Meeting_Body
CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 18, 2018
Subject
SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON AIRPORT METRO CONNECTOR PROJECT
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE this status report on the Airport Metro Connector (AMC) project (the Project).
Issue
ISSUE
This report provides an update from staff on the following: (1) design progress to date and path forward, (2) coordination with Southern California Gas Company (SCG) for the relocation of two 30” high pressure gas lines, (3) update on real estate acquisition to secure the required property for construction of the AMC Station; and (4) continued coordination with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).
Discussion
BACKGROUND:
Airport Metro Connector Station Design
As part of the environmental clearance, conceptual design, and planning process, Metro Planning had previously provided quarterly updates to keep the Board informed as to progress of the AMC station design and LAWA coordination through the concept phase. The previous update was provided to the Board at the 30% design level. To date, the following major project milestones were achieved:
• Completed schematic design (April 2017)
• Completed NEPA/CEQA Environmental Clearance (April 2017)
• Completed 30% preliminary engineering documents (December 2017)
• Initiated eminent domain proceedings and made payment of just compensation (August 2018)
Now that the design process has progressed to 60% complete, Metro Program Management Department has now transitioned to the lead role in order to oversee the project through completion of the final design work, the bid and award phase, and construction of the AMC project.
With the design of the AMC station now at 60% complete, the site plan, building massing, adjacencies, and architecture of the station project are now largely fixed. Intensive collaboration and coordination with LAWA staff and the automated people mover (APM) concessionaire has resulted in a design that is well coordinated between both agencies and seamlessly connects Metro’s light rail transit (LRT), bus, and bicycle modes with the LAWA APM.
Primary features of the AMC station include a single LRT platform concept for the Crenshaw/LAX and Green Line LRT lines, which has been incorporated for ease of train operations and more efficient wayfinding and passenger access. The AMC station also includes a 32 berth bus plaza for boarding/alighting and layovers, a bike hub, a kiss and ride location, and a mezzanine structure which seamlessly connects all of the passenger modes to the APM station. The station has a very robust landscaping program within both the interior and exterior of the project, and will incorporate a public art commission by the Los Angeles artist Glenn Kaino. At present, the AMC project will achieve a minimum Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED) rating of Gold. A site plan and visual renderings of the current station design are included as Attachment A.
As the design continues to progress, the Metro project team will continue meeting with LAWA and the APM concessionaire on a regular basis to insure that the AMC station and APM are well coordinated and stay on schedule.
Utility Investigation and Environmental Work
In November 2017, potholing was conducted at eight (8) locations within the future Metro project site for purposes of locating two gas lines and to confirm the scope of advanced utility relocation work required for the Project. Staff is currently working with SCG and LAWA on the design of the relocated gas lines to accommodate future AMC and APM construction activities. Completion of gas line relocation design is targeted for October 2018, with relocation of the gas lines scheduled to begin in January 2019.
Environmental investigation and remediation activities are currently being completed as part of the preparation of the AMC site for utility relocation and eventual construction of the AMC Station. Phase II soil boring investigations were completed in August 2018, and monitoring/remediation wells placed by the previous property owners will be relocated in accordance with Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements.
Real Estate
Metro Real Estate continues to work with Hertz to acquire the project site and obtain the necessary right-of-entry documents required to relocate utilities and construct the AMC and APM projects. Staff anticipates that the required critical time lines will be achieved so that utility relocations can begin by the end of 2018, enabling site work and construction of the AMC Station to begin in early 2020. Real Estate has also worked closely with LAWA and Hertz to assure that the property is available to the APM concessionaire for construction of the APM foundations within the Hertz property.
Coordination with LAWA
Metro and LAWA are working closely together to assure coordination on the following:
• Intermodal coordination between all modes including APM
• Reconfiguration of the LAX City Bus Center
• Plans to widen Arbor Vitae St and Aviation Blvd adjacent to the AMC Project site
• Design and implementation strategy for multi-use (bicycle/pedestrian) path on Aviation Boulevard
• Property acquisition and timing
• Construction sequencing and staging
• Ongoing soil remediation activities at AMC Project site
• Design and easements in place for relocating gas lines
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Now that staff and our consultants have progressed the AMC design work through 30% to 60%, the project management responsibilities have transitioned to Metro’s Program Management Department, with support from Countywide Planning as necessary. Staff will continue to proceed with property acquisition, completing the design, and completing utility relocations. Also, staff will provide a series of stakeholder briefings on the AMC project design and the ongoing coordination with LAWA. As the project advances toward major construction in 2020, staff will continue to update the Board at key project milestones. The AMC is expected to open for revenue service in Spring/Summer 2023, in coordination with revenue service of the LAWA APM.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Project Design Update
Prepared_by
Prepared by:
Rick Meade, SEO, Project Management, (213) 922-7382
Timothy Lindholm, EO, Capital Projects (213) 922-7297
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Richard Clarke, Chief Program Management Officer, (213) 922-7557,
