METRO BRIEFING
CITY MANAGERS
AUGUST 2, 2023
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Meeting Purpose WORKING
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2 • Provide overview of project and status
• Share new information
• New operating plan and regional and
local benefits
• Community poll
• Understand cities’ vision and goals
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Presentation Overview WORKING
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3 • Project history, purpose & benefits
• Stakeholder engagement & polling
• Draft EIR Comparison of Alignments &
Alternatives to Project
• Discussion & Next Steps
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Project Overview
One of Four Pillar Projects in LA County
• Funded by: Measure M & R, TIRCP Grant, Local Match
• 2030-2033 Measure M Opening Year
• Origins in Proposition A (1980)
Connects South Bay to rail system via K Line
• 4.5-mile light rail extension connecting South Bay
• Two new stations to connect to two bus centers
• One-seat ride to LAX, Inglewood, and Metro E Line
• Projected daily trips: 11,500-15,600
• Travels through Lawndale, Redondo Beach, Torrance
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4 K
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4 Project Purpose & Benefits
Improve mobility, reduce travel times and
meet travel demand as South Bay grows
• Significant jobs center (jobs projected
to grow 2x faster than population)
• Congested area, projected to worsen by
30% in 2045 (SCAG)
• Infrequent bus service
Provide equitable access to regional
destinations, jobs, schools, etc.
Reduce air pollution and greenhouse
emissions by making transit a viable choice
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2042 Project Work Trips
From South Bay
Access to Regional Connections & Local Bus Centers WORKING DRAFT
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Expo/Crenshaw
Inglewood Entertainment District (SoFi)
Los Angeles International Airport
Torrance Transit Center
Redondo Beach Transit Center
6 K
Significant Travel Time Savings
South Bay Travel Time By Rail Travel Time by Car
(Afternoon Peak)
LAX (AMC/96th) 19 minutes 30-66 minutes
Downtown Inglewood 23.5 minutes 25-55 minutes
SoFi Stadium 28 minutes 25-55 minutes
Expo Line (Expo/Crenshaw) 34.5 minutes 30-66 minutes
Downtown LA
(7th/Metro Center) 58.5 minutes 40-85 minutes
Downtown Santa Monica
63.5 minutes 45-110 minutes
Source: AECOM, STV, 2020, Travel time by vehicle based on google maps driving times in 2023.
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Engagement & Poll
Extensive Outreach (2021 to Present)
• Invested in variety of outreach tools during COVID
• All materials in English and Spanish
• 23,000+ views of videos & 11,000+ views of StoryMaps
• Expanded project noticing to 1-mile area (47,000+
properties)
• 1,800+ people at several rounds of public meetings
• Bus Transit Rider Intercepts: 100+ riders
• Door-to-Door Business Outreach: 520+ businesses
• Multiple pop-up events and briefings
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Torrance
9 Stakeholder Input Themes WORKING
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10 Public Perception Poll in Project Area
• Conducted poll in April/May 2023 of residents
in Lawndale, Redondo Beach & Torrance
• Randomized dialing of cell and land lines
• Metro not revealed as sponsor of poll
• Sample Size: 670 participants
• Torrance: n=249
• Redondo Beach: n=200
• Lawndale: n=221
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11 Survey included
Familiarity w/ Project
How familiar are you with
Metro’s Green Line (also called
“C” Line) light rail extension
from Redondo Beach to
Torrance?
• Very familiar
• Somewhat familiar
• Never heard of it
Support for Project
How much do you support or
oppose Metro’s Green Line
(also called “C” Line) light rail
extension from Redondo Beach
to Torrance?
• Strongly support
• Somewhat support
• Neither support nor
oppose
• Somewhat oppose
• Strongly oppose
Demographics
• Gender
• Age
• Race & Ethnicity
• Income
• Employment
• Education
• Car Ownership
• Commuting Mode
• Zip Code
• Metro Riding Frequency
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12 Majority of residents are familiar with the C Line Ext 17% 15% 14%
32%
43%
40% 48%
41%
40% 44%
37%
27%
Torrance + Redondo Beach + Lawndale TORRANCE REDONDO BEACH LAWNDALE % Familiar With
C Line (Green) Extension to Torrance
Very Familiar
Somewhat Familiar
Never Heard of It
60% Familiar
Q: How much do you support or oppose Metro’s Green Line (also called “C” Line) light rail extension from Redondo Beach to Torrance? Combined three cities column is weighted at the following 2021 ACS 5-Year Estimate: 67% Torrance, 27% Redondo, 12% Lawndale Capital letters (e.g., A, B) indicate significant difference at 95% confidence 56% 63%
73%
n=670 n=249
(A)
n=200
(B)
n=221
(C)
A, B
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13 Majority of residents support the C Line Extension
46% 47% 48%
40%
21% 22% 21%
18%
18% 19% 15%
26%
6% 7% 7% 4%
2% 2% 3%
5%
5% 5% 5% 7%
Torrance+ Redondo Beach + Lawndale TORRANCE REDONDO BEACH LAWNDALE Strongly Support
Somewhat Support
Neither Support nor Oppose
Strongly Oppose
Somewhat Oppose 8% Oppose
67% Support
Q: How much do you support or oppose Metro’s Green Line (also called “C” Line) light rail extension from Redondo Beach to Torrance? / Combined three cities column is weighted at the following 2021 ACS 5-Year Estimate: 67% Torrance, 27% Redondo, 12% Lawndale / Support question asked of all respondents, regardless of familiarity / Capital letters (e.g., A, B) indicate significant difference at 95% confidence / NET Oppose may appear different than Strongly + Somewhat due to rounding Margin of Error (M.O.E) based on 95% confidence.
