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4/24/09 – See our response on today's CityWatch. 4/8/09 – Welcome to our refreshed website, reflecting last week's Expo Board direction on the preferred alignment. Phase 2 has been simplified and updated (retaining a link to other options considered), and the Expo Line and Light Rail pages have new, larger photos.
(click to enlarge)
4/2/09 – The Expo Authority Board supported LRT 2, per the Expo Authority's statement below. Thank you, everyone who came to speak or wrote to them.
The Expo Authority's schedule is to release the Final EIR in October 2009, award the Design-Build construction contract in January 2010, and open to Santa Monica 2014-15. 4/2/09 – Today's Expo Board meeting presentation included this update on the CPUC process for Farmdale:
Farmdale Pedestrian Overcrossing 3/30/09 – Good news: for the Expo Line phase 2 the Expo Authority staff report posted today (PDF) recommends LRT 2 (the Exposition right-of-way and Colorado) as the preferred alignment in the Final EIR, and calls for continued work with cities and stakeholders during the FEIR process on issues raised during the DEIR — Grade Crossings, Maintenance Facility, and Bikeway. Friends 4 Expo endorsed option LRT 2. The right-of-way has 2/3 the cost of Venice-Sepulveda, 4-6 minute faster travel time, greater ridership, and fewer environmental impacts. Colorado Ave. in Santa Monica has lower cost, fewer impacts, and smaller scale than Olympic Blvd. Click for F4E's full comments (PDF). 3/3/09 – The Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously to support the Colorado route, oppose the proposed maintenance yard next to a residential neighborhood, and make a number of other comments on the Draft EIR (details).
Large storm drains across the right-of-way at Overland, Kelton, and Military preclude shallow underpasses. A deep tunnel below the right-of-way would be very expensive and unprecedented in modern U.S. light rail.
It calls for a pedestrian bridge at Farmdale by Dorsey High School (Expo Authority simulation left, click to enlarge), and accepts the existing pedestrian tunnel at Harvard by Foshay Learning Center. More LA Times Proceeding A0702007
Draft EIR key points Press release Expo Authority Draft EIR webpage
2/15/09 – The bikeway is not a part of the phase 2 California environmental clearance (EIR) because it is incompatible with federal funding for the bikeway. Therefore environmental clearance for the bikeway and seeking more funding was transferred to the cities of Los Angeles and Santa Monica, apparently as was done for the Orange Line busway in the Valley. The Expo Authority says they have provided for the bikeway in their plans and will include it in the final design and construction contract to be built at the same time as the rail line. We strongly support the bikeway and will help monitor and facilitate that a good design is completed and approved.
"This elevated structure at the entrance to downtown will detract significantly from the City’s character, scale and desired pedestrian environment." It also suggests how curb parking could be kept on both sides of Colorado.
1/28/09 – CPUC action on the Farmdale Ave. and Harvard Blvd. crossings was postponed again (item 70/70a), now to February 20th. LA Times 1/27/09 – The Expo Authority's Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for Expo Line phase 2 is out! The public comment period on the DEIR will extend for 45 days beginning
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 and Three public hearings will be (all 5:00-8:00 p.m.):
The City of Santa Monica will also hold a community meeting:
12/23/08 – CPUC Commissioner Chong's Alternate Proposed Decision made available today (link; LA Times) would approve the crossing application for Harvard but still calls for a pedestrian bridge or rail bridge at Farmdale. Its summary of changes from the ALJ's 10/22/08 Proposed Decision is:
12/18/08 – The CPUC postponed its decision again, to 1/29/09 for “further review” (Item 74 on Agenda Changes; LA Times). 12/4/08 – The CPUC postponed its decision until 12/18/08 for “further review” (Item 12 on Agenda Changes; LA Times). 12/2/08 – Measure R has officially passed with a final count of 67.93% YES, clearing the way for Expo Line phase 2 funding. Removing the need for federal funding allows construction to begin in 2010 and be complete around 2014 (updated schedule)!
