Meeting_Body
MEASURE M INDEPENDENT TAXPAYER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: MEASURE M ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE ORAL REPORT
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE oral report on Measure M Active Transportation, programmed revenues, and uses to support discussion on the effective and efficient use of funds.
Issue
ISSUE
To support the discussion for the effective and efficient use of funds, this quarterly presentation provides the committee with the status of Metro active transportation activities related to Measure M projects including the LA River Waterway & System Bike Path and the Metro Active Transport (MAT) Program.
At the September meeting, the MMITOC requested an update on the funding plan and bid strategy for the Los Angeles River Bike Path - San Fernando Valley (LA River Path - SFV) project, which is managed by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering (LABOE). The LA River Path - SFV is included in the Measure M Expenditure Plan, as line item 14.
Metro staff have explored questions raised by MMITOC, which inquired into how LABOE intends to deliver the project, given the original bids that came in higher than expected.
Through discussions with LABOE, Metro staff understand the following:
• In preparing to rebid the construction of Segments 1 & 2, LABOE is attempting to reduce the cost of the project by a) conducting extensive contractor outreach to increase interest in the project, b) revising the schedule of values to remove areas of uncertainty and risk that were present in the original scope, and c) considering alternatives that would defer the completion of certain undercrossings to a subsequent project phase, enabling a more expedited project timeline while still completing a fully connected path.
• LABOE anticipates that these measures will enhance competitiveness, mitigate risks, and alleviate time constraints, collectively contributing to a reduction in project costs.
• The Expenditure Plan identifies $60 million in Measure M funding for the LA River Path - SFV. In addition, LABOE was awarded $10 million from the Measure M MAT Program at the Metro Board meeting on September 25, 2025, to deliver the LA River Path - SFV’s first two segments, contingent on delivery before the summer 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• The expected funding gap for Segments 1 & 2 is $7,082,000 (Table 1) based on current cost estimates. The City of Los Angeles is exploring all available funding sources to address the expected funding shortfall, including state and federal grants, leveraging local partners, flood control resources, and congressional appropriations. Table 2 provides details on secured funding and the current funding gap for the overall LA River Path - SFV project, which includes funding for Segments 1 & 2.
Table 1. Segments 1 & 2 Funding and Balance
|
Funding Source |
Amount |
|
Measure M Expenditure Plan |
$24,000,000 |
|
California Active Transport Program (ATP Cycle 4) |
$18,590,000 |
|
Measure M MAT Cycle 2 |
$10,000,000 |
|
Local |
$6,681,000 |
|
Total Funding Secured |
$59,271,000 |
|
Project Fund Balance |
|
Cost Estimate* (2025) |
$66,353,000 |
|
Total Funding Secured |
$59,271,000 |
|
Funding Gap |
$7,082,000 |
|
*Cost estimates are subject to change |
Table 2. LA River Path - SFV Project (all segments) Funding and Balance
|
Funding Source |
Amount |
|
Measure M Expenditure Plan |
$60,000,000 |
|
California Active Transport Program (ATP Cycle 4 & 6) |
$52,991,000 |
|
Measure M MAT Cycle 2 (for Segments 1 & 2) |
$10,000,000 |
|
Local |
$7,580,000 |
|
Total Funding Secured |
$130,571,000 |
|
Project Fund Balance |
|
Cost Estimate* (2024) |
$169,819,650 |
|
Total Funding Secured |
$130,571,000 |
|
Funding Gap |
$39,248,650 |
|
*Cost estimates are subject to change |
The LA Board of Public Works is scheduled to adopt the Request for Proposals (RFP) with the new bid package for the project covering Segments 1 & 2 with a new scope of on November 24 and bids are expected to be due in January 2026. It is undetermined whether construction of some of the undercrossings will be postponed, but LABOE has confirmed that construction of Segments 1 & 2 is expected to begin in Spring 2026 and will be completed before the summer 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The Measure M related activities for active transportation include two projects in the Measure M Expenditure Plan that will connect the bike path gaps along the Los Angeles River in the San Fernando Valley and in Central Los Angeles, as well as the Metro Active Transport, Transit and First/Last Mile (MAT) Program, a discretionary grant program guided by the priorities in the Active Transportation Strategic Plan (ATSP). Measure M also funds active transportation projects programmed by subregions through the Multiyear Subregional Program (MSP). In addition to funding these activities, Metro engages in First/Last Mile planning for communities to access existing and future major transit stops. Equity is built into Metro’s approach to all of these activities.
The 2023 ATSP identified and prioritized a regional active transportation network based on criteria, including overlap with Equity Focus Communities (EFC). Projects in the ATSP regional network were eligible for MAT Program Cycle 2 funding. In addition to evaluating projects for investments in EFCs, MAT Cycle 2 project applications were evaluated based on factors including robust partnerships with Community Based Organizations (CBO) to ensure community engagement in project development. Project applications that were submitted for MAT Cycle 1 in 2020 were given bonus points for locations within EFCs. All selected projects that are being developed using Cooperative Agreements with Metro include CBO partnerships.
The LA River Project - Central City section directly serves seven EFC census tracts in the communities of Lincoln Heights, Chinatown, and Boyle Heights. Approximately 23% of the population in this area lives under the poverty line and more than 22% of the working-age population does not use cars as a primary mode of transportation. This path will not only be used for recreational purposes but also serve as a low-cost transportation option for those who have limited car ownership. The LA River Project - San Fernando Valley section directly serves two EFCs in the community of Reseda. It is being delivered by the City of Los Angeles.
Prepared_by
Prepared by: James Andrew, Senior Manager, Countywide Planning & Development,
(213) 547-4306
Gabriela Lontos-Lawlor, Manager, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-2283
Cory Zelmer, Deputy Executive Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-1079
Allison Yoh, Executive Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-4812
David Mieger, Deputy Chief Planning & Development Officer (Interim), Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-3040
Nicole Ferrara, Deputy Chief Planning & Development Officer, Countywide Planning & Development (213) 547-4322
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Ray Sosa, Chief Planning & Development Officer, (213) 547-4274