Tag Archives: Mark Ridley-Thomas

Metro Board votes to fully fund Leimert Park Village and Hindry stations for Crenshaw/LAX Line

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Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas explains his motion to the Metro Board on Wednesday. Photo: Los Angeles County.

 

Stations at Leimert Park Village and at Hindry and Florence avenues near Westchester for the Crenshaw/LAX Line light rail project were funded today by the Metro Board of Directors, ending a two-year long controversy over whether the stops would be built.

The vote was 10 to 1. The motion by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas included five other co-signers — including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Supervisor/Metro Board Chair Mike Antonovich — meaning supporters only needed to drum up one more vote to secure approval from a majority of the Metro Board.

Voting for were Ridley-Thomas, Villaraigosa, Antonovich, John Fasana, Jose Huizar, Ara Najarian, Pam O'Connor, Don Knabe, Richard Katz and Mel Wilson. The vote against was from Diane DuBois, who expressed concerns about taking reserve fund money from Metro that may be needed later for other purposes.

To read the entire motion, please see this post from earlier today.

The Los Angeles City Council voted on Wednesday to use $55 million in Measure R local return money to help build the two stations — $40 million for Leimert Park Village and $15 million for Hindry.

The motion directs Metro to add another $80 million to that from Metro's general fund for the coming year's fiscal budget. The motion says that it will cost up to $120 million to build the undergroud Leimert Park Village station and $15 million for the street-level Hindry station.

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Notes from today’s Metro Board of Director’s meeting; Director Diane DuBois calls for staff report on fare restructuring

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A few notes from today’s mostly uneventful meeting of the Metro Board:

•Board Member Vice Chair Diane DuBois offered a motion — approved by the Board — that Metro staff produce a report for the April meetings that looks at fare restructuring. She asked that the report include a variety of possible scenarios, including time-based fares, low cash fares, premium fares for premium services and other ideas that would fully utilitze the capabilities of TAP cards.

DuBois wants the report as part of the item to be heard next month on issuing a public notice to change the Measure R expenditure plan to accommodate a future project acceleration plan. “As we move forward with acceleration plans we have to make sure we are financial stable,” she said. “I know this is a very sensitive subject, but I also know we have to pay for what we do.”

As regular Source readers know, this is a subject debated frequently by readers on our comment board. I want to emphasize that the motion calls only for a report by staff next month; no action will be taken to actually restructure fares.

•Board Member Mark Ridley-Thomas complained about lack of diversity on the workforce performing utility relocation work for the Crenshaw/LAX Line. “The public comment this morning is not without basis,” he said, referring to speakers who complained about lack of opportunities to find work.

Metro staff said the contractor handling utility work has not fully complied with federal diversity law and that staff is meeting with the contractor to fix that. Metro is also trying to comply with federal rules that place limits on local hiring. In following public comment, longtime civil rights leader Pastor James M. Lawson, Jr., offered a strong rebuke of the Board and urged them to do more to create jobs for the black community.

•Glendale Ara Najarian announced that he was successfully re-appointed to the Metro Board of Directors. He said that he and fellow Board Member John Fasana have spoken and pledged to work together on the many issues they share and agree on.

•The Board voted to authorize Metro to enter into an exclusive negotiation agreement with the nonprofit A Community of Friends to develop 53 units of affordable housing — including some supportive housing — on vacant Metro property at 1st and Lorena in Boyle Heights. Supportive housing is providing apartments for people who have been homeless or others who need help living independently; there will be services staff to help provide for tenants.

Board Member and Los Angeles Councilman Jose Huizar complained there was not adequate public outreach for the project and that the development had substantially changed with a reduction in retail space. Board Member and Supervisors Gloria Molina and Mark Ridley-Thomas both said that the developer has done good work in their districts.

A Huizar motion to deny the project and begin with a new RFP failed.

Here’s the staff report on the project.

Officials hold event for ExpressLanes opening on 10 freeway tonight

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Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas speaks at this morning's event. At right is Duarte Councilman and Metro Board Member John Fasana, who served as M.C. for the event. From left that's Metro CEO Art Leahy, Assemblyman Ed Chau, Assemblyman Roger Hernandez and Rep. Judy Chu. Also present for the event but not in this photo were L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Rep. Grace Napolitano. Photo: Steve Hymon/Metro.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas speaks at this morning’s event. At right is Duarte Councilman and Metro Board Member John Fasana, who served as M.C. for the event. From left that’s Metro CEO Art Leahy, Assemblyman Ed Chau, Assemblyman Roger Hernandez and Rep. Judy Chu. Also present for the event but not in this photo were L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Rep. Grace Napolitano. Photo: Steve Hymon/Metro.

A look at the soon-to-be ExpressLanes on the eastbound 10 freeway. Photo by Anna Chen/Metro.

