pdf here

The Metro Board of Directors held their May meeting today. The full agenda is above and below is a recap of some of the more interesting items. The webstream should be posted in the next day or so  and I’ll add the link when it’s up. Hopefully that happens in time for holiday weekend viewing! ?

On Thursday, the Board:

•Approved a balanced $6.52-billion budget for Metro for the 2018-19 fiscal year that begins July 1. As the staff report notes, the budget will include $500,000 to begin the draft environmental studies for the Crenshaw Northern Extension project. FWIW, the budget for the current fiscal year is $6.1 billion.

As far as bus and rail service goes, here is a paragraph from the budget:

Improved Bus & Rail Service This year’s proposed budget consists of 8,357,682 Bus and Rail Revenue Service Hours (RSH), an increase of 1.3% from FY18. Bus service hours are expected to increase by 104,081 RSH. Based on current passenger commute patterns, 15,643 RSH are for minor service adjustments to relieve overcrowding. There is an extensive rehabilitation initiative on the Blue Line, known as “New Blue” that will require line segments and stations to be closed while the rehabilitation work is performed. The remaining increase of 78,438 RSH are for Bus Bridge deployment to transport passengers during these closures. Rail service hours consist of a small net increase of 2,172 RSH. This includes an additional 32,147 RSH for service improvements, such as three car consists on the Gold Line and shorter six minute headways on the Green Line to accommodate increased demand in the morning peak hours. This increase is offset by a 29,975 RSH reduction due to “New Blue” service interruptions.

As CEO Phil Washington mentioned in his comments today, the number of three-car Gold Line trains during peak periods recently increased from 10 to 12 (of 22 total). In other words, better odds if you — like me — waiting for the train at the south end of the Union Station platform.

Below are the budget’s revenues and expenses.

In plain English, “Transportation Infrastructure Development” means project construction. The bulk of that money in the coming fiscal year is going to work on the Crenshaw/LAX Line, Purple Line Extension and Regional Connector.

For those who don’t speak jargon, STA is State Transit Assistance, TDA is Transportation Development Act (also funds from the state) and SGR is State of Good Repair (maintenance). Subsidy Funding Programs include things such as fare assistance, funds for other transit agencies in L.A. County and highway projects.

•The Board approved two northern route options (E and G) for the Artesia-to-downtown Los Angeles light rail project known as the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor project. Alternative F was eliminated from further consideration. See the map at right. Source post.

•The Board approved a $45.9-million contract with CH2M Hill, Inc., to perform the environmental studies and design work for the Los Angeles River Bike Path Gap Closure Project to close the eight-mile gap between the Elysian Valley and Vernon. Source post and here’s a cool video.

•The Board approved new, lower Metro Bike Share fares ($1.75 for a single ride, down from $3.50) and also approved a $35.48-million contract with BTS for the third phase of expansion to Culver City, Marina del Rey, Mar Vista and communities surrounding downtown L.A. Staff report on fares and staff report on expansion and a Source post.

•The Board approved a revenue-generating contract with Interactive Communications International for the distribution of TAP gift cards at retail kiosks and major chain stores. The idea is to greatly expand the number of outlets — presently about 400 — where people can buy TAP cards. TAP gift card — could be a great holiday stocking stuffer! Staff report

•The Board approved a $6.77-million contract with Kimley Horn and Associates to do the planning and environmental study for the North Hollywood to Pasadena bus rapid transit project. This is one of the BRT projects funded by Measure M. Staff report. There are a couple of concepts under study — street running and freeway running. Please see this presentation from 2017 that shows both on pages 11 and 12, respectively.

•The Board approved a $5.58-million contract with IBI Group to do the planning and environmental study for the North San Fernando Valley bus rapid transit project. This is another Measure M project that proposes to build an east-west line across the northern Valley. The study area stretches from Chatsworth to Sylmar and San Fernando and includes destinations such as CSUN, the Northridge Fashion Center, the Panorama Mall and medical facilities. Staff report

•The Board authorized Metro to proceed with a Memorandum of Understanding with L.A. County for the development of a transit vocational and boarding school. From the staff report: the school “plans to recruit youth from the County’s safety net, along with youth from across the County, to a college-preparatory boarding academy that specializes in inspiring and training youth to pursue careers in the transportation and infrastructure sectors.”

•The Board approved expanding Metro’s Homeless Outreach Program from two to eight teams. Metro’s current outreach teams patrol the Red Line on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. This item would allow teams to expand to all Metro Rail lines as well as Metro’s overnight bus lines (known as Owl Service).

As part of this item the Board will also received a report on Metro real estate that may be used for homeless services. The five properties identified include three Orange Line parking lots (Reseda, Sherman Way and Van Nuys), the old Division 6 bus yard in Venice and an abandoned right-of-way that had been used for parking in northeast L.A. Staff report

Here’s a presentation:

•Finally, the Board approved a three-year funding agreement for $9.7 million with the CHP to patrol the Metro ExpressLanes on the 10 and 110 freeways. Citations have been increasing, btw, for those pondering trying to cheat the system. Staff report and presentation.