MTA picks subway route(s!) for further study

In a surprising and ambitious move, local transportation officials said Tuesday that they would recommend further study of two subway lines to the Westside, with one train going down Wilshire Boulevard and the other shorter leg partially following Santa Monica before diving south to meet the Wilshire line.

That's what the map above shows. The dark green areas indicate sections of the route where the MTA needs to do further study.

While the whole effort is still largely hypothetical -- the subway has no funding, nor has it been formally approved -- it shows how officials with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are gearing up should any money be secured for a project with a potential $9-billion price tag.

It was just a decade ago, amid several spending and construction boondoggles on the existing subway, that voters in Los Angeles County banned the MTA from using sales tax money for subway tunneling. That ban remains in effect, but complaints over Westside traffic have continued to pile up, fueling efforts to continue the subway.

"We know there are some people internally [at the MTA] who have said 'this is always where [the subway] was going to end up," said Jody Litvak, a spokesperson for the Metro Westside Extension study. "But now there's some validation for what we've thought. We thought people would say they want a Wilshire line or we want a Santa Monica [Boulevard] line. We were surprised they wanted both."

The Wilshire line would get first priority for funding because it has higher ridership estimates, said David Mieger, the project manager for the Westside study. But the other line is being considered because it would make the entire system more versatile by stopping near major job centers and attractions such as the Warner Hollywood studios and Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood and the Beverly Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

It would also chop significant time off the trip to the Westside from the San Fernando Valley, according to MTA estimates -- shown above on this page from the latest study. Mieger said a train trip from North Hollywood to Westwood could potentially drop from 61 minutes according to today's MTA schedules to 28 minutes if both lines were built.

One major job center and attraction that would remain more than a half-mile from either line would be the Grove and CBS Studios, both located along Fairfax Avenue.

Officials with the MTA have been studying the best way to expand mass transit on the Westside for the past year and have slowly been narrowing the options. In public meetings set to begin tomorrow night (the meeting times are posted below and at the MTA's website), agency officials will say they're now down to their final four choices: don't build anything, try to improve road and bus capacity or build one or two subway lines.

In a briefings with The Times and other media on Tuesday, agency officials said that the subway has the greatest potential to move the most people quickly. While trying to push the project forward, they are also urging caution and saying that these are only draft recommendations and that anything could change.

"At this point, all we're doing is recommending what should go forward for a full environmental impact report and environmental impact study," said Litvak.

Still, Litvak and other MTA officials say their choices has significance. From this point forward, the focus of big and expensive studies will be on the Wilshire, Santa Monica and La Cienega corridors -- giving them momentum should the subway project actually happen.

It will be up to the 13-member MTA Board to decide to launch those studies. Litvak said that the goal is for the Board to consider the matter later in the fall. The environmental studies, which would also include engineering work, would take at least three years. Under the best case scenario, Litvak and Mieger said construction could begin by 2013.

There is, however, one huge obstacle to that taking place: The Wilshire line alone is estimated to cost $6.1 billion and the combined lines would require $9 billion in 2008 dollars. So far, there is not one cent of funding that has been set aside for any kind of subway project.

The MTA and many public officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, have been pushing to place a half-cent sales tax increase proposal on the November ballot to help pay for mass transit and road improvements. The proposal, called Measure R, has secured a place on the ballot in Los Angeles County, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger still needs to sign a state bill by Sept. 30 authorizing the election. The Governor has said he won't sign any bills until the Legislature adopts a workable budget.

A budget that includes a sales tax hike for state residents, as Schwarzenegger has proposed, may make it politically difficult to ask residents to raise their taxes even more. His press office has declined to comment on the sales tax bill, but the governor made an exception last week and signed a bill that clarifies how $9.95 billion would be spent if voters approve the high-speed rail project on the Nov. 4 ballot.

County Supervisor Mike Antonovich's transportation deputy criticized the proposal and said it could consume too much transit money if the sales tax passes.

