Council Meeting: January 11, 2005 Santa Monica, CA

TO: Mayor and City Council

FROM: City Staff

SUBJECT: Adoption of a resolution in support of Westside Council of Governments Advocacy Position on Mobility Improvements for Exposition Light Rail to Culver City and Santa Monica and Planning for the Red Line Extension to Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and West Los Angeles.

Introduction

This report recommends Council adopt a resolution in support of the Westside Cities Council of Governments (COG) position on improving mobility on the Westside including building the Exposition Light Rail line to Santa Monica and planning efforts to ensure “project readiness” to fund a Metro Red Line extension to West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and West Los Angeles after Exposition is funded to Santa Monica.

Background

The Westside Cities developed a Westside Mobility Plan which included practical short term and longer term transportation solutions to address Westside congestion. Major regional transportation improvements are warranted on the Westside by levels of congestion, employment generation, economic contribution and inequity in past regional investments on the Westside compared to other subregions in the County. The Santa Monica City Council acted to conceptually approve the plan December 9, 2003.

Over the past year, the Westside cities have met as a COG in formation to strengthen advocacy efforts among the cities and outside agencies in order to implement the plan and formed a policy subcommittee on transportation.

Since adoption of the plan progress has been made in key areas. 1) In regard to the Exposition Light Rail, the final environmental documentation for the Exposition Light Rail Transit line, Phase 1, to Venice/Robertson in Culver City, is currently circulating for comment prior to adoption by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) board. Once adopted, the MTA will issue a design-build contract for this segment, which was made possible by a funding plan. The Exposition construction authority authorized by state legislation in 2003 will help expedite construction. The Westside cities secured a SCAG grant to integrate circulation improvements and access for pedestrians, bicycles, transit and autos at the Venice/Robertson first phase terminus. 2) CalTrans and the cities are developing options to improve circulation around the I-10 freeway interchange at Robertson and Venice. 3) The cities are working on the implementation of additional rapid bus corridors on the Westside. 4) The cities submitted a grant application to conduct outreach for possible extension of the Red Line through West Hollywood as a very preliminary step for a future rail project.

Discussion

A COG structure enhances access to funding from regional, state and federal sources because prioritized projects are region serving.

Construction of light rail phase one to Venice/Robertson by 2010 is a significant advancement towards getting the line to the end point in Santa Monica. The temporary terminus at Venice/Robertson is currently planned at grade as the light rail crosses National and Washington Boulevard. However, when the project continues to Santa Monica the MTA’s adopted Grade Crossing Policy for Light Rail Transit states that “a Venice grade separation would need to include the Washington and National crossings, since there is not enough distance available between Venice and Washington for a complete transition to an at grade alignment”. Culver City has advocated that building an interim terminus station at grade is not the best way to spend limited resources considering that when Phase 2 to Santa Monica is built, grade separation will be required. COG members and City staff believe that money saved in total construction costs by building the project in the most efficient manner could support planning efforts for Phase two and completion of the line.

West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles are advocating that the MTA Board include a Red line extension to the Westside in the next update to the Long Range Transportation plan after completion of Exposition light rail.

Similar resolutions are being passed by all Westside cities and will be used in lobbying. This advocacy is in addition to ongoing lobbying to secure funding for Exposition phase two all the way to Santa Monica.

Budget Impact

Existing staff is working on all COG efforts and on the Exposition Light Rail project so there is no additional budget authority required for continued advocacy.

Recommendation

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached resolution in support of the Westside Cities COG efforts on mobility.

Attachment: Resolution

Prepared by: Kathryn Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager for Government Relations

Ellen Gelbard, Assistant Director, Planning and Community Development

Stephanie Negriff, Director of Transit Services, Big Blue Bus

Suzanne Frick, Director of Planning and Community Development

Council Meeting: January 11, 2005 Santa Monica, CA

RESOLUTION NUMBER ______ (CCS)

(City Council Series)

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF

THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA IN SUPPORT OF

THE WESTSIDE CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (“COG”)

PROPOSED MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS FOR

EXPOSITION LIGHT RAIL AND FOR RED LINE EXTENSION

WHEREAS the Westside Cities Council of Governments (COG) acknowledges Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) for striving to find solutions to the Los Angeles region’s traffic and transportation needs; and

WHEREAS, the Westside is an economic engine for LA County and experiences the burden of traffic resulting from commuters to our employment and commercial/recreational areas; and

WHEREAS, the Westside subregion of Los Angeles County has not received its fair share of transportation improvements; and

WHEREAS, the Westside cities support the building and development of the Exposition Light Rail Transit (“Expo LRT”) project in Santa Monica; and

WHEREAS the Westside cities support planning efforts to ensure “project readiness” to fund a MTA Red Line extension to West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and West Los Angeles after Expo LRT funding to Santa Monica is secured; and

WHEREAS, MTA’s adopted Grade Crossing Policy for Light Rail Transit states that “a Venice grade separation would need to include the Washington and National crossings, since there is not enough distance available between Venice and Washington for a complete transition to an at-grade alignment”; and

WHEREAS, current MTA plans call for at-grade crossings as the Expo LRT project crosses National and Washington Boulevards; and

WHEREAS, building the interim end of the line station at-grade between Venice and Washington Boulevards is not the best way to spend limited resources considering that when Phase 2 to Santa Monica is built, grade separations will be required in this area; and

WHEREAS, money saved in total construction costs by building the project in the most efficient manner possible could support planning efforts to ensure completion of the Expo LRT line,

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The City Council urges the MTA Board of Directors incorporate construction of grade separated crossings at Washington and National Boulevards as part of Phase 1 of the Expo LRT because doing so would be the most cost effective solution toward building the Exposition line all the way to Santa Monica, including avoiding the need to build the Venice/Washington station and adjacent street crossings twice, thereby saving precious taxpayer dollars.

SECTION 2. That the money saved by not building the Venice/Washington station and adjacent street crossings twice should be allocated towards the planning and engineering aspects of Phase 2 of the Expo LRT project.

SECTION 3. That the MTA Board include the Red Line extension to West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and West Los Angeles in the next update to the Long Range Transportation Plan.

SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

_________________________

MARSHA JONES MOUTRIE

CITY ATTORNEY