Metro - File #: 2019-0443

• File #: 2019-0443
• Type: Project
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 5/21/2019
• In control: Planning and Programming Committee
• On agenda: 9/18/2019
• Title: CONSIDER: A. RECEIVING AND FILING the Conceptual Design Report; and B. AUTHORIZING the CEO to initiate the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).
• Sponsors: Planning and Programming Committee
• Indexes: Alternatives analysis, Bicycling, Bikeways, Board approved a Motion, Budgeting, California Environmental Quality Act, City of Los Angeles, Construction, Downtown Los Angeles, Environmental Impact Report, Gateway Cities (Southeast LA County) Service Sector, Gateway Cities subregion, La River Waterway And System Bike Path (Mm Line 13) (Project), Landscaping, Los Angeles River, Los Angeles Union Station, Maywood, Measure M, Metro Equity Platform, Metro Rail A Line, Motion / Motion Response, National Environmental Policy Act Of 1969, Outreach, Project, Ramps (Interchanges), Safety, Security, Steering, Strategic planning, Surveys, Twenty-eight by '28 Initiative, Vernon, Walking
• Related files: 2016-0311, 2018-0108, 2019-0755

Date	Action By	Action	Result
9/26/2019	Board of Directors - Regular Board Meeting

Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

Subject
SUBJECT: LA RIVER PATH

Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS

Heading
RECOMMENDATION

Title
CONSIDER:

A. RECEIVING AND FILING the Conceptual Design Report; and

B. AUTHORIZING the CEO to initiate the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).

Issue
ISSUE

The LA River Path is a Measure M project with a projected opening date during the FY 2025-27 period. Currently, $365 million in Measure M funds are allocated for this project. This project is also included in the Twenty-Eight by '28 Initiative adopted by the Board in January 2018.

To meet the Measure M schedule, a Proposed Project needs to be identified and environmentally cleared. Initiating the environmental review will also support the application for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) required permits. This report includes the findings from the Conceptual Design Phase and a recommendation for what alternatives to advance into environmental review.

Background
BACKGROUND

The LA River Path is an approximately eight-mile active transportation path (e.g., walking and bicycling) along the Los Angeles River. The study area (Attachment A) extends between Elysian Valley and Maywood through downtown Los Angeles and the City of Vernon. The northern limit of the project area is the terminus of the Los Angeles River Greenway Trail at Riverside Drive and the southern limit is at Atlantic Boulevard where the Los Angeles River Bicycle Path begins in the City of Maywood. The project will close the longest remaining gap in the LA River Path to create a continuous 32-mile path for people walking, rolling and bicycling between the San Fernando Valley and Long Beach.

Many of the neighborhoods in the area surrounding the project corridor are predominately industrial with high volumes of truck traffic, deteriorated roadways, a lack of sidewalks and street lighting, and at-grade rail crossings. Additionally, there are freight a...