Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report

General Information Fact Sheet - January 2011 (1.21MB)

Background

Los Angeles is closer than ever to making the long-awaited Westside Subway Extension a reality. With funding available and public support, the project is now undergoing final environmental review through the preparation of a Final Environmental Impact Statement/Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIS/EIR). When built, it will provide a high-capacity, high-speed, dependable alternative for those traveling to LA's "second downtown" including key job destinations such as Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills, Century City, Westwood and the UCLA campus. Over 300,000 people travel into the Westside every day for work from areas throughout the County. It will connect the Westside to the region's growing rail transit network and improve mobility for everyone who lives, works and plays throughout Los Angeles County.

The Westside Subway Extension project is slated to receive partial funding from local Measure R funds, the half-cent sales tax approved by voters in November 2008. The balance is anticipated to come from federal New Starts funds. The Long Range Transportation Plan for Los Angeles County has committed $5.2 billion over the next 25 years to build the project (if the project is completed in 2022).

Project Overview

In fall 2007, Metro began an Alternatives Analysis (AA) study to look at whether a transit improvement was needed on the Westside, and to evaluate a variety of options to improve mobility in the area. This effort looked at various types of rail and non-rail options and as many as 19 different alignments. In January 2009, subway planning moved to the next phase when the Metro Board of Directors approved the AA Study and authorized staff to proceed with the next required step, preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIS/EIR) for the Westside Subway Extension. The Draft EIS/EIR evaluated 5 different subway alignment options.

The Metro Board of Directors approved the Draft EIS/EIR on October 28, 2010 and selected the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the Westside Subway Extension. They also authorized staff to move forward into this final phase of the planning process, preparation of the Final EIS/EIR and Preliminary Engineering (PE) so that the project be eligible to compete for federal "New Starts" matching funds.

Westside Subway Extension Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)

What will be studied in the Final EIS/EIR?

The Final EIS/EIR process will further evaluate the LPA, a 9-mile Purple Line Subway Extension with seven new stations. The Final EIS/EIR is also preparing responses to all comments received during the formal public comment period for the Draft EIS/EIR and conducting PE for the approved LPA. The project includes seven new stations at the following locations:

• Wilshire/La Brea
• Wilshire/Fairfax
• Wilshire/La Cienega
• Wilshire/Rodeo
• Century City
• Westwood/UCLA
• Westwood/VA Campus

Two alignment options between the Wilshire/Rodeo and Century City stations are still under study. 

Anticipated activities during this period include:

• Further geotechnical investigation
• Potential minor alignment adjustments
• Refine station locations, details & design
• Refine cost estimates for federal grant
• Determine construction staging locations
• Develop & commit to mitigation measures
• Develop station art program
• Respond to comments received during the Draft EIS/EIR comment period

Remaining decisions about the subway will be made at the conclusion of the Final EIS/EIR by the Metro Board of Directors. At that time they will be asked to certify the Westside Subway Extension environmental document. Metro will then seek a Record of Decision (ROD) from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Project Schedule

Commence work on the Final EIS/EIR	November 2010
Community Update Meetings	January, March, Summer 2011
Station Area Advisory Group Meetings	February, April, June 2011
Anticipated Release of Final EIS/EIR	September 2011 (estimated)
Metro Board Approval & Certification of Final EIS/EIR	October 2011 (estimated)

How to Stay Involved and Provide Input

Metro invites you to stay involved throughout the study.  You can keep up with developments as the work progresses, leave comments, and let us know how to contact you so we can keep you informed of upcoming meetings and other milestones. We also invite you to join our growing presence on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

You may provide input about the Metro Westside Subway Extension in a number of ways, including:

• Provide verbal or written input at Community Update Meetings
• Mail written input to: David Mieger, Metro, 1 Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-22-5, Los Angeles, CA 90012
• E-mail
• Provide input via online form.
• Leave a comment on our wall or start a discussion on our Facebook page.
• Call our Information Line at 213.922.6934