Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
APRIL 16, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: COUNTYWIDE PLANNING MAJOR PROJECT STATUS REPORT
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE Countywide Planning & Development Major Project Status Report.
Issue
ISSUE
Countywide Planning and Development’s major projects status report provides highlights of capital projects in planning phases of development. These include transit corridor projects such as rail and bus rapid transit, Measure M active transportation corridor projects, and complete streets and highway improvements.
Background
BACKGROUND
Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within Los Angeles County. Countywide Planning and Development (CPD) oversees the planning of major capital projects to support this mission. The attached Project Status Report (Attachment A) provides an update on transit, active transportation corridor and complete streets and highway projects in various stages of development.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The status report provides a quarterly update on major projects as they advance through alternatives and feasibility analyses, technical analyses for environmental certification, selection of preferred projects, cost estimation and funding development, and evaluation of project delivery method. Following environmental planning milestones, projects typically transition from CPD to Program Management and are included in the Program Management Major Project Status report, which is provided on a quarterly basis to the Metro Board’s Construction Committee.
As requested by Director Horvath, updates on the Pacific Coast Highway projects in the City of Malibu as well as an update from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on the Pacific Coast Highway Master Plan remain in this quarter’s report.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
Because this report is provided on a regular basis and includes status updates for multiple projects, equity assessments are provided as baseline summaries with subsequent updates when equity conditions change. This quarter includes a refreshed set of baseline assessments for all the projects that are presented in this board report (Attachment B).
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.
The VMT outcomes of each project discussed in this report are detailed in Attachment C. The projects in this report have mixed outcomes, but taken together they will likely decrease VMT in LA County. Although some individual projects may not directly contribute to the achievement of the Board-adopted VMT Reduction Targets, the VMT Targets were developed to account for the cumulative effect of a suite of programs and projects within the Metro region.
Within this suite of projects, Metro seeks to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips, provide a safe transportation system, multimodal options, improve safety and mobility; and increase accessibility to destinations via transit, cycling, walking, and carpooling. Some of the projects within this status report include items that will ease congestion for cars and trucks, or expand vehicle capacity, resulting in the possibility of increased VMT. Additionally, some projects reported here do not have a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) yet and therefore the VMT outcome is not yet able to be determined, although Metro staff will ensure that the Board and public will have access to analysis related to VMT during the process of selecting an LPA or when any action on the project is being requested of the Board. Metro has a voter-approved mandate to deliver multimodal projects that enhance mobility while ensuring the efficient movement of people and goods, as required by state law.
*Based on population estimates from the US 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 development of projects included in this report supports Strategic Plan Goal #1 by delivering high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue to advance these projects through the planning phases. The next quarterly update will be provided in July 2025.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Project Status Report
Attachment B - Equity Assessment Baseline
Attachment C - Vehicles Miles Traveled (VMT) Outcome
Prepared_by
Prepared by:
Michelle Smith, Executive Officer, Complete Streets & Highways, (213) 547-4368
Allison Yoh, Executive Officer, Mobility Corridors, (213) 922-4812
Avital Barnea, Senior Executive Officer, Multimodal Integrated Planning,
(213) 547-4317
David Mieger, Senior Executive Officer, Countywide Planning and
Development, (213) 922-3040
Nicole Ferrara, Deputy Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4322
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Ray Sosa, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-2920
