(pdf) VermontMay2018Presentation
There are four more community meetings this month for Metro to provide an update on the Vermont Transit Corridor project. The project proposes to build bus rapid transit on Vermont Avenue between Hollywood Boulevard and 120th Street. Meeting dates and times:
Thursday, May 3
6 to 8 p.m.
West Coast University
590 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles
Tuesday, May 8
4 to 6 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
CD8 Constituent Service Center
8475 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles
Thursday, May 10
6 to 8 p.m.
EXPO Center
Roy A. Anderson Recreation Center
3980 Bill Robertson Lane, Los Angeles
The first phase of the technical study for the project was completed in 2017 and identified two potential bus rapid transit concepts for further consideration and review.
The first concept, a “Side Running BRT” option, would convert the traffic lane next to the parking lane to a bus lane. The second concept, a “Side/Center Running BRT,” is a mix — north of Gage the bus lane would be next to the parking lane and south of Gage the traffic lanes in the center would be converted to bus lanes. See page 10 of the presentation.
The second phase of the technical study — requested last year by Metro’s Board of Directors — is now underway and is looking at potential options for converting the project to rail after 2067.
Among the options are light rail, tram/streetcar and a ‘heavy rail’ subway that could possibly link with the Red/Purple Line. The discussion of the initial rail concepts section of the presentation begins on page 13 of the above presentation.
As for the “after 2067” part — that is not a misprint, folks. At this time, there is $425 million in funding for the project from a variety of sources, including Measure M. That’s enough funding for bus rapid transit but not nearly enough for rail even with matching grants from other sources.
Vermont Avenue is already a very busy bus and rail corridor and Metro believes bus rapid transit can deliver a number of service improvements greatly needed. The project team is aiming to finish the technical study in 2019 and then launch the environmental study. This project is also included in Metro’s Twenty-Eight by ’28 Initiative that seeks to complete 28 major transit and road projects before the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
Your thoughts, people? I know you have them! Comment please.
For questions or accommodations about the meetings, please call Lilian De Loza-Gutierrez, Metro Community Relations Manager, at 213.922.7479 or via email at vermontbrt@metro.net