Westside Subway Extension Final EIS/EIR January 2011 Community Update Meetings
Purpose of Tonight s Meeting Background information on planning to date Clarify Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) under study Describe Final EIS/EIR process Subway construction overview Future meetings to address: Geotechnical investigation findings Station locations and alignments Station portal locations Additional construction details
Latest Developments October 28, 2010: Metro Board of Directors Approved Draft EIS/EIR Selected Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) Metro Board selection of LPA at conclusion of Draft EIS/EIR part of the federal approval & funding process Identifies the project to proceed into Final EIS/EIR/PE Authorized start of Final EIS/EIR January 4, 2011: Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Granted permission for LPA to enter Preliminary Engineering (PE) Signifies project is well positioned for acceptance into federal New Starts funding program
Where We are in the Process Alternatives Analysis Draft EIS/EIR Final EIS/EIR/PE Final Design/ Construction 18 Months 18 Months 12 Months Anticipated completion by 2022 17 Alternatives Modes Alignments 5 Subway Alternatives LPA: Purple Line to Westwood/VA The Project We Are Here = Metro Board Decision Point
How We Got Here Alternatives Analysis (2007-08) studied: Need for a transit improvement, alternate modes of travel, mode required to meet demand, numerous alignments, what alignment to build first Draft EIS/EIR (2009-10) studied: Comparative evaluation of 5 alternatives, what s buildable within funding constraints, preliminary ridership data, construction issues, locating stations & portals, impacts & potential mitigation measures Outreach included: 57 meetings hosted by Metro, attended by more than 3,600 people, received over 4,200 comments in all forms
Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) being Studied in Final EIS/EIR
Issues Studied in Draft EIS/EIR (2009-10) 5 subway alternatives assessed for benefits & impacts of: Transportation Traffic Transit Parking Land Use Air Quality/Greenhouse Gases Noise & Vibration Safety & Security Historic Resources Archaeology/Paleontology Socioeconomics Environmental Justice Economic/Fiscal Impacts Communities/Neighborhoods Geotechnical Seismic Soils/Gassy Ground Hazardous Materials Both construction & operations impacts were assessed
Comments/Questions Received During Draft EIS/EIR Comment Period Public Comment Period: September 3, 2010 October 18, 2010 5 Public Hearings Comments from nearly 800 individuals Responses to these comments will be provided in Final EIS/EIR Most frequently heard comments related to Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA): Station locations Century City Westwood/UCLA Westwood/VA Hospital Beverly Hills to Westwood tunnel alignment Accelerate construction schedule Build as much as possible Station access issues Construction impacts Technical issues e.g. traffic & noise impacts
Activities During Final EIS/EIR & PE Complete environmental clearance & Preliminary Engineering (PE): Further geotechnical investigation Potential minor alignment adjustments Select location for 3 westernmost stations Refine details for all stations (e.g. portal locations) Begin development of station art program Refine cost estimates for federal grant Identify potential construction staging locations Identify property for possible acquisition Develop mitigation program Respond to comments on Draft EIS/EIR Note: All decisions made by the Metro Board of Directors at conclusion of the Final EIS/EIR
Additional Geotechnical Investigations Build on tests performed during Draft EIS/EIR Provide further soil & seismic information along LPA Types of testing Soils testing Fault evaluation Noise & vibration testing Work began in December 2010 & will take approximately 4-6 months Results will assist with: Remaining station & alignment recommendations Determining subway construction techniques Borings provide information about soil & where soil layers have shifted indicating a fault
Subway Construction Overview
Subway Construction Overview Tunnels bored by tunnel boring machines (TBMs) with little surface impact Main impact where TBMs lowered into or extracted from the ground & where earth is removed Likely at station locations Stations & crossover tracks built excavating from above either off-street or under decked-over streets Street closures at beginning & end of construction Allows for utility relocation, initial excavation & decking installation, then decking removal & street restoration Ventilation shafts & power sub-stations may also require surface construction if not located at stations
21 st Century Subway Tunneling New generation closed face TBMs maintain pressure in surrounding earth Reduces risk of settlement Excellent experience on recent 1.8 mile tunnel for Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension No measurable surface subsidence No substantiated property damage claims Closed-face TBM maintains pressure in surrounding earth to reduce settlement risk It is possible to tunnel and operate a subway along the Wilshire Corridor safely (APTA Peer Review, 2005)
Metro s Existing Red/Purple Line Subway Tunnels Run under multiple private properties including: Commercial Office Single-family residential Multi-family residential Mostly 50-70 below ground Some as shallow as 30 Hundreds of feet under Santa Monica Mountains No noise/vibration complaints since subway opened
Construction Issues Common for all Westside Subway Extension Stations Challenges of building in dense, mature urban environment: Location of station box (60 x 650 ) Location of crossover tracks (60 x 400 ) Generally appended to station box Location of station portal(s) Construction staging location(s) TBM insertion, removal & soil handling locations Combine with station locations where possible Potentially needed at 3-4 station locations Need to secure property for all listed above Defining haul routes Staging for Vermont/Santa Monica station during Metro Red Line construction (1990 s) Engineering, design & real estate will determine many decisions
Station Portals Metro will build/fund: 2 portals at Westwood/UCLA station 1 portal at all other stations Typically located where construction staging occurs Metro can provide opportunities for additional portals provided by private sector Can be integrated into an existing building Initial portal requires space for: Stairs Escalators Elevators Map case Pylon sign Additional portals may not include all of the above
