Metro - File #: 2017-0400

• File #: 2017-0400
• Type: Motion / Motion Response
• Status: Filed
• File created: 5/26/2017
• In control: Planning and Programming Committee
• On agenda: 7/19/2017
• Final action: 7/19/2017
• Title: RECEIVE AND FILE update in response to the March 23, 2017 Board motion directing staff to study potential future rail for the Vermont Transit Corridor.
• Sponsors: Planning and Programming Committee
• Indexes: All Door Boarding, Board approved a Motion, Budgeting, Bus rapid transit, Light rail transit, Measure M, Metro Exposition Line, Metro Purple Line, Metro Rail A Line, Metro Rail B Line, Metro Rail D Line, Metro Red Line, Motion / Motion Response, Project, Rail transit, Railroad commuter service, Ridership, Transit buses, Vermont Avenue Transit Corridor, Vermont Transit Corridor (Project), Wilshire/Vermont Station
• Related files: 2017-0213

Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
JULY 19, 2017

Subject
SUBJECT: VERMONT TRANSIT CORRIDOR - RAIL
FEASIBILITY STUDY

Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE

Heading
RECOMMENDATION

Title
RECEIVE AND FILE update in response to the March 23, 2017 Board motion directing staff to study potential future rail for the Vermont Transit Corridor.

Issue
ISSUE

At the March 23, 2017 Board meeting, staff presented the findings and recommendations from the Vermont Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) technical study. At that same meeting, the Board approved a motion (Attachment A) directing staff to proceed with the Vermont BRT project as a near-term "Phase 1" transit improvement; initiate a study of extending the Red Line heavy rail along Vermont Avenue to 125th Street, specifically focusing on connecting the Wilshire/Vermont Red Line Station to the Expo Line Station at Exposition/Vermont as an initial segment rail project; include a heavy rail alternative in the Alternative Analysis and Environmental Studies; and report back to the Planning and Programming Committee on all the above during the July 2017 Board cycle.

Discussion
DISCUSSION

Background
In July and October 2014, Board motions were passed (Attachments B and C) directing staff to begin technical analysis of BRT on the Vermont Avenue Transit Corridor, which was identified in the Los Angeles County Bus Rapid Transit and Street Design Improvement Study (CBRT) as a strong candidate for BRT implementation. In July 2015, staff formally kicked off the Vermont BRT technical study. The purpose of the study was to further evaluate the feasibility of implementing BRT. BRT is a high quality bus-based transit system that provides fast, comfortable, and cost effective service through the provision of a number of capital and operating improvements such as dedicated bus lanes, enhanced station stops, off-board fare payment and/or all-door boarding, branded vehicles, and enhanced transit signal priority (TSP). The...