Busway extension gets boost from MTA TRANSIT: Local funds will be used to keep the Orange Line advancing. (Source: LA times)

Busway extension gets boost from MTA - LA Daily News

Busway extension gets boost from MTA
TRANSIT: Local funds will be used to keep the Orange Line advancing.
By Troy Anderson troy.anderson@dailynews.com 213-974-8985 Staff Writer
Updated: 01/29/2010 01:13:49 AM PST

With the state withholding start-up money for the project, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board voted Thursday to use local funds to kick start the $216 million Metro Orange Line Extension from Canoga Park to Chatsworth.

Faced with its own budget troubles, the state could not not give Metro $14.7 million in Proposition 1B bond funds to start the busway extension. So in a 7-0 vote, the Metro board decided to use voter-approved Measure R half-percent sales tax funds instead.

Metro officials hope the state will repay them later.

"This decision helps keep the project on track," Metro spokesman Dave Sotero said.

"Ultimately, it's going to connect Amtrak to Metrolink services in the west portion of the San Fernando Valley with the Orange Line," Sotero said. "That will enable people who are coming in from Ventura County to be able to get into the west part of the Valley."

In what marked the first official project to begin construction under the Measure R transportation sales tax, Metro announced last summer it planned to break ground on the four-mile extension of the Metro Orange Line north from Canoga Station to the Chatsworth Metrolink Station.

But the project was put on hold due to the state budget crisis.

"The vote allows us to use some of Metro's own sales tax money to keep this project moving in lieu of the state's grant, which is not available at the moment," said David Yale, Metro's deputy executive
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officer for regional programming.

With the funding approval, Sotero said the project is expected to begin in March and be completed in 2012.

The extension will add a new north-south busway in the West Valley and create a connection between the Orange Line and Metrolink and Amrak rail system throughout Southern California.

When completed, the extension will transform the Metro-owned right-of-way into an attractive landscaped busway similar to the existing Orange Line corridor, Sotero said. It will include four station stops at Sherman Way, Roscoe Boulevard, Nordhoff Street and Chatsworth, a new 207-space park-and-ride facility at the Sherman Way Station, landscaping and parallel bicycle and pedestrian paths.

"I'm not completely sure whether or not it's going to be as high of potential ridership as people think because our existing local lines between the Chatsworth Metrolink station and Warner Center don't have that high of a ridership," said Kymberleigh Richards, the public and legislative affairs director for Southern California Transit Advocates. "But at the same time ... it does create some connectivity between three of our highest ridership east-west streets - Sherman Way, Roscoe and Nordhoff. That's not a bad thing."

The vote comes as Metro faces a record operating deficit of $279 million, considers cuts in bus and rail service and experiences an 8 percent drop in bus ridership over the past year.

Metro fares are set to increase from $1.25 per ride to $1.50 in July.

"We are working with the board to determine how to bring (the operating deficit) down," Yale said. "Everything is on the table. We have to work with our board to figure out how to close that gap."

Meanwhile, the Metro board voted 7-1 to approve an $11.5 million contract to study the feasibility of six transportation projects, including a controversial proposal to build a tunnel to extend the 710 Freeway from Interstate 10 to the 210 - the famous "missing link" because it would be the final piece in the Southern California freeway system. The project, embroiled in legal battles, has been stymied for decades.

If ultimately approved, transportation officials would have to choose between six corridors to construct the 4.5-10 mile tunnel costing $4-$4.5 billion, said Douglas E. Failing, Metro's executive director of highway programs.

"It would be larger than most of what we see here today in California for transportation tunnels," Failing said. "It would be the same size as tunnels we see in other places around the world - Spain, France and Russia."

Failing said five routes are being considered for the possible tunnel, including one that would connect with Route 2 at the border of Los Angeles and Glendale.

La Ca ada Flintridge Mayor Laura Olhasso objected to the study, saying "developing a strategic assessment and business case for the public-private funding and expedited project delivery of the SR-710 North tunnel project is a commitment to the project prior to environmental review under CEQA."

From LA Daily News: Mayor starts 2nd term today. On transportation, the Orange Line extension to Chatsworth and the Expo Line in the Mid City Area are two of the top projects.

Link: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to be sworn in at 11 a.m. - LA Daily News

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to be sworn in at 11 a.m.
By Rick Orlov, Staff Writer
Updated: 06/30/2009 06:06:36 PM PDT

With the city facing one of its worst economic crises, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will be sworn in today to his second term of office, with a more humble tone and promises of specific goals to get the city moving.

"You can call it a rededication to the job and a demand for accountability," spokesman Matt Szabo said. "Accountability from him and from others."

Villaraigosa, who was re-elected with 55 percent of the vote last March against a crowded field of relatively unknown and underfunded candidates, feels a sense of humility and appreciation in being re-elected to a second term, Szabo said.

At the same time, he recognizes the opportunity he faces as mayor of the nation's second-largest city.

The mayor's inauguration ceremony will be hosted by Los Angeles Lakers point guard Derek Fisher. The ceremony on the south lawn of City Hall will begin at 11 a.m. and will feature Grammy-winning singer Patti Austin performing the national anthem and a flyover from fire department helicopters.

