Two routes for subway to be studied
By Sue Doyle, Staff Writer
Updated: 04/06/2009 11:36:56 PM PDT
The long-awaited, multi-billion dollar subway link from Mid-Wilshire to the sea inched forward Monday when county transportation officials said they would begin an 18-month environmental study of two proposed routes.
Flush with cash from a 30-year, half-percent sales tax voters approved last year, Metro, the Los Angeles County's transportation agency, announced plans to analyze plans for a 12.5-mile line to run below Wilshire Boulevard. The line is expected to cost $6.1 billion.
Also being studied is a longer line that would start at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue and run below Santa Monica Boulevard through West Hollywood before linking to the Wilshire Boulevard line - a 17-mile route. That line would cost $9 billion.
Neither plan would be complete before 2034.
The renewed focus on the two plans is possible thanks to last year's voter-approved Measure R, which gives the Westside subway $4.1 billion - enough to start the project but not enough to build it to the ocean.
"Now with Measure R, there is really a substantial amount of funding for this," said Jody Litvak, Metro community relations manager for the Westside extension project. "It's a huge change from where we were several months ago."
The line will be built in segments, as the agency seeks additional money to continue tunneling to the beach.
Beginning next week, the agency will host several public meetings to discuss routes, hear passenger
Advertisement
preferences for station locations and parking and hear concerns about vibrations, noise and air quality during construction.
Under one plan, the line would start at Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue, today's terminus for the Purple Line subway. It would continue below Wilshire, zip around Century City and Westwood and end at Fourth Street in Santa Monica.
A second plan includes the Wilshire route, but would start at Hollywood and Highland, a major station for the Red Line subway.
The route would run south on Highland and then head west on Santa Monica Boulevard before turning south on either La Cienega or San Vicente boulevards - to be decided in the environmental impact report.
Either way, the line would connect to Wilshire Boulevard and then head to the ocean.
The environmental report should be completed next spring and be available to the public within months. Metro's board expects to review the study during summer 2010.
If a plan is approved, construction could begin in 21/2 years.
Metro is counting on federal money to pay for half of the cost of the subway construction. To receive federal money, Metro must complete the environmental report.
When the economy rebounds, the agency will seek public-private partnerships and money from Sacramento, said David Mieger, Metro project director.
"Hopefully the state economy won't be in terrible shape forever and it will come back," Mieger said.
sue.doyle@dailynews.com 818-713-3741
By Sue Doyle, Staff Writer
Updated: 04/06/2009 11:36:56 PM PDT
The long-awaited, multi-billion dollar subway link from Mid-Wilshire to the sea inched forward Monday when county transportation officials said they would begin an 18-month environmental study of two proposed routes.
Flush with cash from a 30-year, half-percent sales tax voters approved last year, Metro, the Los Angeles County's transportation agency, announced plans to analyze plans for a 12.5-mile line to run below Wilshire Boulevard. The line is expected to cost $6.1 billion.
Also being studied is a longer line that would start at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue and run below Santa Monica Boulevard through West Hollywood before linking to the Wilshire Boulevard line - a 17-mile route. That line would cost $9 billion.
Neither plan would be complete before 2034.
The renewed focus on the two plans is possible thanks to last year's voter-approved Measure R, which gives the Westside subway $4.1 billion - enough to start the project but not enough to build it to the ocean.
"Now with Measure R, there is really a substantial amount of funding for this," said Jody Litvak, Metro community relations manager for the Westside extension project. "It's a huge change from where we were several months ago."
The line will be built in segments, as the agency seeks additional money to continue tunneling to the beach.
Beginning next week, the agency will host several public meetings to discuss routes, hear passenger
Advertisement
preferences for station locations and parking and hear concerns about vibrations, noise and air quality during construction.
Under one plan, the line would start at Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue, today's terminus for the Purple Line subway. It would continue below Wilshire, zip around Century City and Westwood and end at Fourth Street in Santa Monica.
A second plan includes the Wilshire route, but would start at Hollywood and Highland, a major station for the Red Line subway.
The route would run south on Highland and then head west on Santa Monica Boulevard before turning south on either La Cienega or San Vicente boulevards - to be decided in the environmental impact report.
Either way, the line would connect to Wilshire Boulevard and then head to the ocean.
The environmental report should be completed next spring and be available to the public within months. Metro's board expects to review the study during summer 2010.
If a plan is approved, construction could begin in 21/2 years.
Metro is counting on federal money to pay for half of the cost of the subway construction. To receive federal money, Metro must complete the environmental report.
When the economy rebounds, the agency will seek public-private partnerships and money from Sacramento, said David Mieger, Metro project director.
"Hopefully the state economy won't be in terrible shape forever and it will come back," Mieger said.
sue.doyle@dailynews.com 818-713-3741
No comments:
Post a Comment