"This is why the supervisor will continue to make the case to the San Fernando Valley that their money [from the sales tax] that they think they're getting can be diverted back into the subway," said Michael Cano, the transportation deputy.

As for the subway, the precise location of all the stations would need to be worked out in the next round of studies, said MTA officials. A station on the Wilshire line may be added at Crenshaw Boulevard and one station on Santa Monica Boulevard could be at either La Cienega or San Vicente.

There are other big decisions that would have to be made. The route between Century City and Westwood hasn't been settled upon and could follow the street grid or take a more direct route under residential neighborhoods. Litvak said that may not be a problem.

"Our system today looks like it's under city streets, but we do go under private property at all kinds of depths," she said. "If people could feel or hear the subway, don't you think you would be hearing from them why won't those bozos at Metro do anything about it?"

Mieger said that the subway would serve more riders from outside the Westside than those who live within it because it would be a popular way for people to reach their jobs. Critics of the sales tax proposal -- including three of the five Los Angeles County supervisors -- say tax revenues would not equitably be spent around the county and that too much would end up being sunk into the subway.

There is another potential obstacle. A cost effectiveness measure that takes into account construction cost, ridership and potential time savings for commuters, shows both lines exceed a target considered by the Federal Transit Administration before that agency provides funding. MTA officials hope that they can refine the subway further to bring those costs down.

--Steve Hymon

MTA MEETINGS ON SUBWAY

City of Santa Monica: Wednesday, September 3, 6 – 8 p.m., Santa Monica Public Library, Auditorium, 1st Floor, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica. Served by Metro Lines 4, 20, 33, 333, 720 and Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Lines 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10. Validated vehicle and bike parking is available.

City of West Hollywood: Thursday, September 4, 6 – 8pm, Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood. Served by Metro Line 4. Free vehicle and bike parking is available at the location.

City of Beverly Hills: Saturday, September 6, 2 – 4 p.m., Beverly Hills Public Library – Auditorium, 2nd Floor, 444 N Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills. Served by Metro Lines 4, 14, 16, 704. Free 2-hour parking available in the adjacent structure.

Wilshire/Fairfax area: Monday, September 8, 6 – 8 p.m., Los Angeles County Museum of Art West - Terrace Room, 5th Floor, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. Served by Metro lines 20, 720, 920, 217, 780. Validated vehicle parking is available in the Museum’s 6th Street underground garage. Enter from 6th and Ogden

Westwood area: Wednesday, September 10, 6 – 8 p.m., Westwood Presbyterian Church, 10822 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. Served by Metro Lines 20, 720, 920. Free parking available at the location.

Metro has completed three rounds of community meetings — in October 2007, January/February 2008 and May 2008. Based on the analysis and public input received at these meetings, Metro has identified the alternatives to be recommended for further study through an Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement.

These new round of meetings will present to the public the refined set of alternatives that will be recommended for further study and a schedule for future steps.
Content presented at these meetings will be identical, so members of the public can attend at the time and location most convenient for them.

In the fall, Metro will present the Alternatives Analysis Report and its recommendations to its board of directors, which may then authorize a full environmental review.

For additional information or questions, please visit the Westside Extension Transit Corridor Study web site at metro.net/westside or contact the project information line at 213.922.6934.

Comments

[stan derrin]

while the wilshire line is obvious for the 9-5 office crowd,a santa moonica line is essential for entertainment,shopping,the valley crowd.Also a santa monica hollywood extension would intice people to public transport and to slowly dump the car habit.

Ps...we need a valley/westside subway/light rail roughly following the 405.
Talk about relieving traffic congestion.

[Tommy]

@ Westwood William

Here's another thing to keep in mind. In the sales tax plan, the Purple Line extension will only go to Westwood; there is not enough money to take it any farther. And even that's not scheduled to be finished until the 2030s. It could be another 20-30 years AFTER THAT for the subway to actually get to the sea. The Expo Line, in contrast, would get to Santa Monica sometime in the mid 2010s.

