Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: MEASURE M MULTI-YEAR SUBREGIONAL PROGRAM ANNUAL UPDATE - NORTH COUNTY SUBREGION
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. APPROVING the programming of an additional $5,183,184 within the capacity of Measure M Multi-Year Subregional Program (MSP) - Active Transportation Program, and reprogramming project funds previously approved to meet the project schedule, as shown in Attachment A; and
B. AUTHORIZING the Chief Executive Officer or their designee to negotiate and execute all necessary agreements and/or amendments for approved projects.
Issue
ISSUE
Measure M MSPs are included in the Measure M Expenditure Plan, attached to the Measure M Ordinance. All MSP funds are limited to capital projects. This update allows the North County subregion and implementing agencies to approve new eligible projects for funding and revise the project scope of work, project budgets, and schedule for previously funded projects. Funds are programmed through Fiscal Year (FY) 2028-29. The Board’s approval is required to update the project list (Attachment A), which serves as the basis for Metro to enter into agreements and/or amendments with the respective implementing agencies.
Background
BACKGROUND
Based on the amount provided in the Measure M Expenditure Plan, a total amount of $200.13 million was forecasted to be available for programming for the subregion for FY 18 to FY 30. In prior actions, the Board approved programming $108.55 million in support of 30 projects. Therefore, $91.58 million is available to the subregion for programming as part of this update. To date, $34.41 million (38% of programmed funds) has been expended. Five projects have been completed and three of these projects are in the close-out audit process. Staff will continue working with the implementing agencies to advance the delivery of all projects.
In line with the Metro Board adopted Measure M Guidelines, agencies requesting funds must provide documentation demonstrating community support, project need, and multimodal transportation benefits that enhance safety, support traffic mobility, economic vitality, and enable a safer and well-maintained transportation system. Cities and Joint Powers Authority (JPA) lead and prioritize all proposed transportation improvements, including procurement, the environmental process, outreach, final design, and construction.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The jurisdictional requests for updates presented herein were proposed by the cities and approved/forwarded by the Subregion. Metro staff worked closely with the North County Transportation Coalition (NCTC) JPA and the implementing agencies on project eligibility reviews of the proposed projects for this update, including changes to the scope of work/schedule and/or funding requests, as applicable.
During staff review, Metro required a detailed project scope of work to confirm project eligibility and establish the program nexus, including but not limited to project location and limits, length, elements, phase(s), total estimated expenses, funding requested, and schedules. Final approval of funds for the projects shall be contingent upon the implementing agency demonstrating the eligibility of each project, as required in the Measure M Master Guidelines. Staff collected project details to enable the timely execution of project Funding Agreements for approved projects. All Measure M MSPs must be expended within three years from the fiscal year in which the funds are programmed, according to the Guidelines Timely Use of Funds Lapsing Policy. Staff will continue working with the implementing agencies to encourage timely completion of the projects. Additionally, all projects are subject to a close-out audit after completion, according to the Guidelines.
Active Transportation Program (expenditure line 52)
This update includes funding adjustments to two existing and two new projects as follows:
Lancaster
• Program $4,913,184 in FY 29 for MM4501.23 - Equitable Complete Streets for Challenger Way Corridor project. This new project includes improvements that will add wider protected bikeways and a raised median with native plantings with left-turn access along the entire length of the corridor. Additional street lighting will be installed along the corridor, where required, and the existing pavement along the corridor will be rehabilitated. This project will likely decrease VMT. The funds will be used for the project’s construction phase.
Santa Clarita
• Program $270,000 in FY 28 for MM4501.24 - Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Safety Detection project. The new project will install AI cameras at strategic locations to enhance trail-user safety and provide additional trail use data. The camera will also communicate with the traffic signal to improve timing when cyclists are detected. This project will likely decrease Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). The funds will be used for the project’s Plan, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) and construction phases.
LA County
• Reprogram previously approved $1,000,000 for MM4501.13 - Lake Los Angeles Pedestrian Plan Implementation Phase 1 project. The funds are programmed as follows: $50,000 in FY 20, $300,000 in FY 21, $300,000 in FY 22, $100,000 in FY 23 and $250,000 in FY 28. This existing project includes the design of a Class I bike path on 17th Street East, a new parking lane, curb, gutter, and sidewalk on Avenue Q. Additionally, it includes street crossing improvements such as ADA-compliant curb ramps, pedestrian-activated warning systems, etc. This project will likely decrease VMT. The funds will be used to complete the project’s PS&E phase.
• Reprogram previously approved $600,000 to FY 28 for MM4501.16 - 30th Street West Active Transportation Improvements project. This existing project includes the design of the installation of Class IV buffered bikeways and sidewalks along 30th Street West between Avenue H and Avenue N-8. This project will likely decrease VMT. The funds will be used to complete the project’s PS&E phase.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Programming of Measure M MSP funds to the Subregion projects will not have any adverse safety impacts on Metro’s employees or patrons. The recommended projects will result in improved safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and people accessing transit.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
In FY 27, $16.3 million is budgeted in Cost Center 0441 (subsidies budget - Planning) for the Active Transportation Program (Project #474701), $6.7 million is budgeted in Cost Center 0441 (Subsidies to Others) for the Transit Program (Project #474102), and $2.1 million is budgeted in Cost Center 0442 (Highway Subsidies) for the Highway Efficiency Program (Project #475504). Upon approval of this action, staff will reallocate necessary funds to appropriate projects within Cost Centers 0441 and 0442. Since these are multi-year projects, Cost Centers 0441 and 0442 will be responsible for budgeting the cost in future years.
Impact to Budget
The sources of funds for these projects are Measure M Highway Construction 17% and Measure M Transit Construction 35%. These fund sources are not eligible for Metro bus and rail operations expenses.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The North County subregion comprises three cities and the adjacent unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. Seventeen percent of census tracts in the subregion are designated as Equity Focus Communities (EFCs). Cities within the subregion where most census tracts are EFCs include Lancaster (32% designated as EFCs) and Palmdale (29% designated as EFCs).
Metro staff provide technical assistance to jurisdictions, assisting agencies in determining funding eligibility and developing funding agreements, including project scope of work, cost and schedule. Each city and/or agency, independently and in coordination with the subregion, undertakes their jurisdictionally determined community engagement process specific to the type of transportation improvement they seek to develop. These locally determined and prioritized projects represent the needs of cities and the subregion.
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.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through planning activities that will improve and further encourage transit ridership, ridesharing, and active transportation. The details of how specific projects may impact Metro’s VMT reduction targets are shared in the “Discussion” section of this report. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*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 recommendation supports the following goals of the Metro Vision 2028 Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling by alleviating the current operational deficiencies and improving mobility along the projects.
Goal 4: Transform LA County through regional collaboration by partnering with the Council of Governments and the local jurisdictions to identify the needed improvements and take the lead in the development and implementation of their projects.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board can elect not to approve the additional programming of funds or scope of work and schedule changes for the Measure M MSP projects for the North County subregion. This is not recommended as the Subregion developed the proposed projects in accordance with the Measure M Ordinance, Guidelines, and Administrative Procedures which may delay the development and delivery of the projects.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Metro staff will continue to work with the subregion to identify and deliver projects. Funding Agreements will be executed with those who have funds programmed in FY 27. Program/Project updates will be provided to the Board annually.
Attachments
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A - Active Transportation Program Project List
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Fanny Pan, Executive Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418-3433
Laurie Lombardi, Senior Executive Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418-3251
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Ray Sosa, Chief Planning Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 547-4274