11/10/08 – The revised CPUC schedule is now that comments on the Proposed Decision are are due 11/24/08 and the matter will be targeted for the 12/4/08 Commission Meeting Agenda. 10/22/08 – The CPUC Proposed Decision released today calls for pedestrian bridges at Farmdale and Harvard. In short (page 2, emphasis added):
Next steps are parties' comments and reply comments, and a final decision by the CPUC November 21. 10/10/08 – Friends 4 Expo Transit endorsed Measure R, that will fund Expo Line phase 2 and other critical rail transit lines for Los Angeles County.. 10/10/08 – Metro's next round of Westside Extension Transit Corridor Study (aka Wilshire “Subway to the Sea”) public meetings were held (more info):
8/22/08 – The CPUC Evidentiary Hearing will resume September 2, apparently confirming that no settlement came from mediation. Here is the updated schedule, delayed three weeks from 5/9/08 below.
8/13/08 – The CPUC Evidentiary Hearing on the proposed crossing at Farmdale by Dorsey High School was suspended Monday, and the parties were directed to mediation with three options: rail bridge, rail undercrossing, and pedestrian bridge (images from Expo Authority). According to the LA Times Bottleneck Blog, “a proposal has been made and the Construction Authority is going to take that proposal to its board on Monday”. If not accepted, the hearing would resume September 2 “and the at-grade crossing would be back on the table.” 7/26/08 – The Pasadena Gold Line opened 5 years ago today. For photos of its opening and other light rail lines see the new Light Rail Photos blog, as well our Light Rail page. 7/23/08 – The Mid-Corridor / Segment B Construction Overview schedule from the 7/23/08 Expo Community Meeting PDF presentation (page 7) details: The following construction activity will continue behind the K-Rail (concrete barriers) through March 2009: We'll be seeing very impressive progress over the next eight months!
The new Expo Line bridge will cross above La Cienega, National/Jefferson, and the historic railroad bridge (left), then come to grade east of Hayden. National's northern bridge will be for bicycles and pedestrians only, to the new bike path on the north side of the tracks. See more about this and downtown Culver City in the 7/16/08 Expo Community Meeting PDF presentation. 7/2/08 – From the Expo Authority: The California Public Utilities Commission is holding a Public Workshop on the Exposition Construction Authority's grade crossing application for the Harvard Avenue grade crossing near Foshay Learning Center. The workshop is designed to provide the public an opportunity to appear and be heard on issues related to this proposed grade crossing for the Exposition Light Rail project, portions of which are currently under construction. In requiring this workshop, the 6/20/08 CPUC "Amended Scoping Memo and Ruling of Assigned Commissioner Determining the Further Scope and Procedural Schedule" specified (date corrected): A public workshop will be held at the Foshay Learning Center on July [2], 2008, as detailed in the schedule below, to discuss the design options regarding the proposed crossing at Harvard Blvd., and to allow for the public to comment. The issues to be addressed at the July [2] public workshop shall be limited to the crossing design and potential use of the Harvard Blvd. pedestrian crossing. This is only about the existing pedestrian tunnel in front of Foshay, that the Expo Authority proposes to reinforce so the tracks can be built over it, and the CPUC request they also evaluate building a new pedestrian bridge to replace it.
Tracks between crossings won't come for a few more months, but this is a big milestone!
6/26/08 – In today's meeting the Metro Board preserved the Expo Line phase 2 priority as the next rail project to be funded. It decided to defer approval of the new Long Range Transportation Plan, including whether to add the Foothill Gold Line to its funded plan, until after a proposed new L.A. County 1/2-cent sales tax for transportation may be on the ballot in November. More details at StreetsBlogLA and LA Times Bottleneck Blog. 6/11/08 – Expo Authority's Phase 2 Community Meeting on grade crossing determinations for the remaining crossings at Overland, Westwood, Barrington, Centinela, Sepulveda, and Charnock was Monday, June 9 at the Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, 3200 Motor Avenue, LA. In short, the Expo Authority proposed all remaining crossings (Overland, Westwood, Sepulveda, Charnock, Barrington, and Centinela) would be at-grade (presentation). Added lanes are proposed for traffic mitigation. Our Phase 2 Right-of-way, Venice-Sepulveda, and West LA-Santa Monica pages have been updated to list all crossings and station locations. Watch for more details here. 5/23/08 – See our response on today's CityWatch.
