223 to NTE $1,453,223 and extend the period of performance from June 30, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
Issue
ISSUE
The execution of Modification No. 4 to Contract No. AE64930000 with Connect Los Angeles Partners, Joint Venture and Modification No. 3 to Task Order No. PS44432008-030 with LAG are needed to perform additional research and studies in response to public comments, questions, and concerns regarding the alignments studied in the K Line Northern Extension (KNE) Draft EIR and additional engagement to share findings with the community and gather input.
Background
BACKGROUND
Project History
Various planning studies of the Crenshaw corridor from Wilshire Blvd. to the South Bay have been completed between 1992 and 2009. A northern extension of the now operational K (formerly called the Crenshaw/LAX) Line has been studied since the 2009 Crenshaw Transit Corridor Draft environmental study. Since 2018, Metro has led multiple planning studies to advance the project following the passage of Measure M in 2016, which allocated $2.24 billion (in 2015 dollars) to the Project. Measure M identifies 2041 as the ground-breaking year where project funds become available for construction with a projected opening year between 2047 to 2049.
Project Benefits
The Project would offer the region multiple benefits, including:
• Expanding mobility with a fast and reliable rail option with approximately 47,200 to 59,700 daily trips in 2045
• Attracting approximately 11,400 to 15,100 new transit riders daily
• Reducing auto use by approximately 127,500 to 135,500 vehicle miles traveled daily
• Creating jobs (8,300 to 10,100 jobs estimated during construction)
• Expanding access for many Equity Focus Communities and serving many regional employment and activity centers located in congested areas.
Draft EIR Development
In October 2020, the Metro Board directed staff to begin work on the environmental clearance under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and prepare a Draft EIR. Metro is advancing the Draft EIR now to help inform the selection of an LPA based on local efforts to explore potential financing strategies to accelerate the project per the Measure M Early Project Delivery Strategy.
In Spring 2021, Metro initiated public scoping for an environmental document. Following the close of the scoping comment period, Metro worked to prepare advanced conceptual engineering drawings on alignments and engineering options and analyze potential environmental impacts during construction and operations under CEQA. In the summer of 2022 and 2023, Metro hosted community meetings to provide project updates and continue gathering input. In July 2024, Metro published the Draft EIR, which evaluates three underground light rail alignments that range from six to ten miles long (depending on the alignment).
All three alignments are evaluated equally and include an optional terminus and additional station at the Hollywood Bowl, as well as expansion and improvements to Division 16, Metro’s Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) for the K Line. The project would be constructed in sections similar to other Metro rail projects with the first section connecting the Metro E Line to the Metro D Line (currently under construction) at either Wilshire/Fairfax or Wilshire/La Brea. North of Wilshire Blvd, there are three possible routes (alignments) to connect to the B Line.
• San Vicente-Fairfax (~10 miles with 9 stations)
• Fairfax (~8 miles with 7 stations)
• La Brea (~6 miles with 6 stations)
Public Circulation of Draft EIR, Engagement & Notifications
On July 23, 2024, Metro released the Draft EIR for the project to receive public comments over a 45-day public comment period, which was extended to 60 days. Metro also published summaries on community outreach, project benefits, construction cost estimates, ridership projections, and responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Metro notified the public of the release of the Draft EIR through various means including mailed notifications to properties along the project alignments, flyers at local events, a press release, a Metro Source Post, e-blasts, legal ads, and social media ads, and invited the public to provide their comments.
During the 60-day public comment period, Metro also held three public hearings located in different parts of the project area and scheduled during different times of day and days of the week to maximize the public’s participation. The two in-person meetings were held at the Susan Miller Dorsey High School on Saturday morning, August 10, 2024, in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw neighborhood and at Pan Pacific Park on Tuesday evening, August 13, 2024, in the Fairfax neighborhood that abuts the City of West Hollywood. A virtual meeting was held during the lunch hour on August 15, 2024, and was recorded and posted to the project website. On September 4, 2024, Metro held a community meeting at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Mid-City near LaFayette Square, Wellington Square, and Victoria Park to answer questions and gather more feedback from the community regarding concerns raised at the public hearings. In total, approximately 588 people attended the August public hearings and September 4, 2024, meeting at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center. Over 1,300 public comments were received by email, mail, and phone. Metro is currently reviewing public comments received on the Draft EIR including the September 4th meeting.
