MTA unveils new timelines for transit projects

Want to step aboard the subway extension to the Westside? Looks like you may have to wait until 2019 -- and even then you'll only be able to travel as far west as La Cienega Boulevard, according to a new staff report from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The staff published an intriguing report that details when they think they can build new transit projects over the next three decades. It's part of their effort to adopt a long-range plan. Go to Page 20 to see the projected opening dates for different transit and road projects.

A sampling:

Subway to La Cienega -- 2019

Subway to Century City -- 2026

Subway to Westwood -- 2032

Expo Line light rail phase II, Culver City to Santa Monica -- 2015

Gold Line light rail extension -- 2017

Wilshire Boulevard bus lane in city of Los Angeles -- 2015

Crenshaw Boulevard light rail or bus rapid transit -- 2029

Green Line to LAX -- 2016 to 2018

Westside to San Fernando Valley transit project along the 405 Freeway -- 2038

Regional Connector downtown light rail -- 2018

These are just agency recommendations and can be adopted, revised or junked by the MTA board. The big news here is that the Crenshaw project appears to have been pushed back and the subway looks to be a project that will take as long to complete as MTA Chief Executive Roger Snoble said last year. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has intimated on several occasions that it could be built faster.

As for the Crenshaw project, at this time last year, it was one of few projects that the MTA was prepared to fund and move forward on. Now the MTA staff has done something clever but somewhat misleading: They're calling the Green Line extension to LAX the first phase of that project, something they were not doing last year.

Why? Well, the bill that authorized Measure R to go to the ballot had to include special language committing to the Green Line-LAX project to satisfy state Sen. Jenny Oropeza, who was threatening to kill the bill. Others also have insisted that the extension to LAX be built quickly, and it was one of the few projects actually mentioned in the Measure R advertising.

It's likely that the MTA board will rake this report over the coals several times. And it will be mighty interesting to see if the dates for some projects change.

--Steve Hymon

Comments

[Daniel]

China China China. Let me ask you folks, how much do you suppose the labor costs in China? I agree, these projects should be cut in half and executed quicker but that requires immediate funding. Is it worth it? Yes. Would I be willing to make that .5 cent sales tax increase a full cent if it meant this happening quicker? Absolutely.

[Dan W.]

It doesn't take a totalitarian state to build such projects. It takes the will of the people, the labor of hundreds and the vision of great leaders.

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

SKD does have a good point.

Look how fast the 10 Freeway was reconstructed after the Northridge quake. The will was there.

If we summon up the will to pressure our elected Federal and local officials to make creation of these projects quicker, it can happen.

[david]

I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. I BET EVERYONE WILL BE SO HAPPY TO BE PAYING 8.75% SALES TAX STARTING IN JUNE FOR A PROJECT THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

THE MTA ARE A BUNCH OF CROOKS.

[David Galvan]

@Shawn: Why do you think they've included estimates of as-yet-un-applied-for federal funding when generating these time lines? All signs point to that not being the case. When Roger Snoble mentioned that "we could potentially get the purple line to Westwood in 20 years now that Measure R has passed" back in mid-november, Mayor Villaraigosa jumped in and said he hoped we could shorten that time substantially by getting federal funding.

You seem pretty sure that they already included estimates of receiving federal funding, even though none has yet been made available by the federal government. Why?

[SKD]

The US built a transcontinental railroad in less than six years in the late 1800's.
That is a track that ran across the entire United States.
It doesn't take a totalitarian state to build such projects. It takes the will of the people, the labor of hundreds and the vision of great leaders. What part of the equation are we missing here? Build this thing! We are already becoming the laughing stock of the world with our inability to do anything right or within a timely basis.

[Shawn]

"These are timelines based on funding soley from Measure R. Once you add in Federal and state matches, it moves much faster. "

Nope. They've included both the estimated state and federal money. They won't be going for federal aid on some of the projects (like Expo Phase 2) in large part because doing so would greatly add to the timeline.