The mayor's sister, Superior Court Judge Mary Lou Villar, will administer his oath of office.

Villaraigosa last week announced he was giving up plans to run for governor in 2010 to focus on his job as mayor. His primary goal for the next four years is to create jobs by retaining firms, helping them expand or bring in new business.

In particular, the mayor is looking to bring in more green and clean tech industries along the Clean Tech Corridor being created between downtown Los Angeles and the Harbor area as well as continued development of biomed and other industries.

"We are looking at everything," said Bud Ovrom, deputy mayor for business development. "Whether it is old-style manufacturing or new clean tech jobs."

Deputy Mayor David Freeman, who served as a harbor commissioner and the general manager of the Department of Water and Power, said he believes the city is in a unique position to take advantage of new technology.

"We have three universities - Cal Tech, USC and UCLA - that graduate more engineers than any other part of the country," Freeman said.

"We have more electric vehicle charging stations than any other part of the country... I think we can move Detroit to Los Angeles."

Szabo said Villaraigosa remains committed to his proposal to clean the Los Angeles environment with efforts such as the clean trucks program at the Harbor among others.

Also, he will continue to pursue those aspects of solar energy development agreed to by most of the public and as outlined in Measure B, the solar initiative rejected by voters.

On transportation, with the Measure R sales tax taking effect today, the mayor is looking at ways to either borrow against it or leverage it to get more federal stimulus money to speed construction on projects.

Szabo said the Orange Line extension to Chatsworth and the Expo Line in the Mid City Area are two of the top projects.

On education, Szabo said the mayor recognizes the role he plays - having helped elect a majority of the Los Angeles Unified school board and having his former top adviser, Ramon Cortines, named superintendent.

The final area to be emphasized by the mayor will be public safety with his continued support of an expanded Los Angeles Police Department while also extending anti-gang programs. The mayor this week launched the second year of the Summer Night Lights program at 16 parks devoted to keeping young people out of gangs.

Inaugural events this year will kick off at 8:30 a.m., with an interfaith breakfast at 1st AME Church with City Hall ceremonies beginning at 10:30 a.m., on the South Lawn. Tickets have been limited.

In addition to the mayor, City Attorney-elect Carmen Trutanich, Controller-elect Wendy Greuel and eight council members - Ed Reyes, Dennis Zine, Paul Koretz, Richard Alarcon, Jan Perry, Bill Rosendahl, Eric Garcetti and Janice Hahn - will be sworn in to office.

From LA Observed: Last car on historic LA railroad tracks that will be taken out to make way for the Orange Line extension

Link: Los Angeles history bits - LA Observed

Kevin Roderick • June 25 2009 10:57 PM

The Orange Line busway extension from Woodland Hills to Chatsworth will follow the route of old Southern Pacific railroad tracks that crossed the Valley starting in 1888. The trains carried out crops, brought in settlers and lumber to build the suburbs, and transported paraplegic GIs to Birmingham Army Hospital (now high school) during World War II. It was the route north up the coast from Los Angeles, via tunnels dug under the Santa Susana Mountains that are still used.

About 900 feet of the historical tracks still remain alongside Canoga Avenue. The last car to occupy those tracks will be loaded up this weekend and taken to Omaha, according to local railroad salvage contractor Dan Huffman. The tracks will then be torn out. I went out and grabbed a one-minute video of the scene, including an Amtrak Surfliner passing by on the active line that intersects with the old route at Plummer Street.

From Stantec: This is a longer version of a previous posting, a Stantec Press Release. It appears courtesy of Stantec, which sent it earlier to this blog this week.

News Release

For Immediate Release

 

Stantec Awarded LA Metro Construction Management Contract

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 20, 2009) TSX, NYSE: STN

 

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has selected Stantec Consulting Inc. (Stantec) to provide construction management support services for its major capital projects.  This seven-year, Indefinite Quantity/Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) contract—inclusive of two, one-year options—will support key projects including the $215.6 million extension of the Canoga Transportation Corridor (CTC) Bus Rapid Transit system; the landmark, $1 billion I-405 Freeway Design-Build Sepulveda Pass Widening; and a new Metro Union Division Bus Maintenance and Operations Facility in Los Angeles.

 

“Stantec’s team will help Metro achieve its vision—leading the nation in safety, mobility, and customer satisfaction—and by accomplishing their specific strategic goals and projects to improve the quality of life here in Southern California,” said Art Hadnett, Stantec’s California Transportation Practice Leader and Project Manager for the assignment. “We will use the talent from across the Stantec organization and our team—which includes 10 specialty subconsultant firms, more than half disadvantaged businesses—to provide Metro with excellent professionals to form integrated construction management teams for these exciting projects.”

 

The contract involves full construction management services including project controls, resident engineering, safety, QA/QC, configuration management, contracts, environmental, claims avoidance, inspection, survey, and rail activation. In addition, an innovative Performance Assessment Review Team will act as an independent advisor to the I-405 Integrated Project Office and management team. As-needed services include partnering, contract compliance, value engineering, cultural resources, materials testing, and risk management.

