Metro - File #: 2019-0259

• File #: 2019-0259
• Type: Motion / Motion Response
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 4/19/2019
• In control: Board of Directors - Regular Board Meeting
• On agenda: 4/25/2019
• Title: APPROVE Motion by Garcetti, Dupont-Walker, Hahn, Solis and Butts that the Board direct the CEO to: A. Advance technically feasible rail concepts previously identified through the 2017 Vermont Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Technical Study into environmental review to preserve the ability to deliver rail transit if additional funding materializes; B. Include a feasibility study of extending the Vermont Transit Corridor to the South Bay Silver Line Pacific Coast Highway transitway station to ensure regional connectivity via Minimum Operable Segments, including identification of potential maintenance facility sites; and C. Report back to the MTA Board in July 2019 with a Public Private Partnership business case approach for each Minimum Operable Segment.
• Indexes: Bus rapid transit, Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Project, Eric Garcetti, Exposition Park, Hilda Solis, Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, James Butts, Janice Hahn, Los Angeles International Airport, Metro Crenshaw Line, Metro Exposition Line, Metro Green Line, Metro Rail C Line, Metro Rail E Line, Metro Rail K Line, Motion / Motion Response, Project, Public private partnerships, Rail transit, Ridership, Transit buses, Vermont Avenue Transit Corridor, Vermont Avenue Transit Corridor Project
• Related files: 2019-0281, 2019-0506, 2023-0409

Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
APRIL 17, 2019

Preamble
Motion by:

GARCETTI, DUPONT-WALKER, HAHN, SOLIS AND BUTTS


Related to Item 16: Vermont Transit Corridor - Rail Conversion/Feasibility Study

MTA should always strive to deliver the best transit project possible and not prematurely eliminate warranted project alternatives.

The Vermont Transit Corridor is a significant Measure M project intended to improve mobility along Vermont Avenue. Vermont Avenue is MTA's highest-ridership bus corridor. Vermont connects some of the most economically and socially diverse communities and several major destinations in the Los Angeles region.

Historically, Vermont Avenue was the second priority for rail transit investment after Wilshire Boulevard, as seen by the current Red Line route north of Wilshire Boulevard. Current and future Vermont Transit Corridor users deserve a world-class, reliable, and convenient transportation option. While the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) concepts recommended by MTA will improve bus operations and travel times, the Vermont Transit Corridor rail concepts would deliver superior customer experience, connectivity, reliability, and capacity.

Exposition Park in particular is one of the significant destinations served by the Vermont Transit Corridor. Exposition Park currently draws about four million visitors per year and is developing a new master plan in anticipation of additional growth.

Exposition Park is experiencing nearly $2 billion in new and recent investments, including the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the Oschin Air and Space Center, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum renovation, and an addition to the Natural History Museum. The Lucas Museum alone is a $1 billion investment forecasted to draw an additional one million visitors per year to the regional park. Additionally, the Los Angeles Football Club's Banc of California Stadium is a $350 million investment with a significant transit-patron attendance. Lastly, Expositi...