[Jonathan Trachtman]

These timelines are unbelievably long, and TOTALLY unacceptable. Other nations and world megacities will be laughing at us and asking, 'are you serious?' And if fact these timetables represent ‘reality’, the window to seize the moment of public frustration in LA County over traffic, and public support of creating a ‘tipping point’ for a true regional transportation network will close quite quickly once folks realize how lame these timelines are. It would be a shame indeed to squander this moment in LA’s history.

In my opinion, the problem is not the dedicated public servants at MTA or the aggressive lobbying for Subway to the Sea by the Mayor, but to be honest I just can’t figure out why people who do this stuff day in and day out with passion and purpose seem to be setting the bar that low. I know we certainly have had historically low expectations and systemically low prioritization/funding of public transport on local, regional, and national levels, which seems to ‘beat transit boosters down’….
And at first glance, the current cratering of the economy appears incredibly daunting.

HOWEVER:


1. Obama’s team is going to support Measure R, Prop 1A etc…regarding transit, thru the large stimulus package. In theory, this should allow for more aggressive timelines.



2. Aren’t we able to get ANY buy in from the private sector on
investment/partnerships to fast track these projects?


These timetables are not only a regional embarassment, they are a national disgrace.


While we proceed at a tortoise’s pace, the rest of the world is
 creating the first rate infrastructure that will position them as more efficient and globally competitive.

We sent humans 240,000 miles to the moon, taking them from orbit to the moon in less than a decade.


–25 years to push 15 miles from Downtown LA to the Sea? Or should I say, 25 years to push only TEN miles to Westwood/405?—

Wow, have we devolved or what?


I hope that in some way I can participate in helping improve this lame and unacceptable state of affairs.

We are better than that as a region and as a nation.

Jonathan Trachtman


Los Angeles

[Kymberleigh Richards]

Damien, your speech here, as well as your quote that appeared in the main Times article:

(quote) If the MTA "had told us they were going to increase our sales tax so they could build projects in other more affluent communities before us, I don't think we would have voted for it and I don't think it would have passed," he said. (end quote)

This is the exact same mindset that every parochial-minded person had about Measure R. We need to remember that this is a long-term plan for improvement, and it isn't all going to happen overnight.

The prioritization of projects has nothing to do with affluence or the lack thereof, it has to do with where the highest concentration of passengers are. Like it or not, the Wilshire corridor is always going to rank highest in that regard, because there is no other corridor in the region with the mobility problems it has. Sadly, subways are expensive and time consuming to build (remember, it took from 1986 to 2000 to get it built all the way from downtown to North Hollywood), but that doesn't change the priority.

You can't be terribly surprised that Crenshaw slipped back down the priority list, either. That project's existence dates back well over ten years and up until Measure R's passage sat on the Long Range Transportation Plan as the ugly stepchild that couldn't muster enough funding to even start the EIR. To most informed observers, it is obvious the project really only existed in the LRTP to keep Yvonne Burke placated while she was on the Metro Board.

All that said, the best way to jumpstart these projects -- ALL of them -- is to start lobbying our elected representatives in Congress to push for federal funding for transit projects. We all knew the Measure R money was not going to be enough on its own; now those of us who care about the projects actually being built need to get the rest of the money for them.

[Dana Gabbard]

One key factor is who the next Metro CEO is. What is needed is someone with experience in delivering large projects and all that entails. Mayor Villaraigosa is well aware of this and I look forward to his working with his fellow Metro Board members to ensure just such a leader can be recruited. Then we need to make alliances with large urban areas (NY, Seattle, Chicago) with similar big ticket needs to lobby in tandem for improvement of new starts, the federal program that funds big ticket transit projects.

To get things fast etc. means locally funding the light rail projects except possibly the regional connector. Federal funds require jumping through all sorts of hoops and accept lots of conditions that slow down the process. Building Expo Phase II, Gold Line to Azusa, Green Line to LAX, Green Line to South Bay Galleria and the Crenshaw mid-town connector will gobble up a lot of the rail funding in Measure R for some years. Prudently Metro staff have noted how this impacts funding unless/until the picture is clearer in re 95814 and D.C.

