los angeles mid-city/westside transit corridor - response to...

los angelesmid-city/westside transit corridor

Mid-City/Exposition Light Rail Transit ProjectFinal Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report

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> December 2005

Los Angeles CountyMetropolitan Transportation Authority

response to commentsFEIS/FEIR SUPPLEMENTAL PUBLIC REVIEW PERIODOCTOBER 14 - NOVEMBER 28, 2005

RECORD OF DECISION ATTACHMENT B

Mid-City/Exposition LRT Project Final EIS/EIR

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RESPONSESRESPONSESRESPONSESRESPONSESRESPONSESComments & Responses to the Final EIS/EIR

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

PPPPPublic Review of the Fublic Review of the Fublic Review of the Fublic Review of the Fublic Review of the Final EISinal EISinal EISinal EISinal EIS/EIR/EIR/EIR/EIR/EIR

The supplemental public review period for the Mid-City/Exposition LightRail Transit Project Final EIS/EIR lasted from October 11, 2005 throughNovember 28, 2005. During that time, government agencies, commu-nity, and private organizations, as well as the public at-large, were en-couraged to submit comments on the Final EIS/EIR to Metro. A totalof 184 commentors expressed their views regarding a variety of mat-ters related to the impacts and Mitigation Measures analyzed and pro-posed in the Final EIS/EIR. Commentors names and affiliation can befound in Attachment C-2 of this document. Comment letters were re-ceived via mail, e-mail, and fax. In addition, written comments werereceived at the three Community Open Houses held in neighborhoodsalong the proposed LRT alignment.

Distribution of Comments ReceivedDistribution of Comments ReceivedDistribution of Comments ReceivedDistribution of Comments ReceivedDistribution of Comments Received

Out of the 184 total commentors, 19 were major Federal, State, or localagencies or organizations. 120 comment sheets were received at thethree Community Open Houses held along the alignment area at Vet-erans Memorial Auditorium (51 comment sheets), West Angeles Church(26 comment sheets), and at Exposition Park (43 comment sheets). Themajority of the comment sheets received from the Exposition Park andVeterans Memorial Auditorium Workshops held favorable views of theProject. However, the majority of the comment sheets received fromthe Community Open House held at West Angeles Church were inopposition to the Project. An additional 44 letters and e-mails werereceived from individuals and residents, with approximately half ex-pressing support of the Project.

RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON FINAL EISRESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON FINAL EISRESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON FINAL EISRESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON FINAL EISRESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON FINAL EIS/EIR/EIR/EIR/EIR/EIR Comments and Responses can be found on the following pages:

TTTTTABLE OF CONTENTSABLE OF CONTENTSABLE OF CONTENTSABLE OF CONTENTSABLE OF CONTENTS/LIST OF COMMENTORS/LIST OF COMMENTORS/LIST OF COMMENTORS/LIST OF COMMENTORS/LIST OF COMMENTORS

Name, affiliation, page number ofthe letter of each commentor pages 2 through 5

LETTERS (L) LETTERS (L) LETTERS (L) LETTERS (L) LETTERS (L)

Federal/State/Regional Agencies pages 6 through 13Local Agencies/Organizations/ pages 14 through 166Residents

EMAILS (E) EMAILS (E) EMAILS (E) EMAILS (E) EMAILS (E)

Local Residents/Organizations pages 167 through 210

PUBLIC COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS (PWC) PUBLIC COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS (PWC) PUBLIC COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS (PWC) PUBLIC COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS (PWC) PUBLIC COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS (PWC)

Exposition Park pages 211 through 259West Angeles Church pages 260 through 291Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium pages 292 through 330

Comments & Responses to the Final EIS/EIR

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RESPONSESRESPONSESRESPONSESRESPONSESRESPONSESMid-City/Exposition LRT Project Final EIS/EIR


Name - AffiliationName - AffiliationName - AffiliationName - AffiliationName - Affiliation Page No.Page No.Page No.Page No.Page No.

