Pdf for download and printing here. Audio from meeting.

•Metro CEO Phil Washington announced that Metro would issue request for proposals for public private partnerships (PPPs) for three projects: the Sepulveda Transit Corridor, West Santa Ana Branch Corridor and Metro ExpressLanes. The PPPs could lead to significant cost savings and also accelerate those projects. Source post

•On a related note, Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti announced he’ll soon be releasing details on an effort to build 28 transportation projects by 2028, when the Los Angeles area will be hosting the Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

•The Board received and filed a staff proposal on the factors to be used by Metro to accelerate or decelerate Measure M projects. “Our hope is that we would through this policy incentivize cities to work with us to move projects along,” said Metro CEO Phil Washington. “It’s not our intent or desire to decelerate anything.” Staff report and presentation.

Metro Board Member Paul Krekorian said he was uncomfortable with idea of even having list of factors for deceleration after all the work done to gain support for Measure M. Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti said that he thinks having a process better protects projects from future Boards.

•The Board approved a motion to study potential improvements to Metrolink service between Burbank and the Antelope Valley, in particular how to speed up trips and have more frequent service. A study of the Antelope Valley Line was already in the pipeline and the motion aims to ensure that the northern section of the line is studied for potential improvements. Motion

•The Board received and filed an update on Metro’s long-range transportation plan (LRTP) process. With Measure M having been approved, the LRTP lays out a timeline for the agency’s entire portfolio of projects and programs. Staff report and presentation.

•The Board approved a strategic study of the Metrolink San Bernardino Line and how it might be impacted when the Gold Line opens to Claremont (and Montclair, with necessary funding from San Bernardino County) in 2027. The Gold Line will parallel Metrolink between Pomona and Montclair.

With some riders possibly migrating from Metrolink to the Gold Line, the study will look at how Metrolink and Gold Line services are integrated and what, if any, service or fare changes may be needed. Also to be studied are the location of Metrolink stations in Pomona, Claremont and Montclair and the impact of relocating or closing them. Staff report and motion by four Metro Board Members on the study (thank you to Streetsblog’s Joe Linton for pointing out the motion was revised to include the city of Claremont in the study!).

As part of the discussion on this item, Board Member John Fasana made a point that caught the attention of LAT transportation reporter Laura Nelson:

During a somewhat unrelated discussion, @metrolosangeles director John Fasana said the agency should consider evaluating its fare structure.

— Laura J. Nelson 🦅 (@laura_nelson) September 28, 2017

Fasana asks why a 2-block bus trip should cost the same as a crosstown train ride. (@metrolosangeles charges $1.75, regardless of distance.)

— Laura J. Nelson 🦅 (@laura_nelson) September 28, 2017

There are no proposals on the table to change Metro fares, but the topic of distance-based fares has been oft-discussed on our comment board over the years. FWIW, the Metro regular fare of $1.75 is lower than most other large cities (and includes two hours of free transfers). The regular fare for the New York Subway is $2.75 and for Chicago it’s $2.25 for rail and $2 for bus.

•A motion by several Board Members asking Metro to develop a policy on how to preserve parts of the original rail fleet for historical use or other purposes such as adaptive reuse and training. An addendum by the motion asks Metro to look at other public transit or transportation museums in the U.S. and the possibility of creating such a museum at Union Station. Motion