Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 15, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: MEASURE M MULTI-YEAR SUBREGIONAL PROGRAM UPDATE - WESTSIDE CITIES SUBREGION
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. APPROVING programming an additional $5,073,753 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 Chief Executive Officer (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, which is an attachment to the Measure M Ordinance. All MSP funds in this program are limited to capital projects under the Active Transportation 1st/Last Mile Connections Program. This program update allows the Westside Cities Subregion and implementing agencies to approve new eligible projects for funding and revise the scope of work, schedule, and amend the project budget for previously funded projects. Funds are programmed through Fiscal Year (FY) 2028-29. The Board’s approval is required to program additional funds and acknowledge the updated project list (Attachment A), which serves as the basis for Metro entering 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 $75.01 million was forecasted to be available for programming for the subregion for FY 2017-18 to FY 2028-29. In prior actions, the Board approved programming $49.6 million in support of 21 projects, including two projects in the MSP - Subregional Equity Program, shown in Attachment B. Therefore, $25.41 million is available to the Subregion for programming as part of this annual update. To date, $3.34 million (7% of programmed funds) has been expended. One project has been completed and is in the close-out audit process. Many of the remaining projects were awarded funds more recently in FY23 or after. 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 Councils of Governments 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 Westside Cities Council of Governments (WCCOG), its consultants, and implementing agencies to review and confirm the eligibility of proposed project updates, 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 with special attention on supporting project delivery in time for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, when applicable. Although the proposed projects in this update will not be completed by 2028, five other previously approved projects are anticipated to be completed by the 2028 Games. Additionally, all projects are subject to a close-out audit after completion, according to the Guidelines.
Active Transportation 1st/Last Mile Connections Program (Expenditure Line 51)
This update includes funding adjustments to three existing and one new project as follows:
Beverly Hills
Program $1,600,000 as follows: $800,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 28 and $800,000 in FY 29 for MM4801.21 - D Line Extension FLM - Electric Trolley Service. This new project will improve access to the forthcoming Wilshire/La Cienega and Wilshire/Rodeo D Line subway stations by connecting citywide civic centers, employment corridors, and medical facilities with an electronic trolley service. This project will likely decrease Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). The funds will be used for the project’s capital purchases. The City of Beverly Hills has one other project funded by this program in FY25. The FLM project is about to have an awarded construction contract, initiate construction, and be completed within eight months
Culver City
• Program an additional $1,160,121 for MM4801.17 - Sepulveda Corridor Mobility Lane Project. The funds are programmed as follows: $798,364 in FY 25 and $1,160,121 in FY 2027-28 for a revised total grant of $1,958,485. This existing project will involve transit improvements, including one dedicated transit lane, bus stop improvements, and transit signal priority enhancements. A dedicated bike infrastructure in the form of Class II or Class IV bike lanes will be added, along with pedestrian enhancements that include curb extensions, corner bulb-outs, and refuge islands. This project will likely decrease VMT. The funds will be used for the project’s construction phase. The City has four other projects funded through this program, with 38% of the funds expended on each project at a different phase of development. One project is in close-out audit, another in the PS&E phase, with the last two in funding agreement execution.
LA City
• Program an additional $1,000,000 and reprogram all previously approved funds for MM4801.08 - Brentwood Walkability Enhancements (San Vicente Blvd: Bundy to Bringham). The funds are programmed as follows: $568 in FY 24, $335,729 in FY 25, $2,225,000 in FY 26, and $1,000,000 in FY 27 for a revised total grant of $3,561,297. This project will provide new pedestrian amenities, including upgraded curb ramps, upgraded medians, curb extensions, signalized crosswalks, speed feedback signs, additional street furniture, new street trees and landscaping, and an upgraded Class II bike lane. This project will likely decrease VMT. The funds will be used for the project’s Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) and construction phases.
• Program an additional $1,313,632 for MM4801.10 - Expo Bike Path Gap Closure. The funds are programmed as follows: $3,168,000 in FY 26 and $1,313,632 in FY 28 with a revised total grant of $4,481,632. This project will install a 1.44-mile bike path (Class I bicycle facility) in the City of Los Angeles. This project will connect the endpoints of the existing Expo Bike Path, closely following the Expo Light Rail right-of-way and Northvale Road. This project will likely decrease VMT. The funds will be used for the project’s construction phase.
• The City has three projects funded by this program with 3% complete thus far and all in the PS&E phase. Two new projects will start this year.
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 26, $15.01 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%. This fund source is not eligible for Metro bus and rail operations expenses.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The Westside Cities Subregion comprises five cities and the adjacent unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. Seven percent of census tracts in the subregion are defined as Equity Focus Communities (EFCs). Cities within the subregion where most census tracts are EFCs include City of LA and West Hollywood. As part of this report, the Expo Bike Path Gap Closure is located near the communities with 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.
While the agency remains committed to reducing VMT through transit and multimodal investments, some projects may induce or increase personal vehicle travel. However, these individual projects aim to ensure the efficient and safe movement of people and goods. Each project’s VMT outcome is included in the brief project description earlier in this report. This Board item, which looks at a number of smaller investments across modes, will likely decrease VMT in LA County.
Although this item may not directly contribute to the achievement of the Board-adopted VMT Reduction Targets, the VMT Targets were developed to account for the cumulative effect of a suite of programs and projects within the Metro region, which individually may induce or increase VMT. Additionally, Metro has a voter-approved mandate to deliver multimodal projects that enhance mobility while ensuring the efficient and safe movement of people and goods.
*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 developing and implementing their projects.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could elect not to approve the additional programming of funds 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 26. Program/Project updates will be provided to the Board annually.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Active Transportation 1st/Last Mile Connection Program Project List
Attachment B - Subregional Equity 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
Nicole Ferrara, Deputy Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4322
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Ray Sosa, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4274