FFFFFederal, State and Regional Agenciesederal, State and Regional Agenciesederal, State and Regional Agenciesederal, State and Regional Agenciesederal, State and Regional AgenciesJames, Duane - U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency........................6Powell, Cheryl - State of Calif. Dept. of Transportation.......................8Jinbachian, Varoujan - State of Calif. Public UtilitiesCommission...................................................................................10Wallace, Brian - Southern Calif. Assoc. of Governments.................13

Local AgenciesLocal AgenciesLocal AgenciesLocal AgenciesLocal AgenciesJerry, Fulwood - City of Culver City..................................................14Okazaki, James M. - City of Los Angeles............................................87

Local Organizations/ResidentsLocal Organizations/ResidentsLocal Organizations/ResidentsLocal Organizations/ResidentsLocal Organizations/ResidentsFarnum, Margaret - LA Memorial Coliseum Commission.............113Breckell, Mary Ann - LA Trade Technical College.............................115Striegler, Glen - LAUSD..................................................................118Haaga, Jr., Paul G. - Natural History Museum of LA County..........123Tucker, Carol - Baldwin Neighborhood HomeownersAssoc.(HOA)..............................................................................................125Hall, Jessica - Ballona Creek Watershed Task Force..........................129McCullough, Patrick - Expo Neighbors Association........................131Mar Vista Comm. Council...............................................................134Pfeiffer, Michael T. - South Park Stakeholders Group.....................135Reed, Bart - The Transit Coalition...................................................136Luck, James V. - Orthopaedic Hospital.............................................138Brogan, Kevin H. - H&B/Public Storage/La Cienega Prop.............141Bates, J. Michael - The Mobility Group/AEG/Staples Cntr..............143Williams, Curtis D. - USC Campus Dev. and Facilities Mgmt.........145Moran, Thomas H. - USC Business Affairs....................................148Los Angeles Times article - USC.......................................................151Esirgen, Dr. Gokhan - USC employee/Friends 4 Expo....................152Gibby, Jon S. - Calif. Science Center/Expo. Park..............................154Hines, Orlanda - Resident................................................................156Yadegar, Fred - Resident....................................................................157Kennedy, Aileen - Resident...............................................................159



Local Organizations/Residents (cont.)Local Organizations/Residents (cont.)Local Organizations/Residents (cont.)Local Organizations/Residents (cont.)Local Organizations/Residents (cont.)Deen, Susan S. - Resident.................................................................160Helfman, Robert S. - Resident..........................................................145Gordon, Bryan - Resident...............................................................166Tooley, Eric - Resident....................................................................167McFerrin, Peter - Resident..............................................................168Wu, Barbara - LAUSD Office of Environmental Health.................169Epstein, Michael - Southwestern Law School.................................170Perez, Ben - Resident......................................................................171DeSantis, Paul - Resident................................................................172Kassimir, Spence - USC Students for a Expo Metro Line Club........173Levison, David - Resident...............................................................174Ibarra, Leonel - Resident................................................................175Hadley, Vicky - Resident.................................................................176Haroutunian, A. Kenji - Resident....................................................177Oder, Danila - Resident....................................................................178Novak, Bob - Resident....................................................................179Bieker, Robin - Bieker & Co., Inc.-Urban Real [email protected] - Resident.................................................181Fanslow, Kay - Resident.................................................................182Minami, Jean - Baldwin Hills HOA...............................................183Byers, Betty- Resident....................................................................184Byers, Betty - Resident...................................................................185Eubanks, Ellen - Resident...............................................................186Gibbs Zehner, Elizabeth - Resident................................................187Jolles, Mark - Center for Transportation Resource Mgmt.............188Hutchins, Todd - Resident.............................................................190Huang, Rick - Resident..................................................................191McCullough, Patrick - Resident.....................................................192Chaffers, Tasha E. - Resident.........................................................195Covarrubias, Joel - Resident...........................................................196Milroy, Michael - Resident.............................................................197Talley, Jim & Mercedes - Residents.................................................198Mooney, Matthew - Resident..........................................................199


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Local Organizations/Residents (cont.)Local Organizations/Residents (cont.)Local Organizations/Residents (cont.)Local Organizations/Residents (cont.)Local Organizations/Residents (cont.)Mantell, Gregory - Resident..............................................................200Faturos, John - Resident....................................................................201Walker, Daniel - Resident.................................................................202Chang, Bernard - Flower Street Lofts HOA.....................................204Beaver, Richard - Resident...............................................................206Rosenfeld, Harry - Resident.............................................................207Johnson, Russell K. - Resident..........................................................208Willis, Linda - Resident.....................................................................210

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Exposition ParkAdelman, Charles A. - Resident........................................................211Mannos, Allison - Resident..............................................................213Anonymous-1 - Resident..................................................................215Bolkenheide, Alexander - Resident.................................................217McKinney, Jack - Resident................................................................219Wright, Wayne - Resident.................................................................221Quan, Kenneth - Resident................................................................222Cho, Helen - Resident......................................................................223Kennedy, Aileen - Resident...............................................................224Houl, Ariel - USC Student................................................................225Valentine, David - Alexander Science Center School.........................226Valentine, David - Alexander Science Center School.........................227Fizer, Roy Lee - Electric Railway Historic Society..............................228Fizer, Roy Lee Electric Railway Historic Society..............................229Terrzas, Joe - Resident......................................................................230Siddiqui, Sabha - Work at Coalition for Community Health...........231Butler, Samantha - USC Professor...................................................232Santillan, Lisa - USC Student...........................................................233Reilly, Dan - Resident........................................................................234Williams, Albert - USC Student........................................................235Gault, Gloria W. - Resident................................................................236

