Metro has prepared a proposed decision with written findings regarding the reasonableness of the Westside Subway Extension’s Century City station at Constellation and Avenue of the Stars, which would tunnel under parts of the Beverly Hills High School campus. This follows the special meeting on this subject that was held last week at the request of the city of Beverly Hills.
The Metro Board of Directors will consider the proposed decision and findings from the hearing at their regular meeting this Thursday at 9 a.m. at Metro headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. The Board is also scheduled to consider approving the alignment and station locations for the second and third phases of the project, which run west from La Cienega Boulevard to the Westwood VA Hospital. Also scheduled is the continuation of last week’s special meeting so that public comment can be heard.
At last week’s hearing, Beverly Hills provided several presentations by their consultants that questioned and criticized Metro’s studies. Metro has concludedthat it is unsafe to build subway tunnels or a station parallel to Santa Monica Boulevard due to active earthquake faults.
Metro staff have instead proposed to locate the station under Constellation Boulevard, which would also have a higher projected ridership. Beverly Hills’ consultants said that it may be safe to build under Santa Monica Boulevard. The city also proposed alternative routes that would utilize part of Santa Monica Boulevard to reach a Constellation station.
Metro staff have considered the views presented by Beverly Hills along with the reports and conclusions of their own consultants and experts. Here are the proposed decisions and findings:
Proposed Decision and Findings
Based on the professional opinions of MTA’s internationally recognized experts in the field of seismology, geology and tunnel construction, staff recommends that the Board adopt the following findings and render its decision to locate the Century City Station at Constellation Boulevard/Avenue of the Stars:
1. Tunneling can be safely carried out beneath the Beverly Hills High School
(BHHS) campus;2. Tunneling would not prevent future development of the BHHS campus;
3. Tunneling would not impact the use of the BHHS campus as an emergency
evacuation center;4. Vibration and noise levels are within the FTA requirements and tunnel
operation is not anticipated to have adverse impacts. The tunnel construction
may cause some low levels of noise and vibration for a day or two;5. Tunneling can be constructed and operated safely in gassy ground;
6. Oil wells do not pose an unmitigable risk to tunneling. Should they be
encountered, procedures will be in place for their safe removal and reabandonment;7. In Century City, Constellation Boulevard is a viable option for a station
location, but Santa Monica Boulevard is not due to unacceptable seismic risk;8. Tunneling through fault zones can be done safely;
9. MTA’s approach to risk management is correct;
10. Further site investigations will be conducted and measures will be
implemented to reduce risks to levels that are as low as reasonably practicable;11. MTA and its engineering consultants have expertise designing and building tunnels and subway stations in Los Angeles; and
12. The Constellation Station will attract more riders than the station locations along Santa Monica Boulevard.
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@Matt
Yes because again, agencies like the MTA is essentially government.
Most transit agencies in Asia however, are private corporations in which their government owns a partial stake in, much like how GM is partly owned by the US gov’t now. The majority stake however, is still held by private investors. That’s the biggest difference.
No one can buy Metro stock, therefore we have no direct say in Metro’s operations and their bizarre financial judgments. Politics and ticket to re-elections are the principles here instead of actual advice and solid financial planning from investors. Transit riders in Asia however, can buy mass transit stock and have direct say in their day to day operations.
In addition, most transit agencies in Asia have competition going along with multiple private transit operators. Competition drives the other to be more efficient, cost worthy, and provide better services. That’s not allowable here because essentially, local government has a monopoly on local transit service and it’s illegal for any private entity that thinks they can compete with better efficiency than Metro to start competing in the local transportation market. Because of this monopoly, Metro can do whatever they want without any serious repercussions.
They have no competition to fear from private transit operators. The only thing Metro fears is taxpayers giving up in supporting mass transit. And with the way Metro is handling things now, I think that sentiment seems to be growing, especially among short distance riders.
5-25-12
Hi:
It’s been about 60 years since any passenger rail transit has gone all the way from downtown L. A. to any of the west-facing beaches. To this day, the service has yet to be restored; since several abandonments have taken place, mid-20th Century. The Expo Line, once completed, will help. Individuals’ cars, as well as buses (and freeways), have been proven to be very inadequate replacements for it. There’s no time to waste in finishing the Purple Line project. I heard it reported that, unless we have congressional intervention (to help speed up the extra ½ cent sales tax collection), the Purple Line will get only as far as the West L. A. V. A. Hospital by 2036!!!! Then there’ll be another 9 miles or so to get to the beach. I think we’re looking at the year 20XX. The sooner it’s built, the better!
Proofgeog,
I agree, let’s get it done! (But, p.s., it’s only 3.5 miles from the VA to the beach.)
http://goo.gl/maps/CUZU
Carter Rubin
Contributor, The Source
In the battle between Metro and Beverly Hills over Metro’s plans for a subway under Beverly Hills High School, it is Beverly Hills who will win in court.
It has been proven that a tunnel under BHHS would be too dangerous.
However, Metro has been a bully in this matter while turning the other way when it came to the facts.
Metro has an agenda and they do not care about the dangers or what others think.
Metro even hired people who were not qualified to do their jobs, but since those people were yes people for Metro, the studies they did were put forth as Metro’s own facts.
Santa Monica Boulevard has no active earthquake faults even though Metro says otherwise.
The boulevard is where the tunnel was supposed to go.
Metro changed its mind and used the excuse of the false dangers of what an earthquake would do to the subway there.
Metro is bent on putting their tunnel under BHHS.
It would be better for all concerned to put it under Santa Monica Blvd.
Metro knows that, but their self interest motives are what is behind their plans.
Among those motives are real estate deals.
They have said just about anything to get their way.
Metro’s studies and reports have been incomplete and false.
The people of Beverly Hills will not be lied to.
The facts and truths of this matter will be exposed before the court of law.
When that happens, Metro will lose.
George Vreeland Hill