See Phase 1 for more on its design and construction progress.
5/9/08 – Today CPUC Administrative Law Judge Koss specified this schedule for the remaining two phase 1 crossings, at Farmdale by Dorsey High and the existing pedestrian tunnel at Harvard by Foshay Learning Center (updated 6/26).
5/8/08 – Metro's next round of Westside Extension Transit Corridor Study (aka Wilshire “Subway to the Sea”) public meetings were held (more info):
Metro's draft Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) comments were due April 25. 4/24/08 – The Metro Board approved “increasing the life-of-project (LOP) budget for the Exposition Light Rail Transit Project Phase I Culver City Aerial Station and Structure by $54 million, increasing the LOP budget from $808.3 million to $862.3 million.” The City of Culver City is contributing $4 million of this. “The work would save approximately $10 million in construction costs for the interim at-grade station at Washington/National due to escalation, inefficiencies associated with building the permanent station around an operating railroad, and the construction/demolition of the interim at-grade station.” 4/10/08 – The Exposition Construction Authority's next phase 2 Community Workshops detailed most proposed grade crossings, station and parking locations, bike routes and more. (pdf notice):
Visit our Phase 1 Construction and Phase 2 Planning pages, fully-updated with the Expo Authority's proposal, as well as the City of Santa Monica's plans around Expo stations. 3/12/08 – Today CPUC Administrative Law Judge Koss specified this schedule for the remaining two phase 1 crossings, at Farmdale by Dorsey High and the existing pedestrian tunnel at Harvard by Foshay Learning Center:
2/7/08 – The Expo Board voted 5-0 to authorize an up-to-$250,000 contract with Jones & Stokes to perform an Environmental Assessment of additional options for the Farmdale crossing by Dorsey High:
2/6/08 – Metro's next round of Westside Extension Transit Corridor Study (aka Wilshire “Subway to the Sea”) public meetings were held (more info):
2/1/08 – Statement on Farmdale Ave. crossing. 1/10/08 — Los Angeles County Transportation Funding Collaborative conference: what are the best options for LA County to fund the comprehensive transit network we need beyond the Expo Line? Information. 12/20/07 – Today the CPUC
authorized all Expo Line phase 1 grade crossings and separations except
Farmdale Ave. (Dorsey High) and Harvard Blvd. (to receive further comment
on the need for a hearing regarding the existing ped tunnel at Foshay
Middle School). 12/19/07 – New construction photos posted, construction of the concrete deck over the trench at Exposition and Figueroa. 11/29/07 – The Metro Board voted for additional funding (from $663.3 million to $808.3 million) to cover construction cost inflation, and an additional $50 million in Prop. 1B bond funding to move the ultimate Culver City aerial station between Washington and Venice Boulevards into phase 1. 11/20/07 – The proposed decision released today by the California Public Utilities Commission Administrative Law Judge would grant all Expo Line grade crossing and grade separation applications except Farmdale (at Dorsey High School) and possibly Harvard (at Foshay Middle School) which remain open. It becomes binding when the Commission acts on it. 11/1/07 – The Expo Board voted today for the staff recommendation to move forward with options 1 and 2 (LRT on right-of-way and LRT on Venice-Sepulveda) into the Draft EIS/EIR study; to continue discussion with the FTA on option 3 (BRT on right-of-way); and to report back next month on Supervisor Burke's request for bus ridership on Venice Blvd. They also supported the Wesson-Burke-Parks motion for staff to report back in a month on a range of options for the Farmdale Ave. crossing at Dorsey High School. 10/23/07 – The Santa Monica City Council requested the Expo Authority study a second alignment option along Colorado Avenue west of 17th Street (yellow line below, potential station locations in blue, updated from 10/25 Industrial Lands workshop). The staff report notes, “On-grade light rail corridors provide greater opportunities over time for retail businesses, enhanced pedestrian environments and walkable connections to the neighborhoods.”