A look at the soon-to-be ExpressLanes on the eastbound 10 freeway. Photo by Anna Chen/Metro.

With clear skies above and a sound weather forecast, everything looks like a go for the ExpressLanes on the I-10 to officially begin at 12:01 a.m. tonight.

Or to put it another way, if you want to use the lanes after midnight tonight, you need to have a transponder in your vehicle — unless you’re on a motorcycle with a standard California license plate. Many more details about the ExpressLanes can be found on our earlier post.

As for the press event today at El Monte Station, the many public officials on hand ran through those details and said repeatedly that they believe the new ExpressLanes will add capacity to the 10 freeway and speed up trips for motorists. Rep. Judy Chu pointed out the new lanes on the 10 will help carpoolers, transit users, single motorists who are willing to pay a toll and even those who would use the general lanes.

Perhaps the boldest prediction came from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “We’re going to take advantage of the fact that this region is willing to try new things,” he said. “…One day we’re going to have HOT lanes throughout the region.”

Obviously, the future is not written in stone and the ExpressLanes are a one-year experiment, largely funded by the federal government. As the year proceeds, Metro officials say they are going to keep tinkering with the program to give the ExpressLanes the best chance to succeed.

New shuttle debuts this holiday weekend from Expo La Cienega Station to Baldwin Hills Scenic Overview

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TheLink3

The office of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas has announced a new Link shuttle bus service from the Metro Expo La Cienega Station to Baldwin Hills Scenic Overview and Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area will start Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013.

The new Baldwin Hills Parklands Shuttle will run only on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every 20 minutes. This weekend the service will be free, after that the fare will be 25 cents. Continue reading →

Transportation headlines, Thursday, Oct. 18

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Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.

Honolulu is in the midst of a light rail versus bus rapid transit debate. Above the Orange Line's Reseda Station. Photo by Dan Reed, via Flickr creative commons.

BRT costs less than rail but it offers less and is a safety hazard (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

In this opinion piece, Supervisor and Metro Board Member offers his perspective on a light rail versus bus rapid transit debate that is ongoing in Honolulu. And he doesn't mince words, explaining that he fought for the Crenshaw/LAX Line to be light rail because of several advantages he believes it holds over bus rapid transit. In particular, it's faster, more reliable and would do more to elevate the quality of life in neighborhoods near the line.

Ridley-Thomas also says that in Los Angeles, the Orange Line was a good option because it was built on an existing rail right-of-way and didn't disrupt existing streets. But he says the Orange Line has also offered some lessons — it's slower than he said was promised (only reducing travel time by 29 seconds per mile, he says) and it has to deal with too many intersections (unlike grade-separated trains).

Pretty interesting read! Of course, many light rail lines — including the Crenshaw/LAX Line — will still have to deal with at-grade crossings, although many of Metro Rail's crossings are gated. In the case of the Crenshaw/LAX Line, about half of the line will be below ground or on aerial structures — one reason the budget for the project is $1.75 billion. The Star-Advertiser requires registration in order to see articles.

Expo Line to Santa Monica going full throttle (Curbed LA)

Even with a lawsuit from homeowners in the Cheviot Hills area before the state Supreme Court, construction is visible at many sites on the Expo Phase 2 route.

A giant step for L.A. (ZevWeb)

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky's website has a nice feature on Margot Ocanas, the city of Los Angeles' new (and first) pedestrian coordinator. Excerpt:

Their mission: making life better for walkers on streets that often were built mostly to enable automobiles get from Point A to Point B as efficiently as possible. The tools of transformation include reshaping lanes and crosswalks, changing signs and signals—anything to foster calmer corridors and reduce the “raceway mentality” that’s rampant on many streets.

South L.A. opposition to Measure J (Intersections South L.A./USC)

A brief look at several groups, including the Bus Riders Union, opposed to the ballot measure seeking to extend the Measure R half-cent sales tax from 2039 to 2069 in order to accelerate transit and road projects.

 

Transportation headlines, Friday, October 12

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Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.

The Endeavour resting this morning near LAX in preparation for its two-day journey to the California Science Center. Photo by David Islas via Flickr creative commons; click above for a larger view. The Expo Line is your best bet transit-wise to see the shuttle on Saturday as it approaches Exposition Park.

Good morning, folks. Headlines is back after a short break. I’ll probably need a couple of days to catch up on the latest news from transpo-world that I think is worthy of your attention. In the meantime, let’s begin with everyone’s favorite topic…TAP cards!

The latest Metrolink TAP solution (L.A. Streetsblog)

Writer Dana Gabbard, who has long covered the TAP saga, looks at the latest proposal from Metrolink on how to deal with locked gates at Metro Rail stations. The problem, of course, is that Metrolink customers have paper tickets that won’t get them through Metro’s locked gates.

