Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 18, 2023
Subject
SUBJECT: MEASURE M MULTI-YEAR SUBREGIONAL PROGRAM UPDATE - WESTSIDE CITIES SUBREGION
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. APPROVING programming an additional $2,137,325 within the capacity of Measure M Multi-Year Subregional Program (MSP) - Active Transportation 1st/Last Mile Connections Program (Expenditure Line 51), as shown in Attachment A; and
B. AUTHORIZING the CEO or their designee to negotiate and execute all necessary agreements for approved projects.
Issue
ISSUE
Measure M MSPs are included in the Measure M Expenditure Plan. All MSP funds are limited to capital projects. The annual update approves additional eligible projects for funding and allows the Westside Cities Subregion (the Subregion) and implementing agencies to revise the scope of work, schedule, and amend the project budget.
This update includes changes to projects which have received prior Board approval. Funds are programmed through Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25. 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
In January 2021, the Metro Board of Directors approved the Westside Cities Subregion’s first MSP Five-Year Plan and programmed funds in the Active Transportation 1st/Last Mile Connections Program (Expenditure Line 51). Since the first Plan, staff provided an annual update to the Board in October 2022.
Based on the amount provided in the Measure M Expenditure Plan and Measure M Administrative Procedures, a total amount of $40.3 million was forecasted to be available for programming for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18 to FY 2026-27. In prior actions, the Board approved programming $27.1 million through FY 2024-25. Therefore, $13.2 million was available to the Subregion for programming as part of this annual update.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Metro staff continued working closely with the Westside Cities Council of Governments (WCCOG), its consultant, and implementing agencies for this annual update, including changes to the scope of work requests. To confirm project eligibility, reconfirm project funding eligibility for those that request changes to the scope of work, and establish the program nexus during project reviews, Metro requested, among other things, detailed scopes of work, project location information, schedules, total estimated expenses, and links between the provided information and funding requests. Staff expect the collection of these project details in advance of Metro Board action to enable timely execution of project Funding Agreements for approved projects. For those proposed projects with funds programmed in FY 2024-25, Metro accepted higher-level, relevant project details for the review process. Through an annual process, Metro staff will work with the WCCOG and implementing agencies to update and refine project details. Those projects are proposed for conditional approval as part of this action. Final approval of funds for those projects shall be contingent upon the implementing agency demonstrating the eligibility of each project as required in the Measure M Master Guidelines. Additionally, per the Guidelines, all projects are subject to close-out audit after completion.
Active Transportation 1st/Last Mile Connections Program (Expenditure Line 51)
This update includes funding adjustments to four existing projects and two new projects as follows:
Beverly Hills
• Program additional $764,801 in FY 2024-25 for MM4801.02, MM4801.03, and MM4801.04 combined project and update the project name to La Cienega & Rodeo Drive Purple Line Stations - Pedestrian and Wayfinding FLM Improvements. The funds will be used for the project’s Plans Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) and construction phases. The project is expected to be completed when the Purple (D Line) Extension Section 2 is expected to open for service in 2025.
Culver City
• Program $798,364 in FY 2024-25 for MM4801.17 - Sepulveda Corridor Mobility Lane Project. The funds will be used for the project’s construction phase.
LA City
• Reprogram previously approved $4,393,838 as follows: $878,768 in FY 2023-24 and $3,515,070 in FY 2024-25 for MM4801.09 - Connect Del Rey Stress-Free Bicycle Enhanced Corridor. The funds will be used for the project’s PS&E and construction phases.
• Reprogram previously approved $3,168,000 to FY 2024-25 for MM4801.10 - Expo Bike Path Gap Closure. The funds will be used for the project’s construction phase.
West Hollywood
• Deobligate all $1,211,000 from MM4801.16 - Willoughby, Vista, Gardner Greenways. The City requested the deobligated funds to be reallocated to another project.
• Program $1,785,160 as follows: $1,211,000 in FY 2023-24 and $574,160 in 2024-25 for MM4801.18 - Fountain Ave Protected Bike Lanes. The funds will be used for the project’s PS&E phase.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Programming of Measure M MSP funds to the Westside Cities Subregion projects will not have any adverse safety impacts on Metro’s employees or patrons.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
In FY 2023-24, $12.9 million is budgeted in Cost Center 0441 (subsidies budget - Planning) for the Active Transportation Program (Project #474401). Upon approval of this action, staff will reallocate necessary funds to appropriate projects within Cost Center 0441. Since these are multi-year projects, Cost Center 0441 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%. These fund sources are not eligible for Metro bus and rail operating and capital expenditures.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The Westside Cities Subregion comprises five cities and the adjacent unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. Cities within the defined Westside Cities subregional boundary of the Measure M program contain Equity Focus Communities (EFC) in jurisdictions, including Culver City, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and the City of Los Angeles. Two percent of census tracts are defined as EFC in the Subregion. The jurisdictional requests are proposed by the cities and approved/forwarded by the Subregion. In line with the Metro Board adopted guidelines and June 2022 Objectives for Multimodal Highways Investments, cities 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 lead and prioritize all proposed transportation improvements, including procurement, the environmental process, outreach, final design, and construction. 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 the cities.
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 developing and implementing 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 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 2023-24. Program/Project updates will be provided to the Board annually.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Active Transportation 1st/Last Mile Connection 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
Ray Sosa, Deputy Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4274
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: James de la Loza, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-2920