[forgotten citizen]

Could someboyd living in Covina tell us whether it is possible to take public transit from Covina to WestWood in 99 minutes. I live in Walnut. I don't live in Covina. My experience, it has to be more but some one has to prove. Does person who come out chart just asssume peopl ecan hop into the bus/Metro link the moment they arrive at the station. the person ignores the fact it takes to wait the one hour buses (if they are on time) and more on metro link (which is more expensive). Then we have to connect the bus @ downtown la. not sure which one . I took one 10 years ago, the bus ran every 5 minutes which is not bad. I cannot believe even when MTA tries to sell the project. It is doing a lousy job. it will be exaggeration (it is norm) to say 2 to 3 hours from Covina to Westwood

Does that benefit SGV? partially. STOP SAYING WE HAVE METRPLINK/ Without metrolink, the life would have been more diff in Covina, Baldwin park, etc (there were not buses in that area). 484 (and possibly 486) is the only one that runs frequently from part of SGV to down town. it runs 30 minutes, and iti is late all the time. I don't know why SGV politician kept pushing for Gold line extension. How about people living in El Monte (the ones live farawy from El Monte Station), Rosemead, La Puent. Even whether away, Hacienda heights, Rowland Heights, Walnut, and Diamond, where many white Collar people have to go to WLA.

Any addiitional subway will help SGB to reduce the time beyond Union station. It still does not solve the problem coming to Union station. I undersstand so many people live and work in West LA that it makes sense to build subway in West LA. However, without subway, people can still hop into Rapid bus (if available) and some buses do run 5 minutes ( i know many of buses, but at least there are many buses that run freq). In SGV, the choice, waiting hours for the bus going nowhere
Unfortunately, SGV politician fought so hard for Goldline extension not care how much it is going overall residents in the area. The poor people are not going to appreicate it because Goldline extension only serves fewer residents. For middle class, they can drive the station, but, again, it only serve few people. Majority people who don't cannot drive or cannot afford to drive don't benefit. The drivers who are willing to take public transit are not going to benefi

Ideally, i wish there are subway, raid bus, or frequent bus on the major atery to Torrance,SGV, Burbank, and other places. LA is 21st century in Freeway construction, but 19th century in public transportation. Nothing is going to happen drastically in next decase. At least the MTA and politicians have to come up a reason plan. Believe i fully support EXPO. I still have to say it benefits WLA residents much more. Many people in SGV do woekr in WLA. The problem is connection bus after EXPO line (transfer another in freq bus to another part WLA). My excworker took metrolink to Union Station and took a bus to Fox Hill on the first day of work. After the first day, he drives. Theconnecting buses systems have to improved significantly in WLA, SFV, South Bay, and ELA (where many people live). and bus system in SGV and other areas have to improved. Otherwise, the system would still be crap. People would still drive. The bus riders would still have to take 3+ hours to anywhere in LA

[Dana Gabbard]

kristin, the entire region chipped in to fund Metrolink which has two lines through your area. And regional funding helps pay for the Foothill Transit zone. Plus numerous road projects over the years. And now the region offers the SG Valley millions in local funds to jumpstart the Gold Line extension to at least Azusa if the sales tax passes. Where is the unfairness to the SG Valley in all that? And you accusations are based on rumors created out of self-serving pity politics played by the local COG, etc.

[Harry P. N.]

I live in Echo Park, work in downtown, play softball in WeHo and CC/Venice, ride my bike in Santa Monica/Venice, and visit my brother in Hollywood. All this via bus/rail.

Does LA lack a mass transit system? The answer is NO!
Could it be better? HELL YEAH.

What's kept "mass transit" from ever taking off in LA is the racism, classism and egotism ever-present in this city. You rarely see those in dress suits waiting for or riding the bus with those in sweatsuits. Also, if us Angelenos were as laid-back as we are known to be, don't you think we'd find it in our days and nights to take a less-direct route to our destination? What's the difference between waiting for the bus and waiting in traffic? Didn't anyone see the movie Crash? This town (generally) is afraid of human interaction and intersection, and that's what happens on the bus/subway, at the bus stops, and at the subway station -- on the streets outside of our cars. It's hard not to say hi to someone when you walk by them and look em in the eye. It's easy to honk your horn and give someone the bird when when sittin on dubs.

