The news release is below:

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is currently conducting a Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report (EIS/EIR) for the Westside Subway Extension and will host three Station Area Advisory Meetings to provide community input to Metro subway planners on potential urban design and other features at each proposed station February 22-28, 2011.

The public is welcome to attend these meetings to observe group discussions. Metro staff will be available to answer questions. The Station Area Advisory Group meetings are scheduled as follows:

La Cienega & Rodeo Station Area Advisory Groups

* Tuesday, February 22, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Beverly Hills Library Auditorium, 444 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Served by Metro Line 16/316. Free 2-hour parking is available in the adjacent structure.

Century City & Westwood/UCLA Station Area Advisory Groups

* Wednesday, February 23, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Westwood United Methodist Church – Fellowship Hall, 10497 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Served by Metro Line 20. Free parking is available below Belmont Village, the building east of the Sanctuary. From Wilshire Blvd., use the Belmont Village driveway and proceed under the overhang to the underground parking lot. Park on levels P2, P3 or P4 and take the church elevator in the southwest corner of the parking lot. There will be signs to direct attendees to the meeting room.

La Brea & Fairfax Station Area Advisory Groups

* Monday February 28, 5:30-8:30 p.m., LACMA West – Terrace Room, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Served by Metro Lines 20, 720, 217 & 780. Validated vehicle parking is available in the Museum’s 6th Street underground garage. Enter from 6th and Ogden.

The advisory groups are intended to provide input to Metro subway planners about the design and other features at the proposed stations. Each group consists of about 8-12 individuals who are representative of the residents, businesses, property owners and key institutions around each station. The individuals invited to serve were either suggested directly by local elected officials or working through area organizations suggested by those officials. City staff have also been invited to attend the meetings to listen to the groups and answer questions.

Advisory group meetings will be conducted somewhat differently than community update meetings held for the Westside Subway Extension. The groups are intended to function as roundtable discussions where members will engage with each other and Metro planners on issues specific to the design of each station and station area. Each meeting will begin with a brief presentation, then the individual station groups will break into separate sessions to discuss their specific station.

ADA Accommodation: Special accommodations are available to the public for Metro-sponsored meetings. All requests for reasonable accommodations must be made at least three working days (72 hours) in advance of the scheduled meeting date. Please telephone the project information line at 213.922.6934 or call the California Relay Service at 711.

For more information about the Metro Westside Subway Extension, go to metro.net/westside.