Meeting_Body
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 22, 2022
Preamble
Motion by:
DIRECTORS DUPONT-WALKER, NAJARIAN, MITCHELL, SOLIS, AND BUTTS
Vermont Transit Corridor Motion
Vermont Avenue is a principal transit corridor in Southern California that will benefit immensely from Metro investments.
Vermont Avenue is the second-busiest transit corridor in Southern California after Wilshire Blvd. According to Metro ridership data, Vermont currently carries more transit trips than any of Metro's rail and BRT lines except the A Line (Blue) and B Line (Red).
Likewise, the neighborhoods along Vermont contain some of the most densely populated, diverse, and highest transit-dependent communities in the region, many of which have a legacy of severe historical underinvestment. Race and class have had a glaring involvement. Nine out of ten riders on lines 204 and 754 identify as black, indigenous, and people of color. Additionally, over 60% of these riders live below the poverty line and 84% do not have access to a car. With that makeup, intentional action supporting safe, reliable service along Vermont could represent a dramatic shift toward equity for these communities.
With this existing high ridership and high need, Vermont will benefit from new investment more than any other existing transit corridor in the Metro system. Metro buses on Vermont travel at just 10 miles per hour and have an on-time performance of about 70 percent, highlighting the need for improvements.
To address these needs, the Metro included the Vermont Transit Corridor in the Measure M Expenditure Plan. Following studies to identify technically feasible bus and rail alternatives, Metro recently completed an innovative Community-Based Partnership Program engagement effort. Across all engagement methods, feedback from the entire Vermont corridor showed clear support for short-, medium-, and long-term improvements.
Accordingly, Metro plans to advance the Vermont Transit Corridor through a three-pronge...
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