Meeting_Body
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
FEBRUARY 25, 2016
Preamble
Motion by:
Directors Knabe, DuBois, Garcetti and Solis
February 25, 2016
Item 32, File ID 2016-0021
West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor (Eco-Rapid Transit Project)
Creating Sustainable Transit Oriented Communities
Measure R includes the West Santa Ana Branch (Eco-Rapid Transit) Transit Corridor. This project runs 20 miles from the City of Artesia in Southeast Los Angeles County and continues through the cities of Artesia, Bell, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Downey, Huntington Park, Los Angeles, Maywood, Paramount, South Gate, and Vernon.
The cities along this alignment are committed to supporting the implementation of this corridor and have come together in the Eco-Rapid Transit Joint Powers Authority whose mission is to pursue the development of an environmentally friendly energy efficient addition to the Los Angeles County transit system.
This addition to the LA County transit system will enhance and increase transportation options for the residents of the member cities, provide access to employment in other parts of the County and improve the quality of life for all area residents including those cities that have been designated “Disadvantaged Communities by the CalEPA EnviroScreen (SB 535 - De Leon Chapter 830, Statue of 2012).
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is undertaking environmental studies in preparation for their development of the West Santa Ana Branch transit corridor.
Eco-Rapid Transit JPA, building on the Los Angeles County Economic Development Strategy and the Eco-Rapid Design Guidelines, is desirous of working directly with the communities along the corridor to develop a consistent set of development standards, practices, and sustainability objectives to encourage and incentivize new transit oriented developments throughout the West Santa Ana Branch transit corridor. This work will improve the ability of corridor jurisdictions to attract other funding to carry out identified public infrastructure improvements.
Eco-Rapid Transit will manage the preparation of local development plans and policies to incorporate specific Sustainable Development targets including an evaluation of existing systems-electric, water, storm water, sewage, fiber (data) to identify opportunities to modify existing facilities to create state-of-the art infrastructure that addressed the needs of these Environmental Justice areas. Additionally, the project will identify opportunities in existing transport facilities to identify changes within the corridor that could support increased mode share shifts from vehicles to transit, enhance active transportation opportunities, improve first and last mile connections and related design changes in housing, economic development, parking that better supports achieving the sustainability targets.
Title
APPROVE Motion by Knabe, DuBois, Garcetti and Solis that:
A. The CEO return to the Board of Directors within 60 days with a budget (not to exceed $18 million), scope of work, potential funding sources and community engagement strategy Measure R funds in the amount of $18 million be allocated for the purpose of pursuing Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) predevelopment and planning activities, in coordination with the City and County of Los Angeles as well as the Eco-Rapid Transit and Gateway Cities Council of Governments, for the West Santa Ana Branch Project. alignment and communities; and
B. Metro Staff work with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments or the Eco-Rapid Transit JPA to implement this program.