10/22/07 – The analysis presented at this week's meetings on the refined alternatives' Effectiveness (Regional Connectivity), Environmental Impact (Community Disruption and Property Impacts), and Cost (Boardings and FTA Cost-effectiveness) recommends LRT on the right-of-way and along Venice-Sepulveda for the Draft EIS/EIR. It also recommends further study of BRT on the right-of-way. Of the other alternatives added following the Scoping meetings, Monorail and PRT failed Regional Connectivity; LRT on Venice-Lincoln and other streets failed Environmental Impact (community disruption of right-of-way takes and aerial structures); and LRT to Venice Beach failed FTA Cost-Effectiveness, serving many fewer jobs. Projected phase 2 daily boardings were:
10/16/07 – The CPUC Administrative Law Judge ruled (1.2 MB PDF) today to "proceed to the issuance of a proposed decision" on Nov. 20 for all Expo Line phase 1 grade crossing and separation applications except Application 07-05-013 for Farmdale (the corner of Dorsey High). He set out a schedule for Public Participation and Evidentiary Hearings for Farmdale on Nov. 5-6, briefs due Nov. 30, replies due Dec. 14, and a proposed decision Jan. 15, 2008. 10/9/07 – The Construction Authority has scheduled public meetings for Expo Line Phase 2 Initial Screening Results — the refined alternatives for its environmental study. All meetings are 6:30-8:30 p.m. Announcement flier (1.5M PDF).
The Expo Line will also be part of the Thurs., Oct. 25 City of Santa Monica Industrial Lands workshop, including the Bergamot Station and Mid-City Expo Line station locations, part of its Land Use and Circulation Element update. It will be at 6:30 (6:00 registration), Lincoln Middle School cafeteria, 1501 California Ave. See the City's website for details and RSVP. Metro scheduled
And three public Scoping meetings Oct. 15-20 on the Crenshaw-Prairie Transit Corridor.
Early environmental scoping meetings scheduled for the Regional Connector (across downtown LA from the Expo and Blue lines to the Gold Line) Alternatives Analysis (AA):
9/28/07 – This week's LA CityBeat article "Dozing in the Slow Lane" featured our advocacy for the Expo Line. 9/27/07 – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) process for the phase 1 grade crossings continues forward. Following briefs both sides on 9/7 and responses on 9/17, the Administrative Law Judge issued a ruling today directing the Expo Construction Authority to provide additional information by 10/9 about the Event Management Plan for USC and the practicability of a grade-separated pedestrian crossing at Farmdale by Dorsey High. Details. 9/5/07 – The California Transportation Commission approved its full $314,653,000 portion for construction of Expo Line phase 1, following the uncertainty and delay of the state budget. LA Times link. 8/14/07 – The Construction Authority's website has been nicely refreshed. 7/24/07 – Construction (below) on the underpass between Flower and Exposition is beginning! Holes for shoring are marked for drilling here in front of USC, just west of Figueroa.
7/15/07 – Action Alert: Governor's budget threatens Expo Line funding! State budget negotiations threaten $314 million for Expo Line construction. Please contact asap Governor Schwarzenegger (http://www.govmail.ca.gov or 916-445-2841), and also your state legislators (especially if they're Republicans), to oppose further cuts in public transit funding in the State budget. Points
Background Current budget negotiations continue to threaten State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds. Specifically, the Republican Caucus continues to insist on additional cuts to the Public Transportation Account, putting at risk all transit and highway projects listed in the STIP, especially a critical $314 million allocation for the Expo Line phase 1 from Downtown L.A. to Culver City that's only now beginning construction. The Administration, working closely with the California Transportation
Commission, had removed only transit allocations from the CTC’s July 25-26,
2007 agenda while at the same time leaving all highway allocations in
place on the same agenda. We have now learned that the allocation for
the Exposition Light Rail project will be on the July agenda; however,
the State budget must provide enough funds to public transit in order
for the CTC to make these allocations. 7/12/07 – F4ET General Meeting in the Hamilton High School library, 2955 South Robertson Blvd., just north of the Santa Monica Freeway (map). We felt it was a good time for speakers from the Construction Authority to present their quality design work on the Expo Line, to its longtime supporters and the larger public.
