Meeting_Body
AD HOC 2028 OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC GAMES COMMITTEE
MARCH 20, 2024
Subject
SUBJECT: 2028 MOBILITY CONCEPT PLAN UPDATE
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE the progress report on the 2028 Mobility Concept Plan.
Issue
ISSUE
Metro’s Office of Strategic Innovation is overseeing the implementation of the 2028 Games Mobility Concept Plan (MCP). This is the sixth progress report to the Metro Board of Directors regarding this and other planning efforts in anticipation of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (“the Games”) and the pursuit of state and federal funds to support the transportation infrastructure needed for the region, including mobility during the Games.
Background
BACKGROUND
As directed by Motion 42: “2028 Mobility Concept Plan”, by Directors Garcetti, Solis, Hahn, Kuehl, Butts, and Garcia (Attachment A), since 2021 Metro has worked with LA28, Caltrans, Metrolink, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), a group collectively known as the Games Mobility Executives (GME), to develop a 2028 Mobility Concept Plan (MCP).
Following an extensive agency stakeholder outreach process to create the Comprehensive Project List, covering over 300 projects and including input from Metro Service Councils, Councils of Governments, venue cities, GME partner agencies, municipal operators, and other organizations, Metro’s 2028 Games Task Force developed the 2022 Mobility Concept Plan (MCP) Prioritized Project List (Attachment B), approved by the Board in December 2022. This project list comprises 50 partially funded or unfunded projects/programs, including capital and operational improvements that align with the mission of Motion 42. The 2022 MCP Prioritized Project List is a living document and will change based on Metro and the GME’s ability to secure funding. Using the 2022 Prioritized MCP Project List as a basis, the GME identified a subset of 15 projects/programs (some of which are bundles of projects) deemed to either serve a specific Games delivery need (e.g., the supplemental bus system) or be highly beneficial and supportive of the transport strategy for the Games (e.g., a network of bus-only lanes). The GME submitted this Surface Transportation Priority List to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in December 2022 for further discussion and consideration (Attachment C).
In early 2023, staff prioritized seven projects/programs with long lead times for implementation to immediately begin project development work: Games Route Network, Supplemental Bus System, Countywide Mobility Hubs, Countywide Bus-Only Lanes, Transit/Venue Ped/Bike Access Enhancements (First/Last Mile), Key Station Improvements and Light Rail Speed and Operations Improvements. The progress made since the last report to the Board (September 2023) on these seven projects/programs is described below.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The 2028 Games Task Force has made significant progress on the MCP regarding technical analysis and coordination. Over the past quarter, the team has focused on:
• Funding pursuits - completing the grant application bundle for USDOT’s Reconnecting Communities Program and initiating applications for EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant and Community Change programs.
• Project Development/Readiness
o Completing Draft Implementation Plans for projects in five workstreams: Games Route Network, Supplemental Bus System, Light Rail Speed and Operations Improvements, Key Stations and Mobility Hubs
o Scope refinement, prioritization and on remaining workstreams, including Bus Only Lanes, and First/Last Mile.
• Building internal and external alignment towards implementation of the MCP priority projects.
• Advancing advocacy efforts at the federal and state levels
Attachment D includes a detailed progress report on the project development/readiness work.
Agency Coordination
GME Advancement of Other Workstreams
Since the last report in September 2023, the GME has initiated work on three additional workstreams: Countywide and Freight and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Programs, led by Metro and SCAG respectively and ATSAC/LARTMC Integration and Operations Enhancements, led by Caltrans and LADOT. Metro will include progress on Countywide TDM programs in future MCP progress reports.
