Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 20, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: OPEN ACCESS LEASABLE FIBER
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE the report on the feasibility of providing open-access leasable fiber along the A Line South public right-of-way that could be accessed by City and County agencies.
Issue
ISSUE
At its July 2024 meeting, the Board directed staff to report on the feasibility of open-access leasable fiber. The findings are that it is not feasible.
Background
BACKGROUND
In the July 2024 Board Report, staff submitted a request to establish a Life of Project budget of $65,350,000 to implement the Communication Transmission System (CTS) upgrade, including installing a new fiber backbone on the Metro A, B, and D lines. The Board approved the request, as amended by Directors Dupont-Walker, Mitchell, and Butts, to report back on the feasibility of identifying areas along the public right-of-way where open access leasable fiber could be accessed by City and County agencies.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Staff conducted a feasibility study on installing an additional fiber optic cable with 432 strands available along the 22-mile A Line South alignment for lease and usage by the City and County agencies, which could be accessed near the Communications Equipment Rooms at the A Line South stations. This cable would be installed in existing underground conduits and manholes, which are also used for Metro's internal fiber optic cables. After reviewing the as-built drawings and conducting field surveys, the team found significant issues with providing leasable fiber as outlined below:
Financial and Resource Implications
Metro staff would be required to take on additional responsibilities and costs to maintain and repair the leasable fibers, conduits, inner ducts, as well as cable termination points. Given the department’s current and projected workload, staff does not have the capacity to absorb additional responsibilities. The potential maintenance responsibilities would require additional staff and vehicles to perform the necessary routine maintenance and to respond to any failures based on the agreed service level. These additional demands could disrupt Metro’s ability to focus on its core priorities.
Cybersecurity Risks
Introducing leasable fiber cables into the same infrastructure as Metro's internal fibers (shared conduits and manholes) could create cybersecurity risks. Fiber optic tapping through the splices is possible due to utilizing the same splice trays, which creates a vulnerability, making Metro’s internal communication systems susceptible to breaches.
In order to protect Metro systems against cybersecurity risks, the leasable fiber would need to be completely separate from Metro’s fiber cables and conduits. This design and construction would allow the use of Metro's right of way but would not allow leasable fiber cable into the same infrastructure as Metro's fiber as the leasable fiber cable would be in a separate physical infrastructure, including conduits, manholes, and splice trays. In addition, any monitoring system to report on the condition of the leasable fiber would need to be a separate system monitored by a dedicated maintenance team.
Capital Project Risks
The addition of this work would likely delay the main CTS upgrade project schedule, which could also affect the timelines of major rail projects that need connectivity to the Rail Operations Control (ROC) Center, such as East San Fernando Valley (ESFV), Purple Line Extension (PLE)-1, PLE-2, PLE-3, Foothill 2B, and Metro Center Project (MCP).
Due to the concerns outlined above, open-access leasable fiber is not feasible and is not recommended.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The A Line South serves areas with a high concentration of Equity Focus Communities (EFC), including Watts, Willowbrook, Compton, Long Beach, Florance-Graham, and Downtown LA. Expanding broadband access is crucial for promoting digital equity, as it enables full participation in education, employment, healthcare, and other essential services. Despite our determination that access to leasable fiber is not feasible, in Los Angeles County, City and County initiatives are underway to facilitate reliable broadband service in EFCs where low-income households lack internet access.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
This item could have the potential to impact existing transit services and, therefore, could result in increased VMT.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The Metro A, B, and D Lines Communication Transmission System Upgrade Project supports the following Metro Strategic Plan Goals:
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.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue progressing with the contract solicitation process for the main CTS fiber optic cable upgrade project. Metro recommends that municipalities partner with fiber infrastructure firms to collaborate with other government entities to provide fiber optic cable access.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Motion #36
Prepared_by
Prepared by:
Kelvin Zan, Executive Officer, Projects Engineering, (213) 617-6264
Errol Taylor, Deputy Chief Operations Officer, Infrastructure Maintenance and Engineering, (203) 922-3227
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by:
Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 418-3034
