Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 18, 2015
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: VERMONT AND NORTH HOLLYWOOD TO PASADENA BUS RAPID TRANSIT CORRIDORS
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE update on the status of the advanced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) technical studies for the Vermont and North Hollywood to Pasadena corridors in response to the July 24, 2014 and October 23, 2014 Board directives.
Issue
ISSUE
At the July 24, 2014 meeting, the Board approved a motion (Attachment A) directing staff to begin advanced technical work on the Vermont and North Hollywood to Pasadena corridors as a result of recommendations from the Los Angeles County BRT and Street Design Improvement Study. This was further supported through a subsequent motion approved by the Board at the October 23, 2014 meeting (Attachment B). This report updates the Board on the advanced technical work for the two corridors and addresses Board member Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker’s request at the September 16, 2015 Planning and Programming Committee to expedite the studies’ schedules to complete them in 12 months.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Background
In December 2013, staff completed the Los Angeles County BRT and Street Design Improvement Study. Staff presented the study findings to the February 2014 Planning and Programming Committee which identified nine potential BRT candidate corridors.
Vermont
Since the last quarterly update, the project team has made significant progress. Several field reviews along the Vermont corridor were conducted to validate physical corridor characteristics and the operational performance of existing bus service. Based on these observations, the project team began identifying and analyzing where speed and capacity improvements are needed. The results of these field reviews were presented and discussed at the October 2015 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting. A preliminary list of BRT concepts was identified for further analysis and consideration at a November 2015 TAC meeting.
North Hollywood to Pasadena
The project team conducted several field reviews of the North Hollywood to Pasadena corridor to validate physical corridor characteristics. Data collection was initiated in order to identify and analyze major employment and activity centers; populations underserved by transit; overall transit and vehicle trips; and travel behavior. The results of this analysis have informed potential BRT routes which were discussed at the October and November 2015 TAC meetings.
In October 2015, the Board approved a six-month new pilot express bus service that will operate from the North Hollywood Red/Orange Line Station to the Metro Gold Line Del Mar Station in Pasadena. The new pilot express service would mitigate some of the impact to travel delays caused by the Interstate 5 Construction project, as well as connect residents with the San Gabriel Valley and San Fernando Valley rail and BRT systems. The opening of the new pilot express service will coincide with the opening of the Gold Line Foothill Extension. As the technical study progresses, staff will continue to coordinate with Metro Operations to identify lessons learned and to incorporate relevant data into this study effort.
Schedule
Board member Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker asked staff to assess the feasibility of expediting each study’s schedule from 18 to 12 months. Based on discussions with the project team, the study schedule will be shortened to 14 months, four months earlier than originally anticipated, without impacting the original scope of work and integrity of the analysis. Attachment C contains the 14 month schedule. As shown on the schedule, most of the technical analysis should be completed within 12 months, including alternatives screening, conceptual engineering, and cost/benefit estimates.
Outreach
During the study, the project team will coordinate closely with the Cities of Burbank, Glendale, Los Angeles, Pasadena, and unincorporated Los Angeles County on outreach activities to provide project updates and gather feedback. The Outreach Plan consists of engagement with multiple key corridor stakeholders, including City and County elected public officials, neighborhood councils, community groups, local businesses, major institutions, and Burbank Bob Hope Airport. Regular monthly meetings are also planned with each corridor’s TAC members.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue advancing work on the technical studies for both the Vermont and North Hollywood to Pasadena corridor studies and will provide quarterly updates to the Board.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - July 24, 2014 Board Motion
Attachment B - October 23, 2014 Board Motion
Attachment C - 14 Month Project Schedule
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Michael Richmai, Transportation Planning Manager, (213) 922-2558
Tunde Balvanyos, Transportation Planning Manager, (213) 922-7417
Martha Butler, Director, (213) 922-7651
Eugene Kim, Deputy Executive Officer, (213) 922-3080
Renee Berlin, Managing Executive Officer, (213) 922-3035
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Martha Welborne, FAIA, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-7267