6/7/07 – The Construction Authority announced additional alternatives from the Scoping process to be assessed for their effectiveness, environmental impacts, cost, and transit supportive land use:
Following initial screening, the Expo Board will determine (with FTA concurrence) the final alternatives to be included in the full environmental review process, including grade separations per the MTA Grade Crossing Policy. We expect this late summer or early fall, 2007. 5/16/07 – The Construction Authority
filed the remaining phase 1 grade crossing applications
with the CPUC on May 8th. Proceeding
A0705012 covers Trousdale Parkway Pedestrian Crossing, Watt Way, Menlo
Avenue, and Vermont Avenue by USC. Proceeding
A0705013 covers a four-quadrant gated at Farmdale Avenue by Dorsey
High. Also be sure to see the Construction Authority's 5/14/07 new detailed
Reply
(67873.pdf) to the earlier appeals. 5/11/07 – The Phase 2 Scoping Report is now available for download on the Construction Authority website. See pages 5-12 for a comprehensive Summary of Issues Raised from "over 1,800 separate submittals":
4/28/07 – Community Workshop for La Cienega/Jefferson TOD Plan 4/22/07 – The Construction Authority has filed applications for most of the grade crossings on Expo Line phase 1 with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The three crossings by USC (Vermont, Watt Way, and Trousdale Walk) and the one by Dorsey High (Farmdale Avenue) haven't been filed yet, pending completing discussions with CPUC staff. Here are links to the three main documents describing them: Proceeding
A0702007 Proceeding
A0701017 4/17/07 – Expo Line Project Status Open House, Culver City Senior Center, including construction update and design of La Brea and La Cienega bridges — see new La Brea bridge image. 4/10/07 – Here is a YouTube video of the Gold Line grade crossing at Indiana Ave. in South Pasadena. It shows the crossing gates descending in about 13 seconds, with total time just over 30 seconds (same as a typical intersection's red light); how pedestrian gates work (note the additional exit gates); and the relative sounds of car traffic, crossing bells, the train horn, and the train passing. 4/6/07 – Listen to KPCC's "AirTalk" Expo Line panel discussion, recorded Thursday, April 5, at the Palms/Rancho Park Library (and scroll to the bottom; link updated 4/22). 4/2/07 – Deadline for written Scoping comments. See www.buildexpo.org/phase2.htm for more information. Thanks everyone who contributed great suggestions! Here is the submission from Friends 4 Expo Transit (950K PDF). 3/30/07 – Friends 4 Expo Transit's Open Letter to the Cheviot Hills Homeowners Association documents false statements in their 3/27/07 "Light Rail Update". 3/27/07 – See the Expo Line on KCET's "Life & Times". Or here full-screen on YouTube. 3/21/07 – Project Status Update Meeting (on phase 1 construction) at Dorsey High School PDF flier 3/17/07 – L.A. Times article "Cheviot Hills residents differ on light rail". 3/15/07 – The four Construction Authority environmental Scoping meetings have completed (pdf flier). This is the opportunity at the beginning of the process to learn about the phase 2 (Culver City to Santa Monica) study and tell the consultants everything you'd like them to study — route options, station locations, issues, suggested mitigations, etc. Written comments may be submitted until April 2, 2007. Email to jsandberg@exporail.net or see www.buildexpo.org/phase2.htm for more information. Here is the current timeline (from Phase 2 Scoping Presentation 3M PDF):
2/7/07 – Expo Line Project Status Update Meeting at USC's Galen Center. See the Construction Authority website for more information on this meeting and the phase 2 schedule. Here is the Expo Line phase 2 environmental study and preliminary engineering timeline from the Construction Authority's RFP No. 5-06:
