Preview of July’s Metro Board of Directors meeting

pdf here

The Metro Board of Directors will hold its July meeting this Thursday at 10 a.m. at Metro headquarters adjacent to Union Station in downtown L.A. As always, the meeting is open to the public and will be live-streamed here. Please note the 10 a.m. start, which is new — meetings previously began at 9:30 a.m.

Below are a few of the more interesting items that the Board is scheduled to tackle:

•As part of the NextGen Bus Study to restructure the Metro bus system, the Board will consider adopting “Regional Service Concepts.” The concepts are relatively simple. Faster service. Frequent service throughout the day. Service that reflects current travel patterns and demand. Better network connectivity and less waiting time to transfer. More standardized schedules and better coordination with other bus agencies that operate in L.A. County.

The next step after this action will be for Metro to release the redesigned bus routes this coming winter with public hearings to follow. The goal is to begin implementing our new bus system in June 2020. Staff report with attachments

•In support of the NextGen study, there is also a Board motion calling for Metro to draw up a list of bus infrastructure projects that would help speed up bus service. These could be bus lanes, signal priority, que jumps or island boarding areas. Motion

•The Board will consider authorizing Metro to finalize negotiations with the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority for Metro to commit $126 million to fill a funding shortfall and ensure the first phase of the Gold Line Extension reaches Pomona — where riders can transfer to/from Metrolink’s San Bernardino Line.

The funds would come from Measure M subregion equity funds for the San Gabriel Valley if agreed upon by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. Metro and the Construction Authority would work together on a funding plan to extend the line to Claremont and would coordinate with San Bernardino County to support extending the line to Montclair. Staff report

•The Board will consider adopting a “Micro Mobility Vehicles Pilot Program.” Translated to English that means a set of rules to ensure electric scooters and other similar devices that belong to private firms get parked in areas where they won’t get in your way. And, yes, Metro will be asking private firms to pay a very reasonable fee to allow their scooters, etc., to be parked in designated areas at stations. Staff report

•The Board will consider adopting the Metro Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, which outlines how Metro is fighting and preparing for climate change. The CAAP identifies ways the agency can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, sets emission targets and identifies steps to increase the ability of our system to bounce back and withstand extreme weather and long-term climate impacts. Staff report and attachments.

•There are two staff reports about incrementally improving more trains on Metrolink’s Antelope Valley Line, including the stretch from Union Station in DTLA to Burbank and the entire line to Lancaster. Metro is one of five county transportation agencies that provides funding for Metrolink commuter rail, thus our involvement. There is also a Board motion to support work leading to hourly train service between Union Station and the North County.

In the short-term, more trains could be added — including late night weekend service. More expensive would be making track improvements — and adding track — so that more trains could run on the line. The idea is to get the planning work done so that funding can be pursued for the bigger projects.