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October
11,
2005 |
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Metro
Releases Final Environmental Impact Report on Proposed Exposition Light
Rail Transit Project; Three Community Open Houses Planned for November Metro
today released the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report (FEIS/FEIR)
on the proposed Exposition Light Rail Transit Project for a 45-day
public circulation period. The
Exposition Light Rail Transit Project, which would operate from downtown
Los Angeles to Venice/Robertson Boulevards in Culver City, will use
local funding instead of federal New Starts funding, thereby keeping the
project on an accelerated schedule for a June 2010 completion. Cost of
the project is $640 million. "This
is a major milestone as we move closer towards actual construction of
this vital transportation project," said Los Angeles Mayor and Metro
Board Chairman Antonio Villaraigosa. "The Exposition Line continues
the expansion of the county's rail transit system and will provide a
viable alternative to driving." The
Exposition Light Rail Line will be approximately 9 miles in length and
will share common track and two stations (7th St. /Metro Center and
Pico/Chick Hearn) with the Metro Blue Line as it leaves downtown Los
Angeles. Just south of downtown the line will proceed west on the
Metro-owned right-of-way on Exposition Boulevard, which parallels the
heavily congested I-10 Freeway, with a terminus at Venice/Robertson. Approximately
eight new stations will be constructed between downtown Los Angeles and
Culver City. A future second phase would extend the Exposition line to
the City of Santa Monica. Next
steps following the public review period will include certification of
the FEIS/FEIR by the Metro Board of Directors in early December and the
issuance of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the project by the Federal
Transit Administration after the Metro Board action. FTA environmental
clearance (as represented by the issuance of the ROD) is needed to
enable the Exposition Construction Authority to award a contract for
design and construction of the project beginning in early 2006. Those
interested in reviewing the FEIS/FEIR can visit community libraries
located along the alignment or access the document on the web at www.metro.net.
Comments on the FEIS/FEIR need to be received by November 28, 2005 and
can be mailed to Anthony Loui, Mid-City/Exposition Transit Corridor
Environmental Project Manger, Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (Metro), One Gateway Plaza, Mailstop 99/22/5,
Los Angeles, Ca 90012 or e-mail to louia@metro.net. Metro
is planning to conduct three community open houses in November to review
details of the project and receive comments on the FEIS/FEIR. The
meetings are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
Metro-140 |