Crenshaw-Prairie Transit Corridor Study Public Meetings Darby Park: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 6:30 8:00 PM US Bank Community Room: Thursday, February 21, 2008 6:30 8:00 PM Nate Holden Performing Arts Center: Saturday, February 23, 2008 10:00 11:30 AM Wilshire United Methodist Church: Monday, February 25, 2008 6:30 8:00 PM 1
Crenshaw Corridor Project Update What is the Project? What We Heard From You Screening the Alternatives Alternatives For Further Study Next Steps Stations Your Ideas Comment/Question & Answer 2
What is the Project? 3
Crenshaw-Prairie Transit Corridor 4 4
Project Study Area Approximately 10 miles north to south (33 square miles) Five jurisdictions 5
Alternatives Analysis Identification of a range of preliminary alternatives - Modes - End points - Alignments - Potential station areas Refine alternatives based on comments from scoping Screen alternatives for further study and evaluation in environmental document 6
Initial Build Alternatives Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Alignment Alternatives Common Crenshaw Blvd. alignment from Wilshire Blvd. to Harbor Subdivision RR ROW Four different alignments south of Florence with service to LAX or through Inglewood to connect to Metro Green Line 7 7
What We Heard From You 8
Summary of Your Comments (from Scoping, October 2007) Mode: Strong support for LRT, less support for BRT Alignment: Consider northern alignment terminus to Wilshire / La Brea as an alternative to Wilshire / Crenshaw Reserve Harbor Subdivision right-of-way for potential regional rail transit Promote connections to LAX and the Metro Green Line Impacts/Design Considerations: Consider grade separations to promote safety Consider traffic impacts Consider environmental justice issues Other: Consider limited funding and potential to delay the project Keep the public informed throughout the planning process 9 9
Screening the Alternatives 10
Screening Alternatives Public Input Initial Alternatives Expanded Alternatives Alternatives for Further Study Technical Analysis for Screening Environmental Analysis, Conceptual Design 11
Screening of Alternatives General Issues Community Compatibility Physical Feasibility Accessibility Cost-Effectiveness Integration with Regional Transit Network Connections with Metro Green Line, Expo Line, Wilshire Corridor, and Metro Rapid network 12
Key Issues for Screening Southern Section Travel markets / Activity centers Connection to Metro Green Line LAX connections Right-of-way constraints Community impacts 13
Initial Screening Southern Section Eliminated Alignment Segments Crenshaw Blvd. Grade issues for LRT Narrow right-of-way Lack of support Community impacts Century Blvd. Inadequate right-of-way High traffic volumes I-405 crossing Hawthorne Blvd. (south of I-105) Minimal travel markets Prairie Ave. Narrow right-of-way Cemetery at edge of right-of-way No direct connection to Metro Green Line Community impacts 14
Detailed Screening Southern Section Screened Alignment Segments Harbor Subdivision La Brea Ave. / Hawthorne Blvd. 15
Detailed Screening Southern Section ` Harbor Subdivision La Brea Hawthorne Access to Downtown Inglewood Access to LAX Connection to Metro Green Line Direct Connection Transfer Connection ROW Owned by Metro Cost Effectiveness Best Worst 16
Alignments for Further Study Southern Section Harbor Subdivision At-Grade Alignment or with Additional Grade Separations 17
Key Issues for Screening Central Section Narrow right-of-way between Martin Luther King Blvd. and Vernon Ave. Narrow right-of-way between 60 th Street and Harbor Subdivision On-street parking Traffic impacts in some constrained street sections Community impacts during construction and operation 18
Alignments for Further Study Central Section At-Grade Alignment Alignment with Additional Grade Separations Constrained at-grade sections may require dedication of a lane for either BRT or LRT Below-grade alignment between Martin Luther King Blvd. and Vernon Ave. Aerial alignment between 60 th Street and Harbor Subdivision 19
Key Issues for Screening Northern Section Connections - Connection with Expo Line - Connection to Wilshire Corridor Narrow right-of-way Traffic and parking impacts Community impacts 20
Detailed Screening Northern Section Characteristics of Alignment Segments Wilshire/Crenshaw Wilshire median Limited right-of-way (as narrow as 70 ft.) Grade issues for LRT On-street parking Community impacts Wilshire/La Brea Narrow right-of-way Grade issues for LRT Community impacts Crenshaw/Expo Direct connection to Expo Line Impacts to intersection at Crenshaw and Expo Blvd. Community impacts Wilshire/Crenshaw Expo Wilshire/La Brea 21
Detailed Screening Northern Section Compatible Land Uses/ Plans Potential Connections to Downtown Los Angeles Potential Connections to Westside Cost Effectiveness Expo/Crenshaw Wilshire/La Brea Wilshire/Crenshaw Best Worst 22
