Metro Initiates FEIS/FEIR
On October 28, 2010 the Metro Board of Directors approved the Westside Subway Extension's Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report EIS/EIR, selected the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and authorized preparation of the project's Final EIS/EIR. The anticipated 10-month Final EIS/EIR process will further evaluate a 9-mile Metro Purple Line Subway Extension. Beginning at the current Wilshire/Western station, this project will add seven new stations:
- Wilshire/La Brea
- Wilshire/Fairfax
- Wilshire/La Cienega
- Wilshire/Rodeo
- Century City
- Westwood/UCLA
- Westwood/Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital
Background
Over the past 30 years, tremendous population and employment growth, worsening congestion, changing land use and traffic patterns, as well as Metro’s challenge to meet transit demand, have led to the need to improve mobility on the Westside of Los Angeles.
In fall 2007, Metro began an Alternatives Analysis Study (AA) for the Westside Extension Transit Corridor Study. Over a year-and-a-half, the AA considered whether a transit improvement was needed in the area and evaluated various types of transit improvements and alignments. The AA concluded in January 2009 when the Metro Board of Directors decided to move forward with the Draft EIS/EIR analyzing five subway alternatives.
The Draft EIS/EIR began in Spring 2009 to further refine the alternatives, assess the impacts of those alternatives both during construction and once the system is operating, and to look at possible mitigation measures. Issues addressed as the alternatives were refined included decisions about station locations and ultimate alignments. The Draft EIS/EIR process concluded in October 2010 with Metro’s staff recommendation for a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) that is now in the Final EIS/EIR process.
Metro and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are partnering to meet the requirements of both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Final EIS/EIR Study 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 for public review, including responses to comments received during the Draft EIS/EIR |
Winter 2011/12 |
| Metro Board Approval & Certification of Final EIS/EIR, including selection of remaining alignment and station alternatives |
Early 2012 |
More Information
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Westside Extension Transit Corridor Overview
Last Revised:
Wednesday November 16, 2011
