Westside Subway Extension Community Update Meeting August 2009 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Westside Subway Extension

Community Update Meeting

August 2009

Purpose of Tonight’s Meeting

• Summary of Comments

from Public Scoping

• Update on Alternatives
• Construction Overview

Westside Subway Extension Study Area

Alignments Presented During Environmental Scoping

Wilshire Subway Wilshire/West Hollywood Subway

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

Possible Schedule for EIS/EIR & Beyond

Draft EIS/EIR

Final EIS/EIR/PE

Months 18 21 33 Months

Final Design Construction*

• Metro Board

Approved Alternatives Analysis Study

• Metro Board

Selects LPA

• Federal

Approval for Preliminary Engineering (PE)

• Federal

Record of Decision (Certification)

• Min. 6 Years to ?*

* Depends on Funding

Availability

• Full Funding

Grant Agreement

Summary of Input Received During Public Scoping

Draft EIS/EIR Scoping Comments

• 6 Public Scoping meetings
• 342 people attended
• 91 speakers
• 30 handed in written comments
• 135 comments sent in

Most Heard Scoping Comments

• Overwhelming support

for subway

• Accelerate schedule &

lengthen initial segment(s) of subway

• Connect with existing &

future rail

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

Update on Alternatives

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

Build Alternative: Wilshire Subway

Build Alternative: Wilshire/West Hollywood Subway

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

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

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

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

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 riders boarding Red Line Metro Purple Line: Wilshire/Western Station

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

• ver 30 years

Measure R Expenditure Plan identifies $4.1 billion for the Westside Subway Extension

• ver 30 years

Metro Soils Investigation Currently Underway

• Conducting geotechnical

testing & gathering soil samples at about 70 locations throughout study area

Drill rig along Wilshire Boulevard

Construction Overview

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

How a Subway is Constructed

• Tunnels

– Use tunnel boring machines (TBMs)

• Stations

– Excavated under “decked-over” streets

• r off-street

Twin Tunnels on Eastside Extension

21st 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

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

Soto Street Station Under Construction Gold Line Eastside Extension Tunnel

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

Boring can proceed on each tunnel simultaneously Machines excavate about 50 feet per day Boring can proceed on each tunnel simultaneously Machines excavate about 50 feet per day

Cross-section of tunnel lining

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

Concrete Decking Street Excavation

Decking is flush with existing street level so traffic continues to flow Decking is flush with existing street level so traffic continues to flow

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

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

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 = 48-54 Months

Typical Cross Section Station box 600’ long x 60’ wide x 60’ deep (approx.)

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.

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

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 7th/Metro station

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Meetings (Cont’d)

• Summer 2010 (estimated): Release
• f 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

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

Staying Involved

www.metro.net/westside Jody Litvak, Regional Communications litvakj@metro.net 213.922.1240 David Mieger, Project Director miegerd@metro.net 213.922.3040 Information line: 213.922.6934 Find us on Facebook: Metro Westside Subway Extension

Questions or Comments?