 

The Canoga Transportation Corridor project will extend 4 miles north from the existing terminus at the Canoga Station and provide transit service into the northern San Fernando Valley, as well as extend the existing bicycle pedestrian facility. Completing the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) network in central Los Angeles, the I-405 project will provide 10 miles of additional HOV lane on the northbound I-405 through the heavily-traveled Sepulveda Pass between I-10 and SR 101. The proposed Metro Union Division Bus Maintenance and Operations Facility will consist of a three-story parking structure and a two-story bus maintenance/office building. Other major capital projects requiring construction management, as identified by Metro, may be included in this contract.

 

Stantec has worked with Metro previously, providing services on the Metro Eastside Light Rail Transit Project and the Advanced Transportation Management System.

 

Stantec provides professional consulting services in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, program, construction/project management, and project economics for infrastructure and facilities projects. We support public and private sector clients in a diverse range of markets in the infrastructure and facilities sector at every stage, from initial concept and financial feasibility to project completion and beyond. Our services are offered through over 10,000 employees operating out of more than 130 locations in North America—including southern California offices in Los Angeles, Irvine, Moreno Valley, Thousand Oaks, Redlands, Palm Desert, and San Diego. Stantec trades on the TSX and on the NYSE under the symbol STN.

 

From the Daily News (formerly the Green Sheet and the Valley News): Orange Line extension is vital for Valley transit

Link: Orange Line extension is vital for Valley transit - LA Daily News

Orange Line extension is vital for Valley transit
Updated: 06/23/2009 04:53:10 PM PDT

CONNECTIVITY is key. The ability to make seamless connections from bus to train to subway makes public transit faster, more convenient and more appealing to potential riders.

That's why the Orange Line extension to Chatsworth is so exciting. The $225 million, four-mile extension will link the busway with the Chatsworth Metrolink station. It will be a great option for workers traveling from the North and West Valley to jobs in Warner Center and Canoga Park, and a further expansion of reliable public transit network in the Valley.

Today's groundbreaking almost takes the sting out of the half-percent sales tax increase for public transit that takes effect July 1. Voters in November approved Measure R, which raises the Los Angeles County sales tax to 8.75 percent for 30 years.

Nobody likes to pay more taxes, especially now when people are already pinching their pennies. But the passage of Measure R provides a reliable stream of funding that allows the MTA to speed up the Orange Line extension construction by three years. So Valley residents will be able to ride the busway extension by 2013, instead of 2016.

The construction along the MTA right-of-way means the eviction of some 60 businesses, including used-car lots, landscaping companies and metal supply stores, which is an unfortunate loss for those owners. This is a tough time to move a business.

But the Orange Line extension works for the greater good of the Valley. Ridership on the existing Orange Line busway, between the North Hollywood Red Line station and Warner Center, has already surpassed MTA's original projections of 22,000 daily boardings by 2020.

Last year, after gas prices hit $4.50 a gallon, commuters flocked to the line for a reasonably priced transit option. Daily boardings hit a record 27,987 in September.

There is clearly pent-up demand for a safe, reliable mode of public transportation, and extending the Orange Line is one more piece to complete the transit puzzle.

From NBC 4: Officials Break Ground on Orange Line Extension

Link: Officials Break Ground on Orange Line Extension | NBC Los Angeles

Officials Break Ground on Orange Line Extension

Updated 4:19 PM PDT, Wed, Jun 24, 2009
Related Topics: Chatsworth

Elected officials and transportation leaders broke ground Wednesday on an extension of the Metro Orange Line that will stretch the popular busway to Chatsworth, making it the first project funded by Measure R tax funds to begin construction.

The $215.6 million project will extend the Orange Line -- which operates on a dedicated busway across the San Fernando Valley -- four miles from its western end point in Canoga Park to the Metrolink/Amtrak station in Chatsworth.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and City Council members Greig Smith and Dennis Zine were among those taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony.

"We knew that this was a great opportunity to connect the dots here in the San Fernando Valley, and bring a system to the valley that will connect the employment centers," Smith said.

The project is expected to create about 3,000 jobs, and have an economic impact of $461 million. The expansion is scheduled to be completed by summer 2012.

"It's just ridiculous paying three dollars a gallon, you know, when I can pay a $1.25 to get all the way there," Orange Line rider Carlos DeSantiago told CBS2.

Los Angeles County voters narrowly approved Measure R in November. With the measure requiring the approval of two-thirds of voters, it received support from 67.41 percent.

The half-cent sales tax was opposed by some residents and officials who said the county's tax rate was high enough. Some also complained that the planned allocation of the tax funds was not equally distributed among various parts of the county.


The lion's share of the funding, 35 percent, will be spent on rail and bus rapid transit projects, including $4.2 billion for a subway connecting downtown with Westwood.

The remaining funding will be split among bus operations, highway projects, system improvements and rail operations, with 15 percent of the total given directly back to local governments for street repairs and other transportation-related projects.

Copyright City News Service