Community Feedback
Several key themes have emerged from the comments received at the public meetings and the written comments received. While overall, there was broad support for the project and project acceleration, there were significant concerns raised by the communities of LaFayette Square, Wellington Square, and Victoria Park including:
• Concerns about outreach and notification
• Concerns about real estate values and tunneling under homes
• Questions about the screening process for alignment options and decision-making to select a preferred route (specifically between proposed Crenshaw/Adams Station and Midtown Crossing Station located near the LaFayette, Wellington Square and Victoria Park neighborhoods)
The project team is still reviewing public comments and will prepare a more comprehensive summary of community input received when the review is completed.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Crenshaw Blvd. Alignment Analysis
During the public scoping meetings at the start of the Draft EIR development process in Spring 2021, Metro shared the project map and discussed two potential alignment options between the proposed Crenshaw/Adams Station and the proposed Midtown Crossing Station. The proposed Midtown Crossing Station (located at Venice Blvd./San Vicente Blvd. to the west of Crenshaw Blvd.) would also serve as the launch site for tunnel boring machines (TBM) to construct the first segment of the project (between the E Line and D Line). Between 2021 and 2023, Metro prepared advanced conceptual engineering plans for the project and analyzed the alignment options in the southern project area. Metro screened out the Crenshaw Blvd. alignment from further study based on engineering feasibility, tunnel length, depth and radius of curves to connect to stations, potential environmental impacts, underground easements, constructability, operability, and cost.
During this period, Metro also refined several of the alignment curves throughout the project area to optimize for constructability, operations and maintenance. Generally, tighter curves are difficult to construct with TBM, reduce travel speeds for operations, have higher maintenance costs due to wear and tear on the turns, and can present challenges for emergency evacuations. Metro’s refinements of the alignments also worked to avoid the need to acquire residential homes and properties for construction staging and stations throughout the project area. As such, all the alignments studied in the Draft EIR avoid residential properties for acquisition. However, underground (subsurface) easements would be needed where tunnels would travel below private property, as Metro has done on many other tunnel projects across LA County including the B, D, and K Line.
Community Notification
In September 2023, Metro held three community meetings to provide members of the public an update on the project, and answer their questions. Two open houses were held at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Mall on Saturday morning, and the West Hollywood Aquatics & Recreation Center on Tuesday evening. A third virtual meeting was held to share information with those who could not join in person; it was recorded and posted to the project website. During these meetings, Metro presented the updated project maps and alignments based on advanced conceptual engineering, ridership analysis, and phasing concepts for construction. The community meeting notices and materials did not directly address changes made to the project alignments since scoping in 2021. This created concern among some communities during the release of the Draft EIR who had seen two alignment options near Crenshaw Blvd. during scoping in 2021 and a project update in 2022, and only one alignment represented in the southern project area in the 2024 Draft EIR. As a lesson learned, moving forward, Metro will notify the community of changes to alignments at each stage of project development to receive input and provide greater transparency as part of the planning process. This modification will allow staff to better inform the community in this area of the studies performed to date in the Draft EIR, the engineering associated with the proposed and potential alternate alignments and the opportunities for decision-making ahead.
Community Concerns Regarding Historic Neighborhoods and Properties
During the Draft EIR public meetings and in written comments, many residents of historic neighborhoods along the Crenshaw Blvd corridor have shared their concerns with the tunnel alignment carried forward in the Draft EIR that would travel below residential neighborhoods, including Victoria Park, Wellington Square and LaFayette Square. Residents noted historic injustices of the past, specifically to Black communities with the destruction of homes in the Sugar Hill neighborhood to construct the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10) in the 1960s. They also communicated their desire for the planning process to further engage with the community before an alignment that would affect their neighborhood is selected. Community members raised questions regarding potential impacts to older homes within and around the HPOZ and concerns that their property values would be diminished as a result of subsurface easements for underground tunnels. Residents of this area requested more information regarding underground tunnels and related noise, vibration, settlement, seismic issues, ground water, and oil rights. Based on these concerns, community members requested that Metro evaluate alternatives other than the Draft EIR tunnel alignment in this area to avoid or minimize tunnels below homes. Community members shared their preference for tunnels to travel below public streets rather than private properties, and for Metro to provide more information on the alignment analysis, key factors, and screening process prior to any decisions being made on a preferred route or LPA for the project.
Additional Studies & Engagement
To respond to community concerns and requests for more information, Metro plans to perform additional alignment analysis in the southern portion of the project area. This area would be part of first segment of construction, should the project be approved. In the coming months, staff will conduct studies to explore and evaluate potential refinements to the alignment between I-10 and Venice Blvd. to minimize tunnels below the historic neighborhoods of LaFayette Square, Wellington Square and Victoria Park.
