City Council Meeting: July 10, 2007

Agenda Item: 1-H  

 

To:                   Mayor and City Council 

From:              Gordon R. Anderson, Assistant City Manager

Subject:          Recommendation to Support COG Request On Transportation Projects in Priority Order including Exposition Light Rail to Santa Monica; the Westside Subway Extension; the I-10 Robertson /National Area Circulation Improvement Project;  and adding the completion of the   Green Line to LAX project as priority number four.

 

Recommended Action

This report recommends that the City Council support the Westside Cities COG request

 

for Priority Transportation Projects as follows:

  1. priorities one, two and three are: the Exposition Light Rail Line to Santa Monica; the Westside Subway Extension: and the I-10/Robertson/National Area Circulation Improvement Project, respectively, and completion of the Green Line to LAX project is prioritized as project number four,
  2. that new funding sources be sought for the Green Line to LAX so this project does not compete for or shift funding or other resources from the Westside COG’s top three priorities as listed above; and
  3. that the Green Line to LAX project includes discussion of its connections and benefit to the Westside Cities in its advocacy documents.

 

Executive Summary

The Westside Cities COG has been actively involved in key transportation projects to break the traffic grid lock on the Westside. Each of the individual COG cities is taking a similar action in order that the COG may officially adopt the recommended transportation project priorities at the next COG meeting. The recommendation presented in this report does not have a budget or fiscal impact.

 

Background

The Westside Cities developed a Westside Mobility Plan which included practical short term and longer term transportation solutions warranted to address Westside congestion recognizing the 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.   Advocacy for a range of projects including Exposition Light rail to Santa Monica, a Westside subway extension, arterial improvements and advocacy for funding was highlighted in the plan.  On January 11, 2005 the Council adopted a resolution in support of specific aspects of the Exposition Light Rail project, including grade separation at Venice/Robertson requested by Culver City, and the Redline Subway extension to the Westside.  Council took action on July 11, 2006 in support of the State infrastructure bonds as a source of funding for these projects.

 

The Westside cities as a COG are working to provide a unified advocacy effort in order to strengthen our chances of securing these projects. Since adoption of the Mobility Plan progress has been made in key areas. In regard to the Exposition Light Rail, the Phase1 design-build contract was let and construction is underway.  For Expo Light Rail Phase 2, the alternatives analysis and environmental process is underway that will result in selection of a preferred alternative.  For the Westside Subway Extension commencement of consultant work on an alternative route analysis is expected to begin this summer.  A design and preliminary engineering grant has been secured for the I-10/Robertson/National Area Circulation Improvement Project and with identification of matching funds underway.  The COG Transportation Committee has been developing an advocacy packet that includes fact sheets for all three projects (Exhibits A, B and C).

 

Discussion

The three existing priority projects (Exposition Light Rail Project, Westside Subway Extension Project and I-10 Robertson/National Area Circulation Improvement Project) were identified as the three “Tier I” Significant Transportation Improvement projects in the Westside Mobility Study prepared by Kaku Associates for the Westside Cities in the fall of 2003.    The Westside Cities developed the Mobility Plan prior to the participation of the two City of Los Angeles council districts that were added during the formal creation of the COG. 

COG member Councilman Bill Rosendahl (Council District 11) has approached the Westside Cities COG Transportation Committee with the request to add, as a 4th priority project,  a segment Green Line that connects it from the current terminus in El Segundo to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).   The Council district is not proposing to usurp the other three Westside City projects and also has made it clear that new funding sources would be sought for the Green Line to LAX so that it does not compete for or shift funding or other resources from the Westside Cog’s top three priorities.  The Council member has stressed that the Green Line extension to LAX project is an important part of the overall regional strategy to enhance mobility and relived congestion on the Westside.  The attached fact sheet (Exhibit D) was prepared for inclusion in the Westside Cities COG advocacy packet.   The Council office is working with the Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA) to develop funding for the project among other sources.  It is proposed that project would add approximately two stations and alternative connections to LAWA are being explored.

Budget/Financial Impact

The recommendation presented in this report does not have a budget or fiscal impact.

 

Prepared by:

Kathryn Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager, Community & Government Relations

Ellen Gelbard, Deputy Director, Planning and Community Development

 

Approved:

 

Forwarded to Council:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gordon R. Anderson

Assistant City Manager

 

P. Lamont Ewell

City Manager