Meeting_Body
SYSTEM SAFETY, SECURITY AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 19, 2015
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: TITLE VI EQUITY EVALUATIONS FOR NEW FIXED GUIDEWAYS
ACTION: ADOPT THE EVALUATION FINDINGS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
IMPLEMENTING the proposed Metro Silver Xpress (Line 950) and discontinue Line 450 in December 2015, which will have no Disparate Impact on minority populations and cause no Disproportionate Burden on poverty populations.
Issue
ISSUE
The Federal Transit Administration requires the completion of an equity evaluation for major service changes prior to implementation.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Federal Transit Administration Circular 4702.1B provides requirements and guidelines for Title VI and Environmental Justice obligations of federal funds recipients. An equity evaluation of all major service changes is required prior to implementation. Major service changes are defined in Section 2-50 of Metro’s Administrative Code which also establishes thresholds for determination of when a Disparate Impact on minority populations or a Disproportionate Burden on poverty populations occurs in relation to such changes.
BACKGROUND
The Board approved Motion 21 in February 2015, directing staff to extend the Silver Line to San Pedro. Staff returned to the Board with a Receive and File Report describing alternatives to the existing Silver Line and Express Line 450 that would allow for the extension. The Board directed staff to conduct a public hearing, which was held in September. Following the hearing, staff recommended discontinuing Express Line 450 and folding those resources into an improved Silver Line by creating a new Silver Xpress (Line 950). This proposal was approved in October by the South Bay Service Council and the changes will be implemented December 13, 2015.
Currently, Line 450 patrons from San Pedro have limited service in the morning and afternoon hours to and from Downtown Los Angeles. In the mid-day and on weekends, Line 450 patrons have to transfer at the Harbor Gateway Transit Center to the Silver Line. The new service will offer express service weekdays every 10 minutes from the Transit Center, and every 20 minutes from San Pedro. Mid-day and weekends, Line 910 will be extended to San Pedro, eliminating the transfer at the Transit Center.
Staff from Labor Relations and Metro Service Planning met with SMART in October to review the proposed changes and how it will positively affect its members.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
There are no safety issues associated with completing Title VI and Environmental Justice evaluations.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Adoption of the Title VI and Environment Justice findings would have no negative impact to the agency.
Impact to Budget
The projected operating costs and cost savings associated with these planned service changes are included in the adopted Metro Budget for FY2016.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The completion of equity evaluations for major service changes is a Federal Transit Administration requirement for continued funding eligibility. There are no practical nor economic alternatives to the performance of these analyses and the adoption of their findings.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Approval of the findings of the equity evaluations of these major service changes will permit staff to continue with remaining actions necessary to put these projects into revenue service.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Equity Evaluation of New Metro Silver Xpress (Route 950) and Line 450 Discontinuation
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Jon Hillmer, EO of Service Planning & Development (213), 922-6972
Dan Levy, EO Civil Rights Program Compliance & Paratransit, (213) 922-8891
Scott Page, Director of Service Planning, (213)-922-1228
Dana Woodbury, Transportation Project Manager IV, (213) 922-4207
Christopher Reyes, Transportation Planning Manager III, (213) 922-4808
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: James T. Gallagher, Chief Operations Officer
