Category Archives: Policy & Funding

How to find information about Metro

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Metro fields questions everyday about the agency. Many questions are routine and concern the operation of Metro’s bus and rail lines.

Others, however, aim to get a deeper understanding of how the agency works. In many cases, journalists, citizens, community groups and private businesses use the state Public Records Act seeking information about contracts, ridership data, employee salaries and correspondence dealing with policy decisions.

Like many other government agencies, Metro has in recent years put a lot of information online — more than many people may know about and perhaps not as much as others would like. Not all the information is easy to find and that’s something Metro is trying to improve upon.

In the meantime, here’s a guide to finding some of that information (Journalists should always check with Metro’s media relations department to ensure the information is the most current.):

•Basic facts: The online “Facts At A Glance” provides a good overview about the size of the Metro fleet, ridership, budget and the like. http://www.metro.net/news/facts-glance/

•Salaries: The California State Controller actually has a website with salary information on hundreds of public entities throughout the State.  Here is where you can find Metro’s salary information: http://lgcr.sco.ca.gov/CompensationDetail.aspx?entity=SpecialDistrict&id=15551907000&year=2010&GetCsu=False. Metro’s website also includes a page showing the salaries of the agency’s top executives. http://www.metro.net/about/board/executive-compensation/

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Grand opening ceremony held for new TOD at MacArthur Park station

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Photos by Luis Inzunza/Metro.

Here’s the new release for the ceremony held this morning in the Westlake district of Los Angeles:

June 14, 2012 –McCormack Baron Salazar and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (METRO) are cutting the ribbon on the new MacArthur Park Apartments Phase A Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in the MacArthur Park/Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Grand Opening Ceremony will be held on June 18 at the new development located at 681 South Bonnie Brae Street. With remarks by community leaders, a formal ribbon cutting, and tours of the new sustainable apartments and retail spaces, the event will celebrate the grand opening of the first of two phases that includes 90 affordable apartments, 15,000 square feet of retail, 100 commuter car parking spaces, and 24 bicycle parking spaces. A total of 172 affordable apartments are planned for the two-phase development.

“In a city where the motto once seemed to be ‘Build Now, Plan Later’, we are committed to doing things differently. We are closely linking our ever-expanding transit system with the planning of vibrant, livable neighborhoods,” said Los Angeles Mayor and current MTA chairman Antonio Villaraigosa. “The MacArthur Park Apartments development is a perfect example of how we can become a more livable city by connecting our residents to high-quality affordable housing options and public transit.”

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Metro bus service changes implemented Sunday, June 17, with improved connections to Expo Line

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Just a reminder that bus service changes went into effect Sunday. Here’s the news release from Metro:

Beginning Sunday, June 17, 2012, Metro will implement bus service changes to a number of bus lines throughout Los Angeles County, make adjustments to existing bus lines to better serve the new Metro Expo Line and implement other minor route improvements.

To better serve the newly opened Metro Expo Line now operating between downtown Los Angeles and La Cienega and Jefferson, Metro will implement various route modifications to lines 42, 217, 220, 450, 460, 534, 550, 705, 740, 754, 757, and the Metro Silver Line allowing better bus connections to Expo line stations.

In addition, Metro will implement a new route extension to Line 30 to West Hollywood. Select trips will operate on San Vicente Boulevard between Pico/Rimpau Transit Center and West Hollywood. Service east of downtown Los Angeles will serve 1st Street in both directions and all trips will now operate through the Pico/Rimpau Transit Center.

Metro Line 330 will replace Metro Rapid Line 730 with new peak hour limited stop service making all stops on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles with new stops at Pico/Arlington and Pico/Crenshaw.

Line 305 (Westwood-Leimert Park-South LA-Willowbrook) will be discontinued. Line 305 service on San Vicente Boulevard will be replaced with Lines 30 and 330. Limited Stop Line 363 will be discontinued and replaced with new peak hour service on Line 162 serving all stops on Sherman Way and Lankershim Boulevard.

Line 439 (Downtown LA-Culver City Transit Center via I-10 Freeway) will be discontinued. Service will be provided by Line 217 with all trips extended to the Metro Expo Line La Cienega/Jefferson Station and select trips extended further south along route of former Line 439 to provide new all weekday service to Culver City Transit Center.

A complete list of Metro Bus service changes to be implemented Sunday, June 17, is posted after the jump. For route information visit the timetables and map section of metro.net.

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Local officials rally for Congress to pass a transpo bill

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The officials — including Metro CEO — held a news conference on Thursday. Unfortunately, as we posted earlier, it doesn’t appear that a divided Congress is set to pass a multi-year bill anytime soon.

Below is the press release from the Southern California Assn. of Governments (link is here):

Gas Tax Press Release

Republican proposal to reduce transit funding and deprive Metro of $191 million in funding is turned back in Congress

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I haven’t posted much on efforts in Congress to write and/or pass a new multi-year transportation funding bill because very little — besides a lot of bickering and stalling — has happened in the past three months.

Here’s the latest update on a vote that didn’t move the ball forward, but prevented it from rolling backward — specifically, a vote against a Republican proposal to drastically cut transit funding that would have deprived Metro of $191 million.

Here’s the update from Metro’s government relations staff:

Vast Majority of Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation Votes Against Broun Motion to Instruct that Would Have Cut $191 Million in Federal Funding for Metro

Earlier today, a strong majority of the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation voted against a motion to instruct offered by Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA) that sought to cut federal highway and transit funding by nearly 25% in Federal Fiscal Year 2013.

