Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: NORTH HOLLYWOOD TO PASADENA BUS RAPID TRANSIT CORRIDOR PROJECT
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to:
A. INCREASE Contract Modification Authority (CMA) specific to Contract No. AE49369000 with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $580,000, increasing the total authorized CMA amount from $676,889 to $1,256,889 to support the additional environmental technical work needed for the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR); and
B. INCREASE CMA specific to the On-Call Communications Bench Contract No. PS44432010 with The Robert Group - Task Order No. 09 in the amount of $380,000, increasing the total authorized CMA amount from $100,000 to $480,000 to implement additional community engagement activities to support the Final EIR, focusing outreach activities to better engage transit riders and equity focused communities.
Issue
ISSUE
At the May 2021 meeting, the Board approved the Proposed Project for the North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor Project, including two design options for Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock, with the understanding that staff conduct additional stakeholder outreach and continue coordinating with the corridor cities before completing the Final EIR. Board action is required to increase the Contract Modification Authority (CMA) for the additional outreach and conceptual engineering and environmental work needed to evaluate additional design options, finalize the Proposed Project for completion of the Final EIR, and other work identified through these efforts to complete the environmental process.
Background
BACKGROUND
The North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT Corridor Project is a proposed 18.1-mile BRT transit corridor that would extend east from the North Hollywood Metro B/G Line (Red/Orange) Station to Pasadena City College (PCC). The study area serves as a key regional connection between the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys and serves North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Eagle Rock, and Pasadena. The study area has a dense residential population with many cultural, entertainment, shopping and employment areas throughout, including the NoHo Arts District, Burbank Media Center, Glendale Galleria, Americana at Brand, Eagle Rock, and Old Pasadena.
In coordination with the cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena, Metro completed and released the Draft EIR for public review and comment, beginning on October 26, 2020, and ending on December 28, 2020. Metro received almost 500 public comments, most of which were supportive of the project. After the Draft EIR, staff conducted additional stakeholder outreach and coordination. Based on all the feedback received, several refinements, including refinements in Burbank, Glendale, and Eagle Rock, were proposed.
In Eagle Rock, the Proposed Project included two design options for center-running bus lanes on Colorado Boulevard east of Eagle Rock Boulevard. One of those options converted one travel lane in each direction to bus lanes, while the other option converts portions of the landscaped median and street parking to bus lanes while preserving the existing travel lanes. In May 2021, these refinements and design options were presented and approved by the Board. However, on-going coordination with the cities and additional outreach efforts are needed before finalizing the EIR, including on-going discussions with the City of Burbank on potential design options for bus lanes on Olive Avenue.
Staff is requesting Board action to increase the CMA to support these efforts and any other work identified as part of these on-going efforts to complete the Final EIR and remain on schedule for the Measure M opening date of FY 2024.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Due to the complexity of the project, additional CMA is being requested for both the technical and outreach contracts to support the additional stakeholder outreach and coordination and final CEQA analyses and account for any additional unforeseen expenses or level(s) of effort. This allows for flexibility and responsiveness necessary to maintain the project schedule.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Approval of this item will not impact the safety of Metro’s customers or employees.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The FY 2022 budget includes $960,659 in Cost Center 4240, Project 471401 (North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT Corridor). Since this is a multiyear contract, the Cost Center Manager and Chief Planning Officer will be responsible for budgeting in future years for the balance of the remaining project budget.
Impact to Budget
The source of funds is Measure M 35%. As these funds are earmarked for the North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT, they are not eligible for Metro bus and rail capital and operating expenditures.
Equity_Assessment
EQUITY ASSESSMENT
This Board action will enable the North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT Corridor Project to avoid delays, engage in more community outreach, and perform additional analyses to advance the project.
The project area includes several Equity Focus Communities (EFCs). The project will provide the benefits of enhanced mobility and improved regional access for transit riders within the study area. The project would also provide multiple access points for people living in EFCs along the corridor that would allow them to connect with the greater regional transportation network and key destinations via Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible stations. Improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities are also planned as part of the project, and a set of proposed mitigations would address any potential impacts to existing facilities within these communities during both construction and operation of this project to ensure safe and easily navigable options.
The outreach strategy for the project has been designed to engage with historically marginalized groups through the use of multilingual outreach materials (English, Spanish, Armenian, Tagalog), live-translation during project meetings, accessible meeting times and locations, regular project updates via a mailing list, as well as transit-intercept surveys to reach current riders otherwise unable to attend meetings. The project team will ground the environmental review in equity by continuing this robust stakeholder engagement and focusing outreach activities to better engage transit riders and EFCs to inform the environmental review and the ultimate recommendations that go before the Board of Directors.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The recommendations in this report support the following goals outlined in the Metro Vision 2028 Strategic Plan:
• Strategic Goal #1: Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling;
• Strategic Goal #2: Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system; and
• Strategic Goal #3: Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board may decide not to approve the recommended CMA increases for the North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT Corridor Project. This is not recommended as it would further delay the completion of the Final EIR and prevent the additional analyses and outreach requested by the Board. Delaying the project would further jeopardize the ability to meet the Measure M Expenditure Plan schedule, including the opening date of FY 2024.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Should the Board approve the recommendations, staff will continue completing the Final EIR, including additional stakeholder outreach and coordination. After completion of the Final EIR, staff anticipates returning to the Board in late 2021 or early 2022 for certification of the EIR and final approval of the Proposed Project.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A-1 - Procurement Summary (AE49369000)
Attachment A-2 - Procurement Summary (PS44432010, Task Order No. 09)
Attachment B-1 - Contract Modification/Change Order Log (AE49369000)
Attachment B-2 - Contract Modification/Change Order Log (PS44432010, Task Order No. 09)
Attachment C-1 - DEOD Summary (AE49369000)
Attachment C-2 - DEOD Summary (PS44432010, Task Order No. 09)
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Gary Byrne, Senior Transportation Planner, (213) 922-3719
Scott Hartwell, Manager, Transportation Planning, (213) 922-2836
Martha Butler, Senior Director, (213) 922-7651
Cory Zelmer, Deputy Executive Officer, (213) 922-1079
David Mieger, Senior Executive Officer, (213) 922-3040
Lilian De Loza-Gutierrez, Director, Community Relations, (213) 922-7475
Anthony Crump, Deputy Executive Officer, Community Relations, (213) 922-3292
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: James de la Loza, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-2920
Debra Avila, Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 418-3051
Yvette Rapose, Chief Communications Officer, (213) 418-3154