Alignments for Further Study Northern Section LRT Connection to Exposition Line at Crenshaw / Exposition Station BRT In-Street operation to Metro Purple Line Wilshire / Western Station Study feasibility of northern extension to Wilshire / La Brea 23
Alternatives For Further Study 24
LRT Alignment Alternatives Alignment Direct connections from Expo Line to Green Line Via Crenshaw Boulevard and Harbor Subdivision Connections Open to future connection to Wilshire corridor (Wilshire / La Brea) Future LAX People Mover Design Options Potential Grade Separation: Between MLK and Vernon, 60 th St. to Florence, La Brea Ave., and Manchester Ave. Requires Maintenance Facility near ROW 25
BRT Alignment Alternative Alignment Wilshire Corridor to Metro Green Line Via Crenshaw Boulevard and Harbor Subdivision Connections Future LAX People Mover Design Options Mixed-traffic operation north of Exposition Exclusive lanes along Crenshaw Boulevard Exclusive Busway in Harbor Subdivision Regulatory Issues 26
Alternatives for Comparison No Build Includes all existing highway and transit services and facilities committed in the current regional plans. Transportation System Management Improvements to services on Metro Rapid Lines in the corridor: 710 (Crenshaw) and 740 (Crenshaw / La Brea / Hawthorne) 27
What s Next? 28
Projected Milestones Initiate Draft EIR/EIS Spring 2008 Environmental Analysis Spring 2008 Spring 2009 AA/Draft EIS/Draft EIR Spring 2009 Final EIS/Final EIR Spring 2010 Continued Public Outreach Ongoing 29
Evaluating a Competitive Project Cost-Effectiveness Capital and Operating Costs Travel Time Savings Ridership Transit-Supportive Land Use Economic Development Operating Efficiencies Mobility Improvements Environmental Benefits Financial Capability Others 30
Stations Your Ideas 31
Criteria for Location of Stations Activity centers Regional connectivity Technical feasibility / right-of-way availability Community compatibility / transitoriented development Urban design 32
How to Provide Comments Public meetings, comment cards, direct mail, on-line, and information line: Information Line: (213) 922-2736 On-line: www.metro.net/crenshaw Email: crenshaw@metro.net 33
Crenshaw-Prairie Transit Corridor Study Public Meetings Darby Park: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 6:30 8:00 PM US Bank Community Room: Thursday, February 21, 2008 6:30 8:00 PM Nate Holden Performing Arts Center: Saturday, February 23, 2008 10:00 11:30 AM Wilshire United Methodist Church: Monday, February 25, 2008 6:30 8:00 PM 34
Reference Slides 35
Project History Preliminary Planning Study 1994 Route Refinement Study 2000 Major Investment Study 2003 Project is included in the Metro Long-Range Transportation Plan 36
Summary of Scoping Outreach 99,400 invitations to all owners and occupants within one-half mile of alternative alignments More than 30 elected officials briefed 127 attendees at all meetings with 26 speakers providing comments Total of 365 comments received 37 37
Transit Mode Alternatives Rapid Bus in mixed traffic Bus Rapid Transit operating at-grade in exclusive lanes Light Rail Transit operating at-grade, elevated, or below-grade guideway/ exclusive in lanes 38
Mode: Metro Rapid Bus Existing Lines 710 and 740 Operates at-grade in mixed flow Clean fuel (CNG) powered bus with rubber tires Operates at posted speed or flow of traffic Up to 60-foot long articulated bus Capacity: Up to 84 passengers/per bus Approximate Station Spacing: ¾mile Station length: Varies 39
What is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)? Currently operating on Metro Orange Line Operates at-grade in exclusive lane on arterial street or busway in separate ROW Clean fuel (CNG) powered bus with rubber tires 60 mph maximum speed in busway Up to 65 long articulated bus Capacity: Up to 100 passengers/ per bus Approximate Station Spacing: 1 Mile Station length: 200 feet 40
What is Light Rail Transit (LRT)? Currently operating on the Metro Blue, Green and Gold Lines Operates at-grade, below-grade or above grade Exclusive guideway/lane Electrically powered via overhead power connection 55 mph maximum speed Maximum 3 cars per train Capacity: 500 passengers/per train Approximate Station Spacing: 1 mile Station length: 270 feet 41
Issues to be Studied Environmental Analysis Land Use & Development Displacement & Relocation of Existing Uses Safety & Security Traffic, Transit, & Parking Visual & Aesthetic Impacts Air Quality Noise & Vibration Parklands & Other Community Facilities Economic & Fiscal Impacts Environmental Justice Construction, Growth Inducing, & Cumulative Impacts Ecosystems & Biological Resources Geotechnical, Subsurface, Seismic, & Hazardous Materials 42