And the solution to be considered by the Metrolink Board of Directors? Provide paper TAP cards to those who buy Metrolink one-way, round-trip, weekly and weekend tickets and provide temporary 30-day TAP cards to Metrolink customers with a monthly pass. To say the least, Dana is unimpressed that after years of implementing TAP, the paper TAP cards will initially be distributed by hand to Metrolink passengers.

How to see Endeavour ride into the sunset (ZevWeb)

The space shuttle’s journey is scheduled to resume at about 1:30 p.m. this afternoon as it heads toward the California Science Center. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s website offers tips on where to see the shuttle enroute — it’s a little tricky — along with other interesting facts about the big move.

Measure J hopes to extend half-cent sales tax (KPCC)

The radio station talks to very few proponents and opponents of the proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot to continue the Measure R sales tax until the year 2069 in order to accelerate transit and road projects. The story doesn’t dig very deep into the proposal.

Beverly Hills school board opposes Measure J (L.A. Times)

The Times donates 352 words of real estate on its website to the less-than-shocking news that the Board of the Beverly Hills Unified School District opposes Measure J. The BHUSD has sued Metro to try to stop tunneling for the Westside Subway Extension under the Beverly Hills High campus and Measure J proposes to accelerate subway construction. I wonder if the Times will publish stories about every city council or school board that resolves one way or the other on Measure J.

Transit tax may hurt Gov. Brown’s Prop 30, Ridley-Thomas warns (L.A. Times)

News that’s actually interesting: Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, also a member, of the Metro Board of Directors, tells a community forum that having Measure J on the same ballot as Prop 30 will lead voters to believe they’re being over-taxed and that if Brown’s tax measure fails, counties already struggling financially will have to contend with more budget cuts. Metro Board Member Richard Katz provides the counter-view, saying that Prop 30 appears of Measure J on the ballot and that Prop 30 is facing serious opposition from both the left and right.

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Metro Board votes 10-3 to ask county voters to extend Measure R sales tax to 2069

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The Metro Board of Directors on Thursday voted 10 to 3 to ask Los Angeles County voters to extend the Measure R half-cent sales tax for 30 years beyond its 2039 expiration date to possibly accelerate transit and road projects funded by the original Measure R while creating jobs in the region.

The three ‘no’ votes came from Supervisors Mike Antonovich, Don Knabe and Mark Ridley-Thomas. The remaining members of the Board voted ‘yes.’

The Board had to decide between an indefinite extension of Measure R, a 30-year extension and leaving Measure R as is. Metro staff proposed an indefinite extension but the Board chose to back a motion by Directors Diane DuBois and Richard Katz to go with the 30-year option.

The Board hopes to put the issue to voters in November when a high turnout is expected because of the presidential election. In order for that to happen, the state Legislature must first approve a state bill, AB 1446 (by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles), that if signed by Gov. Jerry Brown would allow the Measure R extension on the ballot. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors must also vote to allow the item on the November ballot.

Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa said after the vote that the extension proposal was backed by a wide coalition who viewed an expanded transit system as a way to make Los Angeles County look and function better while creating jobs in the process.

Villariagosa also noted that a new transportation funding bill pending in Congress would include an expanded federal TIFIA low-interest loan program. A Measure R extension could allow Metro to leverage those loans into potentially hundreds of millions of dollars for project acceleration.

Metro staff are recommending an extension of Measure R as a way to possibly complete the 12 Measure R transit projects by the mid-2020s and have the projects under construction within five years; the staff report is here (pdf). Under current plans, six Measure R plans would not have been complete until the late 2020s or 2030s but now may be accelerated. The projects are:

•The Westside Subway Extension to Westwood

•The Eastside Gold Line Extension to South El Monte or Whittier

•The Metro Connector to LAX

•The Green Line South Bay Extension to Torrance

•The West Santa Ana Branch Corridor project

•The Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor project

In addition, a Measure R extension would help fund the Regional Connector, which is currently planned for a 2019 completion.

Metro staff says that an extension of Measure R would allow them to use future Measure R revenues beyond the year 2039 to pay back loans and/or bonds that could be used to accelerate the projects. The Measure R extension proposal, however, does not obligate Metro to take any loans or sell any bonds.

Continue reading →

Metro officials announce advanced utility relocation work contract for Crenshaw/LAX Line

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L.A. Mayor and Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa and Supervisor and Metro Board Member Mark Ridley-Thomas along with other officials at this morning's announcement.

Here’s the news release from Metro:

Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa joined Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board member Mark Ridley-Thomas today to announce the beginning of the advanced utility relocation work for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor construction project which is the first contract awarded under Metro’s  new Project Labor Agreement, a pact between Metro and the building trades to implement a targeted hiring program that will help provide jobs to economically disadvantaged workers.

