Public Hearing: Westside Subway Extension Project

Information from Metro.net:

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will release its Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report (EIS/R) for the Westside Subway Extension Friday, September 3 and encourages public comment at a series of public hearings now scheduled in September.

The Westside Subway Extension, a Measure R-funded transportation project, would extend Los Angeles' subway system to the Westwood area. The Draft EIS/R evaluates alternatives that would extend the subway from the current Metro Purple Line Wilshire/Western subway terminus, as well as a potential connection to the Metro Red Line at Hollywood/Highland.

Members of the public can participate in one of five hearings to learn more about current project alternatives, and to register their comments or questions.

Wednesday, September 22, 6-8 p.m., Plummer Park – Community Center, 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046. Served by Metro Line 4. Free vehicle and bike parking is available. Russian translation will be provided.

Special ADA accommodations will be available to the public for Metro-sponsored meetings. All requests for reasonable accommodations must be made at least three working days (72 hours) in advance of the scheduled meeting date. Please call the project information line at 213-922-6934. The TDD line is 800-252-9040.

The Draft EIS/R will be available for a 45-day public review period beginning September 3 and concluding October 18. The Metro Board of Directors is expected to consider the Draft EIS/R and select a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) at its October meeting following the public comment period. The LPA is the project that will proceed through final environmental review, preliminary engineering and also compete for federal "New Starts" matching funds. The project is partially funded in the Measure R half-cent sales tax, and is included in the 30/10 Initiative, which seeks to accelerate the completion of 12 countywide transportation projects within 10 years.

The Draft EIS/R will be available for review by visiting www.metro.net/westside and copies made available for review at selected libraries within the project area starting Sept. 3. A list of libraries containing the draft document will be made available on the project web site.

Public comments on the Draft EIS/EIR will be accepted through October 18, 2010. Comments may be submitted via e-mail to westsideextension@metro.net. Alternately, comments can be sent by U.S. mail to: David Mieger, Project Director, One Gateway Plaza, 99-22-5 Los Angeles, CA, 90012. The public also will be able to comment on Metro's web site (metro.net/westside) by clicking on "contact us."