Don’t Know
69% 69%
58%
6% 9% 12%
% Support/Oppose
C Line (Green) Extension to Torrance
n=249
(A)
n=200
(B)
n=221
(C)
n=670
C C
A (rounded) (rounded) (rounded)
(rounded)
M.O.E. +/- 4% M.O.E. +/- 6% M.O.E. +/- 6%
M.O.E. +/- 6%
M.O.E. +/- 2% M.O.E. +/- 3% M.O.E. +/-4% M.O.E. +/-4%
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14 Summary of Poll
• 60% of residents are familiar with the Project.
• 67% of residents support the Project.
• 8% oppose—with a margin-of-error of +/- 2%
• Support for Measure M (ballot measure) in 2016:
• Lawndale: 73% of voters
• Redondo Beach: 60% of voters supported
• Torrance: 55% of voters supported
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Draft EIR: Comparison of Alignments
& Alternatives to Project
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17 Alignments & Alternatives Studied in Draft EIR
Draft EIR evaluates three light rail alignments:
1. Metro ROW (Elevated/Street Level)
2. Trench Option
3. Hawthorne Blvd Option
South of 190th Street, all three alignments are the same.
Draft EIR includes three Alternatives to Project to avoid or lessen environmental impacts generated by Project:
1. Metro ROW 170TH/182ND St Grade Separated Light
Rail Alternative (Metro ROW “Hybrid”)
2. High Frequency Bus
3. No Project
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17 Potential Station Locations
Torrance Transit Center:
Along ROW
Terminus Station
Direct rail/bus transfer
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South Bay Galleria:
Along Hawthorne Blvd
Lacks connection to RBTC,
approx. ½-mile walk
Redondo Beach Transit Center:
Along ROW south Grant Ave
Direct rail/bus transfer
18 Community Oriented Design & Mitigations WORKING
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19 Metro ROW Elevated/At-Grade WORKING
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20 Metro ROW Elevated/At-Grade WORKING
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• Uses Metro ROW for entire length
• Directly connects to new bus centers
• Adds 3 new neighborhood paths (one per city)
• Upgrades freight crossings to be “quiet zone ready”
to reduce noise/vibration and enhance safety
• Includes sound walls and special trackwork to
mitigate light rail noise
• Significant long-term noise impacts at 170th St
• Concerns of delays at 182nd Street (emergency
responder route)
• Concerns of freight shifting closer to senior living
community near Grant Ave 21
Trench Option (Metro ROW) WORKING
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22 Trench Option (Metro ROW) WORKING
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~40’
• Uses Metro ROW for entire length
• Light rail is separated from street (1.8-miles of trench) • Directly connects to new bus centers
• Adds 3 new neighborhood paths along ROW (one per city) • Provides "quiet zone ready" freight improvements
• Includes sound walls and special trackwork to mitigate light rail noise. No significant long-term noise impacts.
• Results in air quality impact during construction
• Requires deep trench in north due to utility conflicts • Requires sump pump due to high ground water
• Complex construction with secant walls near residential and freight. Longest construction period. 23
Hawthorne Option (Caltrans ROW) WORKING
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24 Hawthorne Option (Caltrans ROW)
• Travels within Caltrans ROW along I-405 and
Hawthorne Blvd.
• Encroachment approval not secured
• NEPA clearance required (2+ years)
• Light rail is fully separated from street
• Highest # of property acquisitions
• Major utility relocations (power lines, storm
drain)
• Lane closures during construction (5-7 years)
affecting:
• 170+ businesses along corridor
• 70,000 vehicles trips/day
• Lacks direct connection to RBTC
• Loss of on-street parking (~20 spaces)
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25 Southern Segment of Project Area WORKING
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All Alignments travel along Metro ROW south of 190th
Street to Torrance Transit Center
26 182nd St
190th St
Metro ROW “Hybrid” (Alternative to Project)
170th St 182nd St
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27 Metro ROW “Hybrid” (Alternative to Project) WORKING
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• Travels along Metro ROW for entire length with direct connections to new bus centers • Includes 3 new walking paths, “quiet zone ready” improvements, sounds walls and noise mitigations • Recommends two grade separations at 170th and 182nd to:
• Eliminate significant long-term noise impacts at 170th St. • Avoid delays to emergency responders at 182nd St.