The project team is currently reviewing all public comments received on the Draft EIR and preparing a more comprehensive summary of the input received. Metro will continue to engage the public to work through concerns expressed by the community and share Metro’s findings from the additional analysis to be performed following the comments received on the Draft EIR. This work will include but is not limited to such tactics as stakeholder meetings, open house events, pop-up booths at community events, newsletters, email blasts, website updates, and one-to-one conversations.
Contract Modification
Since the Contract was approved in 2020, Metro has modified the Contract with Connect Los Angeles Partners, Joint Venture to extend the period of performance and reallocate existing funds to support the preparation of the Draft EIR (see Attachment B-1). Contract Modification No. 4 would increase the level of effort of technical environmental analysis, conceptual engineering, and stakeholder engagement prior to any staff recommendation of an LPA. Metro will negotiate with Connect Los Angeles Partners, Joint Venture and finalize the scope within a fair and reasonable price, not-to-exceed $2.3 million.
Task Order No. PS44432008-030 with LAG was executed in 2020 to provide comprehensive outreach effort to support the EIR for the K Line Northern Extension project. Modification No. 3 would increase the level of effort for outreach and include tactics such as stakeholder meetings, open-house events, pop-up booths at community events, newsletters, email blasts, website updates and one-to-one conversations. This modification will also extend the period of performance from June 30, 2025, through December 31, 2025. Metro will negotiate with LAG and finalize the scope within a fair and reasonable price, not-to-exceed $550,000.
Connect Los Angeles Partners, Joint Venture made a 21% Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and a 3.71% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise commitment (see Attachment C-1). LAG made a 100% SBE commitment and is meeting their SBE commitment (see Attachment C-2). Additional work conducted with the contract modifications will include SBE/DVBEs firms to help meet commitments.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Approval of the modifications will not impact the safety standards for Metro’s customers or employees.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget includes approximately $8.26 Million assigned to the project (No. 475558) for professional services, support for environmental review and community engagement. Since the Connect Us contract is a multi-year contract, the cost center Manager and Chief Planning Officer would be responsible for budgeting planning work in future years and would coordinate with other cost centers on during the annual budgeting process
Impact to Budget
Funding for this project comes from Measure M 35% Transit Capital.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The Project would connect the regional rail network, providing a rapid rail connection from the South Bay to Hollywood, increasing access to employment, education, housing, and regional centers. It would also serve many Equity Focus Communities (EFCs) in areas such as West Adams, Mid-City, West Hollywood and Hollywood along the K Line Northern Extension and connect to the D and B Lines. Ridership data shows that the project will attract regional riders coming from the neighborhoods south of the project area, expanding access for people living in the South Bay, Inglewood, and South LA who want to access jobs in the central part of Los Angeles via the project.
Metro circulated materials and notices in English, Spanish, and Russian and held pop-up events at community events (e.g. CicLAvia, Pride, farmers markets, and Taste of Soul) and transit riders intercepts at bus stops in the project area to increase awareness of the Project and engage groups who do not typically participate in community meetings. Public hearings included translators for Spanish and Russian speakers based on area demographics. As part of future stages of project development, Metro will expand partnerships with local community groups to help disseminate project information, advise on outreach methods, and engage a diverse set of project stakeholders as Metro advances the Project.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The Project supports the following strategic plan goals identified in Vision 2028:
• Goal 1: Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling,
• Goal 3: Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity, and
• Goal 5: Provide responsive, accountable, and trustworthy governance within the Metro organization.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board may not approve the modifications. This is not recommended as it would not provide additional resources needed to respond to public comments and concerns on the Draft EIR to help inform future selection of an LPA by the Metro Board.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will continue working with the consultant team to complete studies to respond to public comments. After completion of studies, Metro will share findings with the community for input and develop a staff recommendation for future LPA selection.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A-1 - Procurement Summary
Attachment A-2 - Procurement Summary
Attachment B-1 - Contract Modification/Change Order Log
Attachment B-2 - Task Order Modification/Change Order Log
Attachment C-1 - DEOD Summary
Attachment C-2 - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Georgia Sheridan, Senior Director, Mobility Corridors, (213) 547-4255
Dolores Roybal Saltarelli, Executive Officer (Interim), Countywide Planning and Development, (213) 922-3024
Allison Yoh, Interim Deputy Chief Planning Officer, Countywide Planning and Development (213) 922-4812
Anthony Crump, Executive Officer, Community Relations, (213) 418-8392
Jody Litvak, Executive Officer, Community Relations, (213) 922-1240
Mark Dierking, Director, Community Relations, (213) 922-2426
Carolina Coppolo, Interim Deputy Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 922-4471
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Ray Sosa, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4274
Jennifer Vides, Chief Customer Experience Officer, (213) 922-4060
