Westside Subway Extension

Transcription

1 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Westside Subway Extension Community Update Meeting August 2009

2 Purpose of Tonight s Meeting Summary of Comments from Public Scoping Update on Alternatives Construction Overview

3 Westside Subway Extension Study Area

4 Alignments Presented During Environmental Scoping Wilshire Subway Wilshire/West Hollywood Subway

5 Other Alternatives Required for Further Study No Build Service improvements to existing Metro Red/Purple Lines by 2035 Assumes new rail lines with Measure R funding identified through 2035 Exposition LRT Phase 2, Crenshaw, Regional Connector, etc. Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Lower-cost improvements to maximize efficiency of existing road & transit networks

6 Possible Schedule for EIS/EIR & Beyond 0 18 Months 21 Months 33 Min. 6 Years to?* Draft EIS/EIR Final EIS/EIR/PE Final Design Construction* Metro Board Approved Alternatives Analysis Study Metro Board Selects LPA Federal Approval for Preliminary Engineering (PE) Federal Record of Decision (Certification) Full Funding Grant Agreement * Depends on Funding Availability

7 Summary of Input Received During Public Scoping

8 Draft EIS/EIR Scoping Comments 6 Public Scoping meetings 342 people attended 91 speakers 30 handed in written comments 135 comments sent in

9 Most Heard Scoping Comments Overwhelming support for subway Accelerate schedule & lengthen initial segment(s) of subway Connect with existing & future rail

10 Most Heard Scoping Comments (Cont d) Construction impacts & potential mitigations Tunneling under private property Station area parking Station-specific comments (e.g. Crenshaw, West LA) Traffic impacts

11 Update on Alternatives

12 Refinement of Build Alternatives Since Scoping Initial focus: Narrow options for each station location Next steps: Further refine stations & alignments

13 Build Alternative: Wilshire Subway

14 Build Alternative: Wilshire/West Hollywood Subway

15 Century City Station 3 station options identified Santa Monica Boulevard Constellation Boulevard Avenue of the Stars Avenue of the Stars eliminated Alignment under golf course Longer route, more travel time & higher cost Under many private properties Continue to study Santa Monica Boulevard Constellation Boulevard Alignments

16 Westwood Station 4 station options identified Le Conte Westwood (N/S) Wilshire/Westwood (on-street) Wilshire/UCLA (off-street) Le Conte & Westwood (N/S) eliminated require alignment under cemetery greater construction impacts in Westwood Village Continue to study 2 Wilshire Boulevard station options & alignments

17 West Los Angeles Station (i.e. West of I-405) Additional 1-2 stations needed between Westwood & Bundy 4 Station options identified: Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital Federal Barrington Bundy Federal eliminated Close to Barrington Impact on sensitive property Continuing Study of interim terminus (MOS 3): VA Hospital Serves important destination Park & ride possibility Possible off-street construction Barrington High boardings projected Bundy Too far west for MOS 3 Potentially part of further westward subway extension

18 West Hollywood Alignment San Vicente Boulevard alignment selected over La Cienega Boulevard Allows a station west of La Cienega Better located in commercial & activity center of West Hollywood Will also continue to evaluate possible transfer station at Wilshire/La Cienega

19 Metro is Now Further Refining Build Alternatives Decisions about stations Optional Crenshaw station Alternative locations at: Westwood, Century City, West LA & Wilshire/La Cienega Location-specific details Station entrance(s), station urban design, parking & engineering Decisions about alignments Identify best possible alignments Define alignment details Metro Purple Line: Wilshire/Western Station Metro riders boarding Red Line

20 Identify Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) LPA: Project identified to be environmentally cleared through the Final EIS/EIR Must be both: Eligible & highly competitive for federal new starts funding Able to be built & operated within projected available funding Also incorporates decisions about Minimum Operable Segments (MOS) Measure R Expenditure Plan identifies $4.1 billion for the Westside Subway Extension over 30 years

21 Metro Soils Investigation Currently Underway Conducting geotechnical testing & gathering soil samples at about 70 locations throughout study area Drill rig along Wilshire Boulevard

22 Construction Overview

23 Identifying Construction Impacts During Draft EIS/EIR Identify how project will be constructed and its impacts Tunnel & station construction processes Construction staging & soil removal locations Materials hauling routes & other traffic considerations Air, noise, vibration & other impacts Possible mitigations During Final EIS/EIR Adopt construction mitigation plan Factors in making construction decisions Engineering/Technical Cost Timing Community Input

24 How a Subway is Constructed Tunnels Use tunnel boring machines (TBMs) Stations Excavated under decked-over streets or off-street Twin Tunnels on Eastside Extension

25 21 st Century Subway Tunneling New generation TBMs maintain pressure in surrounding earth Reduces risk of settlement It is possible to tunnel and operate a subway along the Wilshire Corridor safely (APTA Peer Review, 2005) TBM maintains pressure in surrounding earth as it tunnels

