Meeting_Body
CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
APRIL 18, 2024
Subject
SUBJECT: BUS STOP LIGHTING
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Los Angeles Department of Public Works-Bureau of Street Lighting (BSL) to design and construct bus stop security lighting under the Metro Enhanced Bus Stop Lighting Project (Project) totaling $1,590,000.
Issue
ISSUE
Multiple assessments made since 2016 have shown a need for additional lighting for enhanced safety and security at bus stops throughout Metro’s Service Area. Addressing this need is an essential public safety investment to encourage bus ridership and to enhance the customer experience.
Execution of this Project will partially address the need and will be expedited through the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting (BSL). Fifty energy-efficient lighting improvements are planned to be installed on City of Los Angeles public rights-of-way at or adjacent to an existing Metro bus stop. BSL will maintain the bus stop lighting and renewable energy sources for these poles and other fixtures, if any.
Background
BACKGROUND
Metro is Los Angeles County's largest transit provider, with over 110 local bus routes that serve customers at more than 12,000 bus stops that are owned by various local jurisdictions. While Metro owns the bus stop signs and signposts at most bus stops, each municipality is responsible for installing and maintaining bus stop infrastructure, including amenities like bus stop lighting.
In 2019, Metro and BSL completed a pilot project consisting of the installation of lighting at 18 bus stop locations within the City of Los Angeles. In the same year, Metro completed the study Understanding How Women Travel (August 30, 2019, <https://thesource.metro.net/2019/09/19/metro-releases-understanding-how-women-travel-report/>), which calls for, among other things, for better lighting at transit stops and more frequent service so riders aren't waiting as long at dark bus stops. Drawing from the outcomes of the pilot project and the needs identified in the study, staff sought additional funding from external sources to execute the next phase of the pilot project.
In 2022, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) allocated $1,272,000 of Section 5307 1% Transit Enhancements funds for the procurement and installation of energy efficient lighting at Metro bus stops (Attachment A). Metro and the City of LA also have a long-standing relationship of coordinating together on bus stop lighting improvements. The strategic focus on the City of Los Angeles with this new funding is designed to be a concerted effort to enhance bus stop locations through the City of LA Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program (STAP).
Lessons learned from this project can be used in the overall execution of future projects involving bus stop lighting throughout the region and with other municipalities. Working together, Metro and local leaders can ensure that customers have access to safe bus stops with better lighting that meet their needs.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The Board's authorization of the staff recommendation will allow a ‘pass through’ to BSL of up to $1,272,000 of federal funds and up to $318,000 of Metro matching funds for the design, procurement, and installation of bus stop security lighting. The total cost for the Project is estimated to be $1,590,000. Prioritization of the bus stop locations will be done through the collaborative efforts of Metro and BSL.
Initially, priority locations were determined during the grant application phase using criteria identified by Metro Service Planning staff. The criteria included public safety statistics and ridership. Input from recent Public Safety Advisory Committee input, Metro Customer Experience surveys, and response to Board Motion 20 (March 16, 2023), will be considered for this project. To optimize STAP and this project’s co-benefits, staff will work closely with BSL in identifying the final bus stop priority locations. Additional criteria to be considered could include adjacency to conflicting structures like trees or closeness to curb. Placement at or near STAP-funded amenities such as bus shelters, bus benches, and related bus stop enhancements will also be considered.
BSL staff have also identified innovations that could be included as additional enhancements to the lighting installations, including the use of renewable energy sources and integrated wi-fi gateways.
As the need for bus stop lighting to address safety and security challenges is regional, the lessons learned and innovations from this project would be used to explore strategic bus stop lighting projects with other cities and other jurisdictions in Los Angeles County.
The timeline for the execution of this Project will be as follows:
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• Design/Engineering: July 1, 2024 |
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• Construction Complete: April 1, 2026 |
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• LA Board of Public Works Acceptance: September 25, 2026 |
The City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works Commissioners has already approved the execution of this project, including the commitment to the above timeline, during its February 7, 2024, meeting (Attachment B).
The full set of project milestones, including Metro final acceptance, will be completed by BSL and Metro prior to the signing of the MOU.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Approval of this item will result in a positive impact on safety. Bus stop lighting improvements at bus stops will greatly enhance the existing security lighting system’s reliability and light output, thereby improving bus riders and pedestrian safety. The project will further provide a comfortable visibility to encourage bus ridership.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No FY24 funds are required for this action. The FY25 budget proposed for board adoption in May 2024 is included in cost center 2150, Project 450001, Task 60.01, and Account 54001. Since this is a multi-year effort, the Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer and the Chief Program Management Officer will ensure that program funds are budgeted in future fiscal years.
Impact to Budget
Funding of $1,272,000 for the project will come from Federal Section 5307 TE-1% Funds. The local match of $318,000 will come from Transportation Development Act Article 4 (TDA4) and/or Prop C 40% Discretionary. The local funds are eligible for bus and rail operating and capital improvement use.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The Project is a partnership between Metro and the City of Los Angeles. Metro Planning and Program Management Staff are coordinating with BSL to identify the initial locations within the City of Los Angeles for installing the 50 bus stop lighting improvements. Metro’s 2023 Customer Experience Plan, City of LA’s STAP Guidelines, and Metro’s Equity Focus Communities (EFCs) were considered in the prioritization effort.
The ensuing programs, outreach, and investments from this Project will result in lighting and safety improvements for Metro customers traveling to, through, and from the City of Los Angeles. Based on feedback from various stakeholders, including Metro’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, lighting can support an increased perception of safety and improve the ridership experience. Therefore, those additional benefits are expected to result from this Project.
During the Design/Engineering phase of the Project, staff intends to work with community-based organizations and will seek input to finalize the final installation locations. Groups to be consulted include the Metro Service Council, the Public Safety Advisory Council, Metro Sustainability Council, Aging and Disability Transportation Network, Metro Youth Council, and similar organizations identified by BSL.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
This report supports Metro’s second and fourth Strategic Plan Goals. Goal 2: Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system. Goal 4: Transform LA County through regional collaboration and national leadership.
Further, this project is a direct response to the priority needs outlined in Motion 20, and those needs identified in Metro customer experience surveys and in the 2023 Metro Customer Experience Plan to improve bus stops as gateways to the Metro system. Consequently, improvement on Metro’s bus stops will also translate to anticipated improvements on bus stops that Metro shares with other transit agencies.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could reject the proposed action. This is not recommended as these lights are a much-needed safety enhancement to enhance the existing security lighting system’s reliability and light output thereby improving bus riders/pedestrian safety .
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon approval, staff will negotiate and execute an MOU with the Department of Public Works-Bureau of Street Lighting and implement this project. The Draft Funding Agreement and Scope of Work are included here as Attachments C and D.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Federal Section 5307 1% Transit Enhancements Funds Allocation
Attachment B - Department of Public Works February 7, 2024, Board Report
Attachment C - Draft Memorandum of Understanding between LACMTA and BSL
Attachment D - Bus Stop Lighting Scope of Work
Prepared_by
Prepared by:
Cris B. Liban, Deputy Chief, Sustainability Officer, (213) 922-2471
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by:
Darcy Buryniuk, Chief Program Management Officer, (213) 922-2250
