Cheviot Hills: MTA "dividing" us

Cheviot Hills forces who oppose using a right-of-way in the community for the extension of the Expo Line have produced a lengthy manifesto outlining their point of view. They are proposing an alternative route that has raised the ire of Santa Monica and others. Among the highlights:

> The LAUSD has complained about a lack of noise mitigation for schools along the route

> The MTA wants to shorten the amount of time regulators have to study the safety of grade crossings.

> The MTA first said the Expo Line through the USC area would be underground for safety reason. Then, the agency broke that promise.

> The MTA is trying to "divide communities" along the Expo Line.

What do you think about the points made by Cheviot Hills forces? Hit COMMENT and speak out!

Comments

[Damien Perez]

I grew up in rancho park,40 years I have lived here. I have seen the traffic become worse and worse! Our area already has all the pollution and "choke points" caused by the 405 and 10 freeways. We are already paying a higher price than most neighborhoods because of this. I am in favor of a underground train under the exposition right of way! with a park at ground level. The MTA person I talked to told me that it would not be possible to go underground because of the storm drainage system in the area, but this simply is NOT true! I know that it could be done. the LA aqua duct at Saugus high school dives down a valley and climbs up the other side, and I am sure in New York there Must be examples where similar situations exist and have been dealt with. I think that it is time for the neighborhoods who border the expo should work together to decide on a subway with a park on top, and FORCE this sensible SOLUTION to be built , if not then they will ram their train down our throats, not out of concern to build a solution to the traffic problems but to just build something (bandaid) and then move on to their next train some where else. It is beyond me how anyone with any intelligence can actually believe that by running a train through our bottle necked streets where traffic ALREADY backs up for miles is Progress or a solution. There is only ONE SOLUTION to our bottle necks like the PICO and Sawtell intersection and it is NOT an above ground train!!!!! This only adds to the congestion!

[Thomas]

The people in Cheviot Hills need to quit being so selfish. The route through their neighborhood is the quickest way between Santa Monica and Downtown LA. If they are so educated they should have realized when they bought their homes that they were next to an rail line right of way. Light Rail Trains are quiete, you can barely hear them go by. I don't know what their fears are? Maybe it's fetching, but that's I think they are scared and they are hating on the poor and minorities. It's like anyone can afford to move to their neighborhood anyway.

[Michael L]

I don't remember the last time I had such a distaste for people that I have never even met. Guess what Cheviot Hills you are on my least favorite community list in all of Southern California. (except for the people in cheviot hills that want the green belt, you are cool with me) But all the other NIMBY's ohhhh, not cool, not cool at all.

What boggles my mind is that it is an existing right of way...as in there is already track there...seems like a nobrainer. I guess they really don't trust their kids and they really don't trust latinos. So sad. In 20 years we are going to be laughing at the fact that these people actually had these concerns. If they are that against this rail line they should pay for the train to tunnel under their community for the 1/4 of mile it touches and don't worry we will make sure that you don't get a station.

[Scott Mercer]

No, if money wins, as it usually does, that means that the ROW through Cheviot Hills will be selected.

In addition to that ROW making more sense than the diversion down Venice Blvd., it will add 10-15 minutes to the trip time, and, here's the important one, sports fans: cost you and me (taxpayers) $100 to $200 MILLION more dollars that we don't have.

Now, if we can just convince the NIMBY Squad not to fling a lawsuit our way once the Expo ROW is approved, we'll actually save that $100 or so million, instead of spending a good chunk of it on fees for lawyers.

[bg mendell]

Democracy wins? My money says that Deep Pockets wins.
Who is more well connected?
A few phone calls to Heidi Fleis
and certain politicians' votes are more equal than others.
Next time you are out and among 'em, ask yourself "how did
that company get that government construction/service contract?"
Some business deals are made on the golf course; other business
deals are made in with room service at the Century Plaza.

[RB]

With so much support for the Expo line to continue as planned down the ROW, I think the majority have spoken. Democracy wins!

[RB]

With so much support for the Expo line to continue as planned down the ROW, I think the majority have spoken. Democracy wins!

[Doheny]

Wow, a NIMBY manifesto?

How many people are there in this homeowner's association that oppose the Expo Line? 10? 15? I bet it's no more than 25.

What losers!

[manuel]

Wouldn't the decrease of your property mean that you would pay less taxes? And the value would not be affected unless you intend to sell in the near future. You would still have the same house. Properties need to decrease in value any away, since they are so overpriced.

[Roger Christensen]

The lesson about the value of a right-of-way has been learned in the San Fernando Valley. Not only would the Orange Line "divide the community" but it was creating a "Berlin Wall" and op-eds begged everyone to "pray for us". Diversions were proposed on other arterials in mixed traffic because they were denser. The usual accsations of noise, crime, and lower property values were hurled.

Today, all of that looks very absurd.

[Bart Reed]

When is Cheviot Hills NIMBY Ben Cate going to be charged with a "Hate Crime"? It's nice to fight fact with fact, but Cheviot Hills is a "take no prisoners, leave the body's to rot" kind of group. Just plain scary.

[Jonathan Weiss]

MTA is not dividing my community; it has long had a mixture of ideas. Mine is a Green Corridor between Motor and Military. (http://lightrailforcheviot.org/green.htm.) The Green Corridor would use the Expo Right of Way for a below-grade transitway/waterway/parkway which would not only allow for efficient transit, but would also use the land to clean and beautify the Ballona Watershed, for recreational space, and as an outdoor classroom.

As for the "highlights" listed by the Times, many were refuted last week in an "open letter" now posted at http://friends4expo.org/chha3-07.htm. For example:

> The LAUSD has complained about a lack of noise mitigation for schools along the route

False. Incredibly, the cited September 28, 2006 LAUSD letter didn't even know the final route of the Expo Line! Two of the five schools listed are on Hill Street, which is not on the final route adopted the year before. The third is by Exposition Blvd. where the Expo Line will go beneath Figueroa. The Final EIS/EIR documents noise and pedestrian safety mitigations for the remaining Foshay Middle and Dorsey High Schools (sections 4.6.3 and 4.12.2.1).

> The MTA first said the Expo Line through the USC area would be underground for safety reason. Then, the agency broke that promise.

False. The route adopted by the MTA Board on 12/15/05 specified an underpass at the congested Flower-Figueroa-Exposition intersections. That is what is to be built. Tracks will then come up to grade at the Trousdale Walk pedestrian crossing from USC to the Exposition Park Rose Garden. USC sought a longer underground section, but that was never approved. Culver City is seeking to move its phase 2 aerial station into phase 1.

[greg kay]

This document claims that Cheviot Hills is concerned primarily with the safety of at-grade crossings. How is that concern mitigated by the proposed alternative route down the middle of Venice Boulevard? At-grade crossings suddenly become OK when they aren't in Cheviot Hills? In other words, the "safety concerns" that Cheviot Hills brings up appear to me to be a device to justify their xenophobia.

[Art]

This is typical short-sighted not-in-my-neighborhood thinking, and Cheviot Hills is not alone in it. My neighbors express similar attitudes about similar issues. They think they are protecting property values, etc.

The irony is that in 10 years, when gas is $15 or so a gallon, neighborhoods close to mass transit are likely to be much more desirable.

[Patrick McKinnion]

Personally, I think it's a prime example of NIMBYism.

Were those communities "divided" when it was a part of the previous rail system? No. Will they be now? No.

What we have is people who would rather have gridlock than a rational transit system.