Coordination on Discretionary Funding Opportunities
Staff continues to work with GME agencies to monitor state and federal funding opportunities that align with GME priority projects and to strategize on partnerships that will lead to successful applications. As reported during the September 2023 report, Metro staff led the development and submittal of a grant application for the Fiscal Year 2023 Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program (NAE). On March 13th, USDOT announced the award of a total of $139 million for this application, which will benefit transit riders through improvements such as bus-only lanes, bus shelters, bus bulbs, and transit signal priority. Funding will improve first/last mile connections to transit spaces and community amenities through pedestrian and cyclist improvements, such as bicycle lanes, sidewalk improvements, and Metro Bike Share expansion. Furthermore, the grant will fund mobility hub investments at critical transfer stations. Beyond capital improvements, the grant will also fund the expansion of the GoPass program beyond 2025 to ensure low-income students continue to have access to free transit. A map of the final project bundle is provided as Attachment E. Metro staff coordinated with 13 partners and local jurisdictions countywide in scoping and developing the grant application to ensure a successful funding request that addresses a regional challenge to benefit all Angelenos, especially in Equity Focus Communities
Staff is currently developing applications for two new federal grant programs issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Carbon Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) and Community Change. For CPRG, staff is leading a regional effort to develop a scope that combines MCP multimodal projects, zero-emission bus infrastructure, and regional rail improvements to maximize greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. If the application is successful, this grant will bring close to $500 million in investment towards MPC projects. For the Community Change program, staff is working with a local Community Based Organization, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC), to advance pedestrian safety and capacity improvements in the vicinity of Washington St. and Flower St. (where the A and E lines converge) and around the Pico Station. LACC will be partnering with Metro to develop green infrastructure, multimodal transportation solutions and workforce development for green jobs. If successful, the grant will provide up to $20 million in investment towards MCP Projects.
Metro is also providing technical support to the City of Los Angeles in their pursuit of a grant from the 2024 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary program for First/Last Mile and Mobility Hub improvements (identified in the MCP) adjacent to the Sepulveda Basin. These improvements would help Metro deliver spectator transportation via the G Line to the Sepulveda Basin Sports Park.
Metro will develop a robust strategy to engage a wide audience to inform, educate, and invite feedback from different perspectives, as well as develop a feasible project wish list prior to the final design of any project funded by these grants. As we begin 2024, the window of time to fund and implement legacy capital projects begins to close. If the next phase of project development (environmental review) is not initiated before the end of 2024, it is much less likely that some of these projects could be delivered by 2028. It is imperative that these collaborative efforts continue and that other potential sources are also explored.
Venue City Meetings
Continuing outreach and engagement with our agency partners is critical for planning in the lead up to the 2028 Games. As such, Metro visited a number of Games Venue cities to present an overview of the MCP and GME Priority Projects. These venue cities included Carson, Inglewood, Long Beach, Santa Monica, and Pasadena. The deep dive meetings allowed Venue Cities the opportunity to understand ongoing project workstreams and provide input on the path forward for projects related to their city.
Legislative Efforts
Consistent with Metro’s 2024 Board-approved Federal Legislative Program, our agency has continued to work in good faith with a broad and diverse number of federal stakeholders to ensure that the Federal Government provides robust support for surface transportation projects related to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games being hosted by the City of Los Angeles. These federal stakeholders have included, but have not been limited to, senior officials at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), White House officials (including senior aides at the Office of Management and Budget - Executive Office of the President of the United States), and members of Congress, including members of the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation. In a strong show of support of our agency’s aim to secure federal funding for mobility projects related to the Olympic Games, Metro’s Board of Directors sent a letter to President Biden on October 12, 2023, to express Metro’s full and unwavering dedication to working with the [Biden] Administration to ensure robust federal support for the infrastructure projects needed in advance of the Olympic Games. Prior to this letter (October 6, 2023), Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass co-authored a letter with CEO Wiggins that urged President Biden to include in his Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Budget funding recommendations for worthwhile transportation projects and initiatives related to the 2028 Games. In November of 2023, Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins traveled to Washington, DC and held several meetings at the White House and on Capitol Hill - in conjunction with LA28 - to advance our work related to securing robust support for surface transportation projects related to the Games.
In January of 2024, Metro hosted a delegation of high-ranking USDOT officials - including Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy Christopher Coes - for two days of field visits and in-depth discussions with Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins about Games-related needs, including both temporary and legacy projects and monetary as well as non-monetary needs. These discussions will help inform and strengthen Metro’s future partnerships and communications with the USDOT.
In addition to advocacy efforts tied to the White House and the Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, Metro has continued to work with our Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation to support our Budget request and to back future (Fiscal Year 2026) budget requests and other federal funding requests our agency will advance through the Congressional appropriations process.
In parallel to our federal advocacy efforts, in January of 2024, Metro Government Relations and OSI staff traveled to Sacramento to meet with Secretary Omishakin, Caltrans Director Tavares and Governor Newsom’s staff - in conjunction with LA28 - to advance our work related to securing robust support from the State for our surface transportation projects related to the Games.