Anyone who thought the Purple Line extension was happening in the next few years hasn't been paying attention. Maybe groundbreaking of the first phase to Fairfax could occur in 2-5 years if the stars align and we make out well with federal reauthorization, the economy comes back, etc... Don’t be discouraged--we'll get there. And be assured Mayor AV realizes his future career depends on whether he can deliver. Look for him to put major mojo behind getting the subway project moving.

[sabina]

To all the people who are touting China as the model of speedy building of their mass transit projects: yeah, amazing what you can accomplish in a totalitarian society where you don't have to worry about those pesky voting constituents, and can just bulldoze literally tens of thousands of homes to get them out of the way of projects, whether building a new highway or subways/ elevated trains or a dam.

Just look at commenter Damien Goodman above (and listen to him and his
"Environmental Racism" colleagues at any MTA scoping meeting), determined to block anything not to his liking; look at the NIMBY westsiders
AND anti-westside Eastsiders (like Glorias Molina and Romero still are) who got Waxman and Zev to block the red line from going to the westside/ Santa Monica decades ago, when it would have been a fraction of the cost and the feds were throwing money at every other city (those who tout BART etc. need to consider that, those were built when times were flusher and materials much cheaper - though we now have the advantage of much more efficient technology and methods available).

We really do need Santa Obama to make Los Angeles a top priority for mass transit in exchange for supporting him so heavily that he didn't even need to campaign much, just scoop up the money from our rich liberals and votes from the public -- I believe he wants to, but of course he's now looking at the Trillion mark for indebtedness. Still, Measure R was sold as needed in order to get matching funds from the feds, and our pols have to keep up this pressure, ignoring the anti-metro Knabe/ Antonovich/ Molina faction in the process. Otherwise those of us paying higher sales taxes for decades until we're too old to get around without a walker will feel like it was just another sales dupe.

[J in Pasadena]

By the way, Henry Waxman is not a jerk. He is a VISIONARY.

[J in Pasadena]

Ha! You fools who voted for Measure R. The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different outcome. I'm not shocked by this because I expected it. What shocks me, though, is the lack of realistic planning for Obama's promised infusion of massive funding for infrastructure growth.

Our first course of action should be dumping the corrupt do-nothing bureaucrats who tied up MTA funds in AIGs financial corrupt leaseback schemes -- these are the same people spending public transit monies on things like lobbying for massive, meaningless sales tax increases. An example of how corrupt MTA spending has become: Thousands of $5 printed calendars were distributed for free recently to random passengers exiting the Gold Line platform in Union Station. Outside an obvious and ironic environmental impact of this marketing ploy, the overall cost of creating massive numbers of feel-good printed materials must be staggering. Second, and more importantly, we must purge the organization of its resident engineers who routinely oversee dangerous and poorly designed projects, like the crumbling Chinatown station that drops concrete chunks on pedestrians heads.

Generally, I would say MTA barely handles the fare collection and maintenance part of public transit. They should be dumped and construction projects either given to Caltrans (which at least has a history of successful freeway projects) or other regional transit groups which truly possess an interest in creating safe, pragmatic and usable local transit.

[Walter]

Let's also not forget that 10 years from now, the price tag for installing one mile of track will have risen considerably from today's cost. So, why not build the entire rail network today, all at the same time? We'd not only save money but also have a system that would finally be able to get you to where ever you want to go. AND, it would be done before we all experience the next wave of gasoline price increases.

[Ken Alpern]

Thanks, D. Please calm down, everyone, and look at this last post. There is nothing more that Metro staff can do with Proposition R other than create the local match. Take into account that we're probably gonna get nothing from Sacramento for years to come, and that nothing is yet confirmed from Washington, and this awful but oh-so-tentative report only describes our immediate reality.

Before Proposition R, the Subway to Westwood was never going to happen.