26 Recent Metro Tunneling Experience Gold Line Eastside Extension: 1.8 mile tunnel segment 2 underground subway stations No measurable surface subsidence No substantiated property damage claims Excellent safety record Used pressurized face TBMs Gold Line Eastside Extension Tunnel Soto Street Station Under Construction

27 Typical Steps for Tunneling 1. Prepare site & excavate shaft where TBMs lowered into ground 2. Lower TBMs using cranes 3. Excavate two parallel tunnels (22 ft. diameter) 4. Install precast, gasket-lined, concrete tunnel lining 5. Install rails, electrical & other systems 6. Remove excavated soil at shaft Cross-section of tunnel lining Boring can proceed on each tunnel simultaneously Machines excavate about 50 feet per day

28 Typical On-Street Station Construction Process 1. Relocate utilities as necessary to maintain service 2. Drill soldier piles on station box perimeter at edge of roadway 3. Remove top 12 of soil below existing roadway 4. Install concrete decking in roadway Street Excavation Decking is flush with existing street level so traffic continues to flow Concrete Decking

29 Typical On-Street Construction Process (Cont d) 5. Install shoring & excavate area beneath deck to depth of station 6. Construct station box in excavated area 7. Install station elements/ architectural features 8. Remove decking, repave street & re-open to traffic Construction below ground while traffic continues to flow above

30 Typical Off-Street Station Construction Process 1. Drill soldier piles on station box perimeter 2. Excavate station box 3. Construct station box in excavated area 4. Install station elements & architectural features 5. Cover station box & restore area Wood beams installed between soldier piles Off-street station box excavation

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37 Typical Station Construction Timing 2-5 Months* Drill soldier piles along roadway or around station site Install decking 45 Months Excavate & support station area Construct cast-in-place concrete station & add station elements 2-4 Months* Remove decking & restore street *Most disruptive activities to local community for on-street stations Total = Months Typical Cross Section Station box 600 long x 60 wide x 60 deep (approx.)

38 Construction in Gassy Areas Pressure face TBMs isolate gas from workers & public Gassy soil & tar sands separated and treated appropriately Enhanced ventilation system ensures tunnel & station safety Double gaskets for tunnel lining or other methods as appropriate Soil slurry contains excavated soil in pipe thru tunnel. Gassy soil & tar sands separated & treated as necessary.

39 Disposal of Excavated Material Excavated materials brought to surface Trucks haul material to designated disposal sites Haul routes & times specified beforehand Soil is stockpiled at tunnel shaft before hauling to disposal site Soil hauled away by dump trucks

40 Construction Staging Areas Require up to 2 acres Typically leased for time needed Off-street location immediately adjacent to station box preferred On-street staging possible where sites not available Off-street construction area on Eastside Extension On-street construction area used for 7 th /Metro station

41 Reducing Impacts During Construction Locate soil removal sites near major streets & highways where possible Consider sequencing & timing of all construction steps Locate station boxes off-street where possible Locate staging area adjacent to construction site Aesthetic treatments (e.g. attractive fencing materials) Dust & noise mitigation Construction during night hours may reduce traffic impacts Community input is an important factor

42 Pre-Construction Activities Survey of properties adjacent to tunnels & stations Survey property condition Photographic record Develop detailed survey of community stakeholders & businesses Construction safety campaign Develop community response protocols

43 Outreach During Construction Integrated field office with Metro & Contractor staff Monitor mitigation measures finalized during Final EIS/EIR Creative program tailored for different locations & needs Provide signage & marketing assistance to businesses Parking alternatives Other

44 Summary of Construction Overview Decisions made during Draft EIS/EIR determine impacts Mitigation measures finalized during Final EIS/EIR Greatest impacts at station sites & from soil removal New construction methods Outreach & monitoring during construction Cut & Cover Station Construction on Eastside Extension

45 Upcoming Meetings Fall 2009: Station Area Meetings Locally focused topics Working meeting format Watch for notices Fall/Winter: Quarterly Updates Refinement of alternatives Station details Winter/Spring: Quarterly Updates Continued refinement of alternatives Community Meeting

46 Upcoming Meetings (Cont d) Summer 2010 (estimated): Release of Draft EIS/EIR for Public Comment Study recommendations Recommendation of Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) Formal Public Hearings Fall 2010: Metro Board Consideration Draft EIS/EIR Adoption of LPA Direction to proceed into Final EIS/EIR Community Meeting

47 Upcoming Meetings Tuesday, August 4: Wilshire United Methodist Church Wednesday, August 5: West Hollywood Plummer Park Thursday, August 6: Santa Monica Public Library Tuesday, August 11: Beverly Hills Public Library Wednesday, August 12: Westwood Presbyterian Church Meetings 6 8 PM Materials presented identical at each meeting

48 Staying Involved Jody Litvak, Regional Communications David Mieger, Project Director Information line: Find us on Facebook: Metro Westside Subway Extension

49 Questions or Comments?