• Eliminate shift of freight towards senior living community near Grant Ave • Enhance safety at rail crossings along school routes
• Improve operations with fully grade separated light rail line 162nd 170th 182nd
Inglewood
Not to Scale
Artesia
159th160th
161st
Grant
Manhattan Beach
28 High Frequency Bus Alternative WORKING
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4,084
11,570
0 2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
Bus Rail
Daily Project Trips
0 10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
Bus Rail
Daily VMT Savings
Daily VMT Savings
+88%
+65%
Overview
• Connects Redondo
Beach (Marine) Station to
Torrance Transit Center
• 4 stops
• 10-minute headways at peak
• Street-running w/ signal priority,
pending local approvals
Findings
• Rail outperforms bus
29 ~61,300
7,180
No Project Alternative WORKING
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• Does not meet project need and objectives
• Inconsistent with local and regional plans for rail
• Potential loss of $231M TIRCP Grant
• Loss of ridership: 3.6 million project trips/yr
• Reduced access for 1.49 million new riders/yr
• Fails to reduce 19.5 million VMT/yr
• Fails to reduce GHGs: 2,369.4 MTCO2e/yr
• South Bay could lose opportunity for future rail
• Significant & unavoidable long-term impacts:
• Transportation
• Energy
• Land Use
• Air Quality & GHG emissions
30 19.2% 66.4%
7.3%
0.5% 0.2%
6.4%
ROW Elevated/ At-Grade Hawthorne Option Trench Option
Bus Alt ROW Grade Separated Alt No Build/No Project
DEIR Comments Summary
ROW
Elevated/
At-Grade
Hawthorne
Trench
Bus No Project Received 2,200+ comments
• 1,857 individuals
• ~13% address Draft EIR or environmental
issues
1,850 comments are alignment preferences
• 1,228 ROW Elevated/ At-Grade
• 355 Hawthorne Option
• 135 Trench Option
• 119 No Project Alt
• 10 High Frequency Bus Alt
• 3 Metro ROW Hybrid Alt
ROW Elevated/
At-Grade
31 Project Schedule Comparison WORKING
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• Construction schedule includes 25% contingency per FTA between start of final design and start of operations.
• Current construction schedule is unconstrained by funding. • A funding plan and updated construction schedule will be prepared after the Metro Board selects a Locally Preferred Alternative to advance into final design and construction. 32 Construction Cost Comparison WORKING
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33 $1,100 $1,213 $1,483 $1,497
$449
$552
$735 $827 $418
$470
$626 $638
$-
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
Metro ROW
Elevated/At-Grade
(2030)
Metro Hybrid
(2031)
Metro ROW
Trench Option
(2031)
Hawthorne Option
(2032)
$1.96B
$2.96B $2.84B
Follows FTA Guidance
Based on 15% Design
Blue= 2022$ Costs
Orange= Escalation 3.5%
Grey = Contingency (40%)
Secured Funds in
$2031 = ~$1.5B
$2.23B
Escalation is set to midpoint of construction,
which varies by alignment.
Cost estimate is assigned an accuracy range with upper limit of 30%, based industry best practices. As design advances, cost estimates will be updated.
Project Funding
Funding Sources Secured Funding Amount
Measure R (2008) $272 million
Measure M (2015)* $619 million
TIRCP Grant (2018) $231 million
3% Local Match Requirement
Current estimate based on 15% design for Metro
ROW Elevated/At-Grade. Local contribution to be
established at 30% design.
$59 million
Total $1.18 billion
Total Escalated to 2031 (mid-point of construction) $1.55 billion
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*Actual funding amount for Measure M will depend on when Measure M is expended and the actual increase in sales tax.
34 April May June July August Fall
Discussion & Next Steps
March
WE
ARE
HERE
Metro
Board
Review Comments & Survey Data
Prepare Staff Recommendation
Stakeholder Briefings
Jan Feb
Released Draft EIR &
Technical Reports
61-Day Comment Period
With 5 Public Hearings
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35 Project Contact Information
Georgia Sheridan, AICP
Senior Director, Mobility Corridors
[email protected]
213.922.4004
[email protected]
Metro.net/clineext
@metrolosangeles
losangelesmetro
Mark Dierking, Community Relations Manager
Gateway/South Bay
Local Government & External Affairs
[email protected]
Bit.ly/cletstory (Storymap)
Bit.ly/cletvideo (3D Video)
Metro.net/clineext/#documents (DEIR &
Project Materials)
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