Adoption of the Broun motion to instruct conferees into law would have resulted in a cut of over $191 million for our agency during Federal Fiscal Year 2013. Specifically, the Broun motion to instruct sought to limit total “funding out of the Highway Trust Fund” in Fiscal Year 2013 to the amount that the Congressional Budget Office currently projects will be deposited in the Trust Fund under current law tax rates (plus interest on balances).

During the past week, our Government Relations staff and Federal advocates have been informing members of the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation of the severe negative impact the Broun motion to instruct conferees would have on our agency. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also opposed the Broun motion to instruct and authored a letter to all House members sharing that, “Cuts of this magnitude would eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs, would curb critical safety programs and would cause a substantial portion of transportation projects to be shelved.”

Of the 53 Members of Congress from California, five voted in support of the Broun motion to instruct which would have cut $191 million in federal transportation funding for our agency; U.S. Representatives John Campbell (R-48), Darrell Issa (R-49), Tom McClintock (R-4), Dana Rohrabacher (R-46) and Ed Royce (R-40).

Gold Line Foothill Extension update

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Work continues to progress on the “Iconic Bridge” that will carry Gold Line Foothill Extension trains over the eastbound 210 freeway.

From Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority CEO Habib Balian: “Skanska is nearly complete with the internal support structure for the I-210 Bridge superstructure. 500 tons of reinforcing steel has been installed along the 584-linear-foot structure, and internal walls are now being formed to support the bridge deck. In the coming weeks, 2,100 cubic yards of concrete will be placed within this area.”

On a related note, here is a story that ran in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune about the Measure R extension proposed by Metro staff. The gist of the story: The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments wants more details about the proposed extension — specifically which local projects it would fund. The big question yet to be resolved: would an extension fund the Gold Line to Claremont or just the first phase to Azusa, the segment now under construction and funded by Measure R? Metro CEO Art Leahy told the COG that language in the original Measure R was ambiguous and Metro staff should have more details soon.

Transit districts revealed as key to growth and jobs; TOD Summit tomorrow at USC

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Here’s the news release from ULI Los Angeles:

Transformative Strategies Will Be Showcased by Metro, U.S. General Services Administration and State of California

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The 3rd annual TOD Summit by ULI Los Angeles will unveil compelling information about how Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is now the most effective development and revitalization tool in Southern California. Among the evidence presented at the TOD Summit will be new data on developments expanding around the Red Line and new Expo Line from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). There will also be news about how Measure R, which provides Los Angeles County with $40 billion in critical transit and highway funding, is transforming our communities with jobs and connectivity.

TOD Summit 2012 – “Staying on Track and Moving Forward” – will include:
Arthur Leahy, Chief Executive Officer, Metro will provide feedback on the opening on the Expo Line and on the dramatic growth surrounding the transit lines throughout LA County.
Frank Giblin, Director of Urban Development, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) on the critical mass of federal workplaces in relation to transportation and other sustainability indicators.

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Some info on state bills that seek to expedite litigation against transit agencies

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Several readers have asked whether recent state bills could potentially expedite litigation against Metro or other transit agencies.

Here’s the good word from Assemblyman Mike Feuer’s office:

•SB 92, signed into law last year, expedited challenges under California environmental law for only the AEG stadium project.

•AB 900, also signed into law last year, was meant to extend similar acceleration of challenges under California environmental law to other types of “leadership projects,” but did not include transportation projects.

•Assemblyman Mike Feuer’s bill, AB 1444, would have expedited the litigation process under California environmental law while preserving judicial review in Superior Court by, among other things, requiring concurrent preparation of the administrative record and the record of proceedings, and his bill applies to all kinds of projects. His bill has been held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. There are similar bills by Asm. Perea and Senator Simitian that would do much the same as AB 1444. If one of the bills passes the Legislature and is signed by the Governor, it would not take effect until Jan. 1 – meaning that it does not apply to litigation filed prior to that date.

On Transportation column: May 30 edition

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The Central Pacific and Union Pacific meet at Promontory Point, Utah, in 1869. Photo: U.S. National Archives.

TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD: There’s a good exhibit at the Huntington Library though July 23 on the planning and construction of the 1,776-mile railroad between Sacramento and Council Bluffs, Nebraska.

To be more specific, that’s 1,776 miles of rail built between 1863 and 1869. To put that in perspective, it took about five years to build the first phase of the Expo Line between downtown L.A. and Culver City. The planning process for both the Westside Subway Extension and Regional Connector took about five years and was recently completed. The 1.9-mile Connector is scheduled to open in 2019 and the first 3.9 miles of the Westside Subway to La Cienega is targeted for a 2020 opening.

Hmmm.The above numbers don’t exactly suggest we’re building things faster these days, eh?

Of course, the Transcontinental Railroad didn’t just happen in six years. There was talk of it going back to the 1830s, many different routes were explored and advocated and the project was only made possible with massive federal help in the form of money and property grants as well as cheap labor.

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Metrolink Board approves fare increase

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Here’s the news release from Metrolink:

LOS ANGELES – After skipping a fare increase last year, the Metrolink Board of Directors approved a seven percent average systemwide fare increase to go into effect on or after July 1, 2012. Funds generated from the increase will be used exclusively to help close a $13 million funding gap for the fiscal year 2012-13 budget.

“This is a last resort to be able to continue to offer the safe transportation options the region needs without cutting service. We’ve streamlined our operations and continue to keep the majority of our costs and headcount flat, despite a nine percent increase in ridership,” said Metrolink Board Chairman Richard Katz. “Last year, we were able to delay an increase to passenger fares and member agency subsidies while increasing train service by 14 percent. This year, despite continued efficient management practices, our costs have increased in large part because of an increase in our operations contracts due to a sweeping nationwide labor negotiation settlement and a 56 percent increase in fuel costs over the past two years.”

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