PPPPPublic Wublic Wublic Wublic Wublic Workshop/Community Open House (cont.)orkshop/Community Open House (cont.)orkshop/Community Open House (cont.)orkshop/Community Open House (cont.)orkshop/Community Open House (cont.)

Exposition Park (cont.)Anonymous-2 - Resident..................................................................237Hentschke, Gib - Resident................................................................238Hentschke, Peggy - Resident............................................................239Crenshaw, Regina - Resident............................................................240Byers, Gilda - Resident.....................................................................241Panott, Ronnie - Resident................................................................242Fader, Sloan - Resident.....................................................................243Anderson, Tait - Resident.................................................................244Gasca, Enrique - Resident................................................................245Pass, Gerald - Friends for EXPO Rail...............................................246Rullo, Cynthia - Resident.................................................................247Roberts, Telly - Resident....................................................................248Metcalfe, Michael - Metcalf Associates.............................................249Chajon R, Jose F. - Resident.............................................................250Williams, Elenore - Cherrywood Block Club Assoc.........................251Wright, Jerard - Vice Pres. Transit Coalition....................................252Hernandez, Dinora - Resident.........................................................253Agustin, Rogie - USC Student..........................................................255Kennedy, Adriene - Resident............................................................256Hill, James - Resident........................................................................257Peterson, Jim - Resident....................................................................258Close, Krysta - USC Staff member....................................................259

West Angeles ChurchKaiser, Samuel A. - BHHA..............................................................260Reyes, Samuel J. - Resident...............................................................262Carr, Derrick - Resident....................................................................263Lloyd, Cory - Resident.......................................................................264Lang, Rachel - Resident....................................................................265Wallace, Beatrice - Cherrywood Block Club Assoc...........................266Evans, Sheena - Resident..................................................................267






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West Angeles Church (cont.)Williams, Florence P. - Resident.......................................................268Babb, Hattie - Resident.....................................................................269Jackson, Shirley - Resident................................................................270Jones, Jerry - Call for Peace Foundation Theater..............................271Ross, David - Resident......................................................................273Jacinto, Silvia - Resident....................................................................275Christian, Mary - Resident...............................................................279Lawson, Myrtle K. - Resident...........................................................280Gordy, Rodney - Resident.................................................................281Horn, Fred - Resident......................................................................282Garvanne, Kelvin - Resident.............................................................283Jones, Lauren - Baldwin Hills Village...............................................284McCree, Delores - Resident..............................................................285Anonymous-3 - Resident..................................................................286Lawson, Theresa - Resident.............................................................287Delapina, Guadalupe - Resident.......................................................288Allen, Di - Resident...........................................................................289Garcia, Josefa - Resident...................................................................290

Veterans Memorial AuditoriumDavidson, Irwin - Resident...............................................................292Brown, Emma Jean - Baldwin Hills HOA........................................293Kaiser, Samuel A. - Baldwin Hills HOA...........................................295Schaffer, George - Resident..............................................................297Wiesenthal, Bettina - Resident..........................................................298Anderson, Loni - Resident................................................................300Burroughs, Presley - Friends for EXPO Rail....................................302Weiner, Elizabeth - Resident............................................................304Bibas, Helen T. - Resident................................................................306Rosato, Jeanne - Coldwell Banker Commercial...............................308McKinstry, Kristal - Resident............................................................309