“The Crenshaw/LAX light rail line will provide a vital transportation link for this community and our entire city,” said Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa. “By utilizing Metro’s Project Labor Agreement Program for this project we are getting Angelenos back to work and creating job opportunities for those who need them the most.”

 

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Transportation headlines, Monday, May 21

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Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.

Metro bus operator Alan Thomas.

Slain Metro bus operator identified 

The Metro bus operator shot and killed in West Hollywood on Sunday morning has been identified as Alan Thomas, 51, a five-year veteran of Metro. A vigil is being planned by Alan’s colleagues for Monday evening.

A 41-year-old suspect is being held on $1-million bail, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The suspect was the lone passenger on the 105 line bus at the time of the slaying — witnesses and officials said that the suspect shot Thomas and then climbed out a bus window before surrendering.

A Metro supervisor who was nearby was the first at the scene and summoned help. Two guns were recovered from the bus, including a sawed-off shotgun.

Metro CEO Art Leahy was at the crime scene and visited the downtown bus division where Alan was based. Leahy said he would do everything possible to make grief counseling available to Alan’s colleagues. Metro says it is the first killing of a bus operator since 1967.

Each and every day and night, hundreds of bus and train operators around the region quietly do their jobs to ensure that the public gets where they’re going safely. Alan’s death is an unspeakable tragedy and The Source offers its heartfelt condolences to his family and many friends and colleagues at Metro.

Expo Line junction prompts special inspections (L.A. Times)

The junction of the Blue and Expo lines in downtown Los Angeles had a design flaw that prompted Metro and the state Public Utilities Commission to agree on a series of inspections to make sure everything remains in good working order. As originally built, the junction caused excess wear on the wheels of Blue Line vehicles, which make a sharp curve there. The issue has been fixed to the satisfaction of the state and Metro continues to inspect the track to make sure everything continues working as intended. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas — who is on the boards that oversee Metro and the Expo Line Construction Authority — said he had not previously heard of the issue.

Los Angeles lives by car but learns to embrace bikes (New York Times)

Several events — most notably the CicLAvia held in April and the city of L.A.’s push to build more bike lanes — inspire the Times to look at the emerging cycling scene around Los Angeles. Several advocates are quoted that cycling is on the rise, including commuting to work by bike. Is it? To my eye, yes — but hard numbers are hard to come by. The most recent U.S. Census data shows 67.3 percent of the city’s workers drive alone to work, 10.8 percent carpooled, 11 percent took public transit, 3.5 percent walked, 2.3 percent went by “other means” (including bikes) and 5.2 percent worked at home.

Paramount Boulevard bridge reopens (KCBS)

The new bridge over the 60 freeway reopened 115 days after the previous bridge was destroyed in tanker truck fire. An opening was planned for June 1, but when the new, widened bridge was completed late last week, Caltrans reopened it without fanfare or ceremony.

 

Transportation headlines, Thursday, Feb. 23

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Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.

L.A. mobility meetings coming to a neighborhood near you this weekend and next.

Los Angeles Mobility Element community meetings start this weekend (The Source)

Just a quick reminder that there are two community meetings this Saturday — and two more next Saturday — at which the public can help the city of L.A. shape its transportation policies. More details at the link above.

9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Van Nuys City Hall
14410 Sylvan St.
Van Nuys, CA 91401		 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
LACMA West
6067 W Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Google Transit: How (and why) the search giant is remapping public transportation (Xconomy)

Xconomy, a news website covering “business, life sciences, and technology news,” has this invaluable piece about how Google transformed the way transit information is used and shared with the public. The key part seems to be that Google was able to use its clout to establish a standardized format with which transit agencies could disseminate information about bus schedules and transit stop locations. This spurred agencies to share more information with app developers and led to a wave of useful digital tools for commuters.

Why I ride the bus (KCRW UnFictional)

This 30 minute radio feature delves into the life of one unique L.A. transit rider. Host Bob Carlson tells the story of a man who gave up his car and took up commuting via the Metro Local 180, thanks to a decade-long bout of narcolepsy that left him prone to nod off at any moment — including once behind the wheel at a red light. Unfortunately, I think the storytelling leans a bit too heavily on some well-worn cliches about the relationship between those irrevocably car-lovin’ Angelenos and their transit system. But it’s well worth a listen all the same.

Architectural sites that define our community (Mark Ridley-Thomas)

County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’ staff has produced a web feature that highlights some of the architectural gems in the county’s second district. Two of the landmarks featured — Watts Towers and Exposition Park — jump out at me as being accessible via the Metro Rail Blue Line and soon-to-open Expo Line, respectively. Click the link and let us know in the comments if you think any of the other places mentioned are worth a trip via Metro.