After Proposition R, but without federal matching funds, it'll take 20-25 years.

After federal matching funds, it could take 10-15 years.

[Spokker]

I echo most of the sentiments posted here so far. Our leaders are dangerously incompetent. Many of us we'll be dead by the time all this stuff gets built. There is no excuse that the subway to Santa Monica has to be completed by 2032. It should be done in ten years, not 20 years!

Where's the stimulus plan? Where's the infrastructure investment? Why do we let our leaders off so easily? NO NEW FREEWAYS UNTIL THE WILSHIRE SUBWAY, THE CRENSHAW CORRIDOR, EXPO, AND THE GOLD LINE ARE BUILT.

[Aaron]

You know what we must do here? Outsorce our transit systems to China. All of them across the country. I guarantee you, subway to the sea within three years, regional connector within three MONTHS, and hell....they'll throw express tracks along the Red Line for good measure.

[Stacy Lumbrezer]

Yeah, this is crazy! I lobbied friends and wrote articles in support of Measure R because I intended to get to use the extended subway while I was still mobile. Kick it into gear MTA - or else find someone who can! Bring in the Chinese or those in DC or San Francisco to see how they did it. Don't horde that sales tax dough as long as you can, use it. And don't make us look like fools for supporting this, it's definitely a sooner - not later - public works project!

[Jody Litvak]

Wow!

I'm glad so many of you are interested in this project. After a year and a half, we are wrapping up the official Alternatives Analysis (AA) study for the Metro Westside Extension. We will be presenting the study recommendations to the Metro Board of Directors later this month and asking permission to proceed into a full environmental review -- a Draft EIR/EIS.

If you want more information, I invite you to check out the study website at www.metro.net/westside. Be sure to click on "News & Info" to view all the information produced by the study including what we evaluated along the way, our recommendations and how we got there. You can also click on "Contact Us" to share your views, ask questions, or add yourself to our database so we can include you in the next phase of the work.

You can also find us on Facebook at "Metro Westside Extension."

Jody Litvak
Metro Westside Extension Study Team

[Ray]

Thanks D for that clarification - it's an important piece of missing information on how state funding will speed up development. But despite my incredible enthusiasm for rail mass transit, I wonder what any of the plans really accomplish.

Let's concede that its important that the MTA plan get realized. Let's also concede that this list of projects doesn't amount to a PLAN to solve Los Angeles' mobility problems. And that's unacceptable.

The issue in LA goes way beyond what's within the current imagination.

Accepting the great work of planning professionals and tireless transit advocates - taken in total, the MTA's laundry list is some sort of bizarre makeshift plan to utilize old railroad rights of way... on a budget (at grade light rail). It's a well conceived proxy to provide some interesting new services, while making everyone to feel like something material is being done.

The reality is the problem is just too big for LA county to handle on its own. Roger Snoble is retiring. He's tired (who wouldn't be given the process that exists to put down rails). I've felt for years, LA has such massive issues, they now need to be addressed directly by Sacramento and Washington, entities that are largely free of the decades of incredibly wasteful NIMBYism, in-fighting, territoriality, PUC appeals, and tribalism.

Time and energy need to be put into a multi-county regional system that offers SPEED and DISTANCE. Perhaps the state should consider heavy investment in Metrolink, a completely grade separated, electrified, high capacity, very limited stop service, achieving speeds up to 70-80 MPH between stops.

The fiefdoms need to be dissolved. Bush is gone. It's time to start imaging how things can be again. Drag out the old plans - get the supervisors together.

[D]

These are timelines based on funding soley from Measure R. Once you add in Federal and state matches, it moves much faster.

[Doug]

This is ridiculous.

There was clearly a plan to extend the Red Line to Santa Monica at some point, thus the strange purple line spur. Political pressure derailed (sorry!) that plan at the time.

DUST OFF THOSE PLANS AND THROW THE DAMN TUNNEL BORER UNDER WILSHIRE tomorrow.

WHY is it okay for these "leaders" to set this agenda?