Need to Secure Construction Staging Sites at Station Locations Most need about 1 acre About 3 acres needed at stations where TBMs are launched/removed & for soils processing Prefer 2 staging sites per station, allowing 2 access points for faster station construction Prefer off-street staging locations immediately adjacent to station box to ease construction and reduce impacts Possible to stage in street, but reduces travel lanes Off-street construction staging at Hollywood & Highland On-street construction staging at 7 th & Flower
Subway Construction Details
Crossover Structures Allows trains to switch to other tracks At end stations to reverse trains Allows service between stations to continue with single-tracking when needed Generally appended to stations resulting in longer station box Non-station crossover structure planned between UCLA & VA Hospital stations Reduces construction impacts to Wilshire Bl Working with GSA and Caltrans to locate under front lawn of Federal Building & in Caltrans property
Mid-Line Ventilation Structures Typical station spacing allows for sufficient venting at stations Mid-line ventilation structures needed when stations are further apart Between Western & La Brea at Crenshaw Between Century City & Westwood Location(s) to be determined Not in single-family residential area
Special Construction Measures Paleontological work Same process used for LACMA parking garage Remove fossils from approximately top 35 of soil Box & store fossils for Page Museum staff Tunnels are expected to be deeper than fossil area Gassy ground Employ special handling methods to: Isolate workers from gases within tunnel Separate soil allowing for different types of disposal if needed Potential open air construction area for improved ventilation Enhanced monitoring & safety measures
Crenshaw Construction Issues NO STATION PLANNED AT THIS LOCATION Metro-owned property on SW corner potentially used for construction staging Permanent ventilation structure likely
La Brea Station Construction Issues Located under Wilshire between Detroit & Sycamore Longer station box to accommodate crossover tracks Potential TBM launch site & soil processing location Metro-owned property on NW corner to be used for staging & portal location Additional construction staging on SW corner desired Special measures likely needed for gassy ground
Fairfax Station Construction Issues Station box to be located under Wilshire from Ogden to west of Fairfax Possible portal sites Adjacent to Johnies (NW corner) At LACMA West/May Co Building (NE corner) Between Orange Grove & Ogden (South side) Staging areas desired on both north & south sides of Wilshire Special measures for: Paleontological work Gassy ground
La Cienega Station Construction Issues Located under Wilshire from La Cienega almost to San Vicente Longer station box to accommodate crossover tracks east of station Potential TBM launch site & soils handling location Identify properties for portal location & staging areas Staging areas desired on both north & south sides of Wilshire
Rodeo Station Construction Issues Station box currently planned between El Camino & Reeves May move east depending on staging location(s) Identify properties for portal location & staging areas
Century City Station Construction Issues: Option #1: Santa Monica Bl/Ave of the Stars Located under middle of Santa Monica between Century Park East & West Station may need to move east to avoid fault zone Geotechnical investigations ongoing Longer station box to accommodate crossover tracks east of station Probable TBM launch site Limited staging area in Santa Monica Bl median Investigating additional staging sites near Century Park East and Constellation Portal location on SE or SW corner of Ave of the Stars/Santa Monica Bl May shift station box toward north side of Santa Monica Bl to ease traffic during construction
Century City Station Construction Issues: Option #2: Constellation Bl/Ave of the Stars Located under Constellation between Century Park East & West Longer station box to accommodate crossover tracks east of station Probable TBM launch site Identify staging locations: Off-street options: NE corner Constellation/Ave of the Stars East side of Century Park East Possible use of Constellation Ave for staging Identify portal locations: JMB (NE corner) Century Plaza Hotel (SW corner) Westfield (mall entrance west of Ave of the Stars)
Westwood/UCLA Station Construction Issues Station box issues: Off-street at UCLA Lot 36 location more challenging due to approval of hotel at Wilshire/Gayley Focus now on location under Wilshire between Westwood & Veteran Staging location at Lot 36 preferred Metro plans to build 2 portals: On UCLA Lot 36 near Wilshire/Gayley At Westwood Bl intersection May be possible to deck only north side of Wilshire Reduces temporary traffic impacts Facilitates access from off-street staging location May require some sidewalk closure during construction
Westwood/VA Hospital Station Construction Issues Southern station option: Station box & construction staging on hospital parking lot as close as possible to Wilshire Bl Need to provide replacement parking for hospital patients & visitors Northern station option: Station box & construction staging on theater parking lot or grassy area as close as possible to Wilshire Bl Need replacement parking Complicates future subway extension west Potential TBM launch site & earth removal location Develop circulation plans to ease station access for subway patrons & separate from VA visitors
Station Area Advisory Groups Providing input for the 4 stations in City of Los Angeles and 2 stations in City of Beverly Hills Will meet in February, April & June 2011 Mid-Wilshire: La Brea & Fairfax stations Beverly Hills: La Cienega & Rodeo stations West: Century City & UCLA stations Potential discussion topics Station design, art & construction Urban design near stations All meetings open to the public About 10 people per station Area residents, businesses & property owners Currently soliciting members based on input from City and County officials
Where We Go From Here 2011 Responses to Comments 2012 Mitigation Measures 2013 2022
Three Community Update Meetings Monday, January 24 LACMA West Wednesday, January 26 Westwood United Methodist Church Live web-cast of this meeting available at metro.net/westside Monday, January 31 Roxbury Park, Beverly Hills All meetings 6pm-8pm. Content will be identical.
Contact us metro.net/westside WestsideExtension@metro.net Jody Litvak, Regional Communications litvakj@metro.net 213.922.1240 David Mieger, Project Director miegerd@metro.net 213.922.3040 Information line: 213.922.6934 Facebook.com/WestsideSubwayExtension Twitter.com/WestsideSubway
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