The hearing before the Metro Board of Directors was requested by the city of Beverly Hills under the state Public Utilities Code. The hearing’s topic: the location of the Century City station for the Westside Subway Extension.

In order to avoid active earthquake faults under Santa Monica Boulevard, Metro staff have recommended locating the station at the intersection of Constellation Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars, which would require subway tunnels to be built under part of the Beverly Hills High School campus. Such a route is opposed by the city of Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills Unified School District.

The Final Environmental Impact/Statement Report for the subway project also determined that a Constellation station would attract more riders because it is centrally located in Century City.

The Board of Directors is not expected to take action today on selecting a subway route and station locations for the second phase of the project between La Cienega Boulevard and Century City or the third phase from Century City to Westwood.

To listen to the hearing over the phone, please call 213-922-6045.

To learn more about the Westside Subway Extension, a project funded in part by the Measure R sales tax increase approved by county voters, please visit www.metro.net/westside.

Here are a couple of links in particular that may be helpful to the public or media who want to know more about the project:

FAQ on construction, construction impacts and mitigation measures

FAQ on geotechnical and fault investigations