LA must first grow a spine and expand its mind before this project ever gets off the ground. Believe that.

[kristin]

I live in the SGV, and I frankly don't trust the MTA with a tax lasting for decades. MTA projects have always been severely over budget and behind schedule. We already know that there isn't enough money currently in their proposal to finish those projects in the Westside. In the SGV, we built the Gold Line and created Foothill Transit mainly because the MTA was not directly involved. The MTA is too heavily involved with Los Angeles city politics to trust. WHEN (not IF) the subway runs out of money, I guarantee that they will raid the funds from the rest of the county, including the SGV, to finish the railroad. That will leave us paying for decades.

After that, I find it hard to believe that LA will be willing to send its transportation money to the SGV to build projects that will need (e.g. 10-605 interchange, 710 extension, Gold Line completion, etc.). LA, and especially the Westside, have generally been unwilling to spend money that does not directly benefit it. I don't see why we should be so willing to part with our money in the SGV. If there were ironclad guarantees that the SGV funds can never be used elsewhere, I would be more inclined to support the tax increase. But as it is, there's nothing except the words of the politicians.

[Dan W.]

"For less than 9 Billion dollar a PRT system could be in place that would cover Sunset Blvd. to Jefferson and from Alameda to the sea."

-----------------

We already have a "personal rapid transit" system. It's called the automobile, and with ever increasing congestion and gasoline prices, it's a failure.

PRT is a delusional idea of those who want to somehow imprint the car culture onto public transit. It's not the future.

[ry]

"Wait a minute; that is TOO much. Exactly WHAT is so special about downtown Santa Monica?"

This question comes about by focusing only on the end points. But transit isn't about end-to-end travel, it's about intermediate stops. The intermediate stops of the proposed Subway and the proposed Exposition alignment do not provide overlapping services. Instead, they form a framework for a transit system that can continue to grow and link the many unserved locations within our community.

[Mike Maloney]

Bah! Why is everyone enamored with 110 year old technology?

Google personal rapid transit and learn what the future of public should look like.

For less than 9 Billion dollar a PRT system could be in place that would cover Sunset Blvd. to Jefferson and from Alameda to the sea.
The problem with PRT is twofold: It would actually get people out of their cars(less tax revenue) and the big construction firms would make less money.

[Antonio Pacheco]

I agree that we need to start building immediately, as quickly as possible. And its very encouraging to read this news.

I do not think that having two metro lines running to Santa Monica is necessarily overkill. I firmly believe that there is no such thing and if there is, Los Angeles is the last place in the world that is liable to suffering from public transportation overkill. Considering that the Westside is an important residential area that communtes a lot, it would make perfect sense to connect this portion of the city in as many ways as possible to the rest of the city.

I've written on this blog's comment boards before about having funding be distributed equally throughout the city, based on region and population, but I might be starting to second guess that notion. It seems to be more meaningful for a public transportation to be built, period, than it does for one to be built equitably.

Both socially and environmentally, i believe that it makes sense to have the major population and work centers tied together to minimize the amount of automobile commuting overall, not on merely an individual basis. I would rather have a majority of the city be able to NOT drive than necessarily be well-connected, myself.

At least, for now.

Upcycle, please.

[Dan W.]

This is wonderful! I am VERY happy.

For those who want the 405/Sepulveda project, there is designated money for such a project if the sales tax passes. So work and vote for the sales tax to pass!

[ryanman]

bigger graphic please

[M]

That's crazy that it does and still will take as much time to get from Northridge to UCLA as it does from Covina to UCLA considering it is almost half the distance.

I wonder what the chart up there would look like with driving times as well for a comparison. Even people that try out the train/subway and like it for the most part don't stick to it because of the time it requires on a daily basis (really bad traffic jams and delays aren't daily) compared to driving.