2/1/07 – Hope you've seen L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez's recent columns on miserable Westside traffic, including Jan. 28 devoted to the Expo Line and the history of its right-of-way by Cheviot Hills. He also set up the Bottleneck Blog to post suggestions on these transportation topics. Here's the direct link for responses to the Cheviot Hills Column. And he spoke vividly on KCRW's "Which Way L.A." with Warren Olney Jan. 25 (also with MTA board member Richard Katz), and on KPCC's "AirTalk" with Larry Mantle Jan. 31. -------------- A new group Light Rail for Cheviot has formed in Cheviot Hills to support the Expo Line on the right-of-way, already with an extensive website. 1/11/07 – Friends 4 Expo Transit is featured in the PBS special "Edens Lost and Found", narrated by Jimmy Smits, to be broadcast Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 10:00 p.m. on KCET channel 28. For more see edenslostandfound.org. 9/29/06 – The Expo Line's official groundbreaking ceremony! Invitation Authority's press release This is a great day: after years of advocacy and planning, construction is about to start on the first half of the Expo Line, finally an alternative to horrible Westside traffic congestion! A lot of people have been helping Expo for quite awhile — it was inspiring seeing so many assembled together. Here are some Friends 4 Expo with elected officials:
From left: #3-Culver City City Councilmember Carol Gross, #9-State Senator Sheila Kuehl, #11-County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, #12-Santa Monica City Councilmember and Metro Board First Vice Chair Pam O'Connor 9/12/06 – Friends 4 Expo Transit was a Partner for Mobility 21 Comes to the Westside, at Culver City's Kirk Douglas Theater. More info (PDF). 8/24/06 – The Metro Board could not agree on a color today. The final motion adopted the name "Expo Line" and deferred the color issue. Supporting the "Metro Expo Aqua Line" had been Board members Yvonne Burke, Zev Yaroslavsky, Gloria Molina, and Pam O'Connor. Among the 135 emails to the Board (all but seven for Aqua), were these memorable comments:
We continue to endorse Aqua as a
great color for a branch of the Blue Line that goes to the ocean
in Santa Monica, passing many aqua-colored landmarks along the way, a
vibrant color fitting this diverse and vibrant corridor. 6/29/06 – Exposition Construction Authority community meeting on Flower Street Design Improvements, at Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School. Contact Genetha Eddins at (213) 243-5506 or geddins@exporail.net. 6/28/06 – F4ET General Meeting at Hamilton High School Library. Celebrating the fifth anniversary of MTA Board approval of Expo light rail!
6/13/06 – The Santa Monica City Council approved purchase of the Sears Automotive Center site at the southeast corner of Colorado and 4th for the future Expo Line terminus station, using $35,450,000 in Big Blue Bus Railway reserves. 5/17/06 – Community Open Houses sponsored by the Construction Authority:
5/1/06 – We're over a lot of hurdles, and actual construction of the Expo Line (phase 1 from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City) is close to beginning! You'll soon see clearing of the right-of-way and utility relocation, with major construction within a year. Great news on state funding for the Expo Line: The California Transportation Commission approved $208 million in Traffic Congestion Relief Program (TCRP) funds in March (which had been committed back in 2000 but suspended due to state deficits) and another $315 million of State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds in April. Together these will cover $523 million of phase 1's $640 million approved budget. Here's how you can help achieve funding and a timely groundbreaking for Expo Line phase 2, the rest of the way from Culver City to Santa Monica: Governor Schwarzenegger and the state legislature are debating placing an infrastructure bond on the November ballot. They will make critical decisions in the next few weeks, which could provide funding for Expo phase 2. See Infrastructure for instructions on how to fax or email your State Senator and Assembly member. 3/2/06 – The Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority Board authorized award of the contract for final design and construction this afternoon to top-ranked proposer FCI/Fluor/Parsons, following the Federal Transit Administration's issuance of the Record of Decision earlier this week — another really big milestone! |
5/7/09
– Falsework for the La Brea bridge and aerial station (higher center
section) is taking shape — see 
2/14/08
– See this week's 