Time and time again we are given the bait and switch.

Remember the lottery? Vote for this and it will be gravy for the schools. That didn't work--god only knows where that "extra" money goes. Most likely they diverted general funds to other things and filled the hole with lottery money. That wasn't the point!

Measure R. If you want the subway to the sea, vote for this. NOW IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE 30 YEAR PLAN?!!!

Can we, as average citizens sue city agencies for misuse of public funds?

I am in no position to speak for the majority who voted for Measure R, but I THINK they feel as I do. I want a subway to Santa Monica. I want rail to LAX. And I want them sooner rather than later. All plans start here, then we can talk about other things.

BTW, what's up with all these HOV lanes. They don't work, folks. When there's gridlock, ALL the lanes are jammed. HOV lanes are not transit ALTERNATIVES.

If this is the best they can do, we need better people making these plans.

[Michael]

In China and Singapore they can build a 20 mile subway in three to five years under a densely populated city.

It is 12 miles from the Western and Wilshire station to Santa Monica. Do we have to hire them to build our subway to the sea? This is ridiculous. We are supposedly the most advanced nation in the world and yet we trudge along like a poor developing country.
How sad for us.

[shaun]

Rickshaw anyone?

[Damien Goodmon]

I've said it a thousand times: how we build, how fast we build, and how much it costs to build are all interrelated issues. Metro is no closer to understanding this today, than they were the day before the election.

Drastic changes need to occur in the planning and construction processes at Metro. But until they do, and as long MTA operates with the many flawed processes, Crenshaw should remain the next project after Expo Phase 2. That's what was sold to voters - in particular South LA voters - as being the next project after Expo Phase 2. The benefit of the most regressive tax being increased on South LA, was clearly stated in all literature as "project acceleration" for the Crenshaw project. Now after they got our votes and begin collecting our taxes they're proposing delaying it by 13 years.

Couple this with the Expo Phase 1 funding discrepancies ($185 million for the final mile from La Cienega to Culver City, vs. just $31 mil a mile for South LA: Vermont to Clyde - one block east of La Cienega) and it begs the question: Just what does MTA have against adequately investing in rail transportation in South LA?!

I do hope this issue is resolved by the Jan 22 board meeting, when the LRTP is adopted. Otherwise...well lets just say South LA rail advocates been effective when starting 100 yards behind the rest of the pack running with a sprained ankle. These are not waters Metro wants to test.

That's all I have to say on the matter at this juncture.

Damien Goodmon

[KateNonymous]

I know they're not parallel projects, but it did not take this long in Washington, D.C. And they were dealing with multiple states as well as municipalities.

[Joe]

We really need the gold line finished sooner.

[Brady Westwater]

I'll be 81 when the subway finally reaches my alma matter and likely in the low 100's before it hits Santa Monica. Yes, thanks Henry Waxman!

[Paul]

You forgot one timeline:

Subway to Santa Monica - YOU'LL ALL BE DEAD BY THEN

[Andrew]

Again, Mr. Waxman, Los Angeles thanks you. Jerk.

[Raul]

I'll be 57 when the Purple Line finally reaches my alma mater. Frankly, if they can just get the Purple Line extended to Fairfax by 2015 I'd be happy.

[jonathan]

Subway to Westwood by 2032? 21 years from today? What a joke! So let me update this for you: It's NEVER going to happen!

Huge cities in China build their subway system in less than 10 years, or 7 years. Similar projects in other cities took less than 10 years to build as well. BART, in the Bay Area was built in 8 years including the 38 mile Daly City to Concord line. BART to SFO was build in 6 years. It consisted of adding 8 miles and 4 new stations.

Wilshire/Western to the Westwood is about 8 miles. It's unacceptable that it would take 21 years to build a subway from Western to Westwood.

jonathan

[David Murphy (Building LA's Future)]

Measure R was an absolutely important first step, but we're going to have to do more in future months and years to bring in more funding and find other ways to speed things up -- drastically.