Metro continues to work in close partnership with the LA28 organizing committee to ensure that the Games offer unparalleled mobility for Southern California residents and visitors - given that with no spectator parking at the sporting venues, these games will be car-free. To achieve this worthwhile and ambitious goal and with a clear appreciation that these upcoming games will likely be the largest sporting event in American history, Metro is strongly supporting assistance for surface transportation projects relating to international Olympic, Paralympic, and Special Olympics events.
Supplemental Bus Program
CEO Wiggins continued engagement with the Industry Advisory Council -- a group of transit agency CEOs/General Managers from across the country in support of LA28’s supplemental bus program needs. Most recently, on February 7, 2024, Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins participated in and provided a presentation at a White House Roundtable on Clean Bus Manufacturing held on February 7, 2024, in Washington, DC. At the White House Roundtable on Clean Bus Manufacturing, Metro’s CEO outlined the agency’s work related to the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the strong commitment to make this global sporting event the “cleanest” ever as it relates to transportation.
2024 Look Ahead
2024 will be a crucial year in planning for the 2028 Games. After the Paris 2024 Games this Summer, the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) attention will turn to Los Angeles, allowing LA28 to finalize an official sports program, therefore opening the door to the next level of planning and coordination. As the regional lead for Games spectator and workforce transportation, Metro will continue to lead on several fronts. Staff’s top priorities for 2024 include:
Observation
• Ongoing technical exchanges with other World Cup and Olympic Cities, including Paris.
• Participate in official Olympics observer program for critical staff, including operations and security leads.
Execution
• Develop and execute operational agreements with LA28, GME and other agencies as needed
• Complete all priority project implementation plans
• Pursuing federal and state support for the 15 GME priority projects.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
Staff continues to work with the Office of Equity and Race (OER) to ensure that programs and projects identified within the Mobility Concept Plan (MCP) follow Metro’s Equity guidelines. Staff emphasized equity in the prioritization of the project list with a weighted score of 40%. This translated into projects with higher equity scores ranking higher overall and getting included in the 2022 MCP Prioritized Project List.
Having prioritized seven of the 15 priority projects/programs due to longer lead times for implementation, staff has made a concerted effort to further evaluate and screen the bundled projects within each of the seven workstreams: Games Route Network, Supplemental Bus System, Countywide Mobility Hubs, Countywide Bus-Only Lanes, Transit/Venue Ped/Bike Access Enhancements (First/Last Mile), Key Station Improvements, and Light Rail Speed and Operations Improvements. As staff continue to define the projects within the workstreams and develop implementation plans, we will work with OER to pilot the Equity Planning & Evaluation Tool (EPET). This will allow staff to identify disparities that impact how the MCP programs/projects are experienced by understanding the root causes of the identified disparities and harmful policies that impact the nearly five million people who reside in disadvantaged communities across LA County. Further, the EPET will allow staff to develop programs/projects and weave in robust community engagement opportunities continuously throughout the planning process until the 2028 Games are delivered, with equitable outcomes as a primary goal, aiming to mitigate identified disparities by connecting project outcomes, such as improving bus speed, service reliability, and customer experience to desired community results, such as enhancing mobility and access to opportunities for low-income residents.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The development of the MCP supports strategic goals #1 “Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling, #2 “Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system,” and #4 “Transform LA County through regional collaboration and national leadership” by providing a roadmap and strategy to deliver permanent transit and transit-supportive projects and programs that can help serve the 2028 Games.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue the scoping work necessary to advance priority projects within each of the seven workstreams that Metro is currently leading. This effort will be critical to ensuring these projects can continue to compete for state and federal funding opportunities and be delivered in time for the Games. Staff also plan to bring to the Board for consideration a series of implementation scenarios, including different levels of investment and priorities for projects. Staff will also continue to coordinate with the GME on the implementation of a legislative funding strategy.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Motion 42: 2028 Mobility Concept Plan
Attachment B - 2022 MCP Prioritized Project List
Attachment C - GME Surface Transportation Priority List
Attachment D - Workstreams Progress Report
Attachment E - Final NAE Regional Challenge Project Map
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Ernesto Chaves, Executive Officer, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 418-3142
Kasey Shuda, Senior Director, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 454-6479
Jacqueline Torres, Senior Director, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 547-4208
Marcel Porras, Deputy Chief, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 922-2606
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by:
Seleta Reynolds, Chief, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 922-4656
Nicole Englund, Chief of Staff, (213) 922-7950