[Warren]

How many years have we been hearing this? What LA has been lacking for years is leadership. Decisions need to be made people! Just think if constructiion had been started ten years ago, we'd have a rail system in place now.

[Ben]

In response to John Crandell's comment about high speed rail, the proposed California High Speed Rail system is not maglev. Its $40-billion price tag isn't cheap (http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/faqs/cost-and-payment.htm), but it's spread out over many years. A maglev system of that magnitude would cost hundreds of billions of dollars. But California High Speed Rail (not maglev) would save money in the long run because road and airport improvements would cost far more.

[John von Kerczek]

William:

"Wait a minute; that is TOO much. Exactly WHAT is so special about downtown Santa Monica?"

I agree with you that two lines to downtown Santa Monica is overkill but disagree with your solution. I think the Expo should go to SM, but the Wilshire Subway should end at or just beyond Westwood Blvd. In addition to being not as necessary as people think, having the subway run to SM too is just gonna be a hard sell.

It's a double edged sword. The "Subway to the Sea" is a compelling concept, but on (or in this case, under) the ground it could justifiably be viewed as overkill.

A more effective solution would add a light rail spur connecting the Expo line to the Westwood Subway Station via Sepulveda Blvd. A train could run between Westwood and Santa Monica.

[Ema]

You have to spend 9 billion because people are too stupid to drive. If they banned all cell phone talking while driving there would be no traffic. DRIVE YOUR CAR TO YOUR DESTINATION PLEASE.

[sandiegan]

If there's one thing the Bush Admin has taught it's that $1 Billion is chump-change anymore.

$9 Billion for a world-class mass transit system upgrade?

Big deal.

The WTC rebuild is estimated at $15 Billion for a scaled down project.

$9 Billion is less than is less than 1/10 of 1% of the debt Bushco has left us with.

[Ed C.]

Stop dilly dallying and start building now. Oh please!

[Westwood William]

What is so AMAZING about the MTA map is that both the Wishire subway and the Exposition light rail line both terminate in downtown Santa Monica. Wait a minute; that is TOO much. Exactly WHAT is so special about downtown Santa Monica? The route of the Exposition Corridor line had ought to be changed so that it proceeds southwest from Culver City along the median of Venice Boulevard all the way to Venice. The 405 bridge over Venice Boulevard can be rebuilt to accommodate this. We do not need both a subway and a light rail line connecting downtown L..A. with downtown Santa Monica. That is ridiculous!

[John Crandell]

A second line proceeding south under La Cienega from West Hollywood ought not simply merge with the Wilshire line. Rather, there should be a two level station at Wilshire and La Cienega with a short stubout extending to the south. Eventually, this stub could be extended south through Culver City and Westchester to an LAX/Greenline interface. Subway trains going south from Hollywood could either proceed south to the airport or transition west to the Wilshire line. California had ought to realize that mass transit through the westside of L.A. is far more important than a joy-ride maglev boondogle connecting the L.A. and San Francisco metropolitan areas.
Where lies the need? It lies in the second most congested urban area of the U.S. - the westside of L.A.!

[Ian]

Build it. The Los Angeles we grew up with can't exist in a world of $4/gallon gasoline. If we want to salvage a workable city, we need the Westside subway, the SGV Gold Line extension, and the rest of it while we can still afford to build it.

[Jeremy R]

"How about a light rail line or subway that follows the 405 down from the valley to Santa Monica? That would serve millions of people and make the 405 less congested."

Its in the Measure. They call it 405 corridor rapid transit.

Just another reason to get excited!!!

[m.o.]

PLEASE BUILD THIS!!! I WILL RIDE IT EVERY DAY!

[Denis]

Jeremy puts it very well:

"People from the valley and east side will be using the subway, not people with 20 bedroom homes on the west side. [...] transit is never completely equitable. Denser and more job rich areas always get more transit than sparse exurbs. Lastly, the job rich westside has been providing more than its fair share of tax revenue for the city and county, while westsiders have had to suffer from all of the congestion. "