Veterans Memorial Auditorium (cont.)LaTorre, Tony - Resident...................................................................310Sholam, Lillian - Resident................................................................311Rogers, Ken - Resident.....................................................................312Reich, Peter - Resident.....................................................................313Chestnut, Scott - Resident.................................................................314Mercer, Annette - Resident...............................................................315VanLoo, Mary - Resident.................................................................316Elliot, Phyllis - Resident....................................................................317Heir, Matthew - Friends for EXPO Rail............................................318Thompson, Teresa - Resident...........................................................319Levine, Barry E. - Resident..............................................................320Kobritz, Jill - Friends for EXPO Rail..................................................321Klowden, Kevin - Resident...............................................................322McCurry, Stacy - Resident.................................................................323Stern, Ryan - Friends for EXPO Rail.................................................324VanLoo, Jerry - Resident...................................................................325Johnston, Mark R. - Narp Trac.........................................................326Schiller, Robert - Westside Village Civic Assoc..................................327Forte, Peggy - Resident.....................................................................328Duncan, Darlene - Resident.............................................................329Alpern, Kenneth - Friends for EXPO Rail........................................320Sookman , Scott - Resident...............................................................331Nelson, T.A - Resident......................................................................332Giaves, Thomas - Resident...............................................................333Shaffer, Roberta - CCCHA................................................................334Schieder, Hans - Resident................................................................335Severson, Greg - Westside Village Civic Assoc..................................336Forte, Peggy - Resident.....................................................................337Smith Altshuler, Melinda - Resident................................................338D’Agostino, Victor B. - Resident........................................................339D’Agostino, Victor B. - Resident........................................................340




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Veterans Memorial Auditorium (cont.)Johnson, David - Resident................................................................341Hannon, Jennifer - California Contry Club.....................................342Beaver, Richard - Resident...............................................................343Thompson, Joanne - Resident..........................................................344Rosas Jr., Felipe - Resident................................................................345Lesan, Liz - Resident.........................................................................346Moran, Jaquelyn E. - Resident..........................................................347Castillo, Antonio & Carmen - Residents...........................................348Cherry, Valerie - Resident................................................................349Cheeseboro, Margirt - Resident.......................................................350


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L1-1 Comment is noted. Metro recognizes that EPA has review theFinal EIS/EIR.

L1-2 Metro appreciates the comments that EPA provided on the DraftEIS/EIR in 2001 and made efforts to incorporate EPA’s concernsand suggestiong into the Final EIS/EIR.

L1-3 Comments are noted. Metro is also pleased with the changes in theProject made as a result of comments recieved from EPA.

L1-4 Metro will provide information related to potential exceedences ofNational Ambient Air Quality Standard for particulate matter lessthan 2.5 microns in diameter (pm2.5) and identify mitigationmeasures if warranted as part of the Record of Decision asrequested by EPA.

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L1-5 Comments are noted. Metro is also committed to minimizingconstruction - air quality impacts on schools adjacent to theproposed alignment. Metro and the design/build contractor willcoordinate with Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) infinalizing the construction schedule and construction activities thatare required adjacent schools. Metro will ensure minimized airquality and safety impacts on schools during the constructionphase by implementing SCAQMD recommended controlmeasures, notifying LAUSD when construction will be occuringwithin a half mile of an LAUSD school, and by providingsufficient notices to parents and children of upcoming construc-tion activities.

L1-6 Metro will provide EPA a copy of the Project Record of Decisionwhen signed as requested.

L1-7 Comments are noted.

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L2-1 Comment is noted.

L2-2 Comment noted. Metro will continue to work with Caltransduring the Project Final Design Phase to resolve issues withinCaltrans’ jurisdiction and responsibility including, encroachmentpermits or similar documents, design reviews, coordination andconsultation.

L2-3 Metro will comply with Caltrans and obtain the proper permitsand/or agreements required if any work will be performed withinthe State right-of-way.

L2-4 Metro will continue to work with Caltrans on components of theProject which may affect Caltrans’ jurisdiction.

L2-5 In order to serve such major destinations including Los AngelesTrade Technical College and the University of Southern Califor-nia, Metro will have to maintain the station locations at 23rd Streetand Jefferson Boulevard on the Flower Street Alternative.However, with the assistance and advice of LADOT, Metro hasdeveloped a plan to maintain three southbound traffic lanes and afourth lane devoted to left hand turns on Flower Street once theProject is constructed.

L2-6 Metro will work with Caltrans to develop a joint-use MaintenanceAgreement to address any impacts to the 30th Street pumpingstation as requested.

L2-7 The Metro Staff Recommendation of the Flower Street DesignOption was developed to respond to the City of Los Angeles(LADOT) comments concerning the unacceptable traffic impactson Washington Boulevard from the originally proposed align-ment. Further study showed that the concerns raised by bothLADOT and Caltrans have merit and the Flower Street Alternative(Staff Recommendation) has been developed as a result.

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L2L2L2L2L2 L2-8 The Adams Boulevard overcrossing will not be reconstructed.Modifications to the structure and the Flower Streetovercrossing will be necessary for the Project. The plans forthese modifications are being developed by the Project Develop-ment Team through the Project Report/Project Study Reportprocess.

L2-9 A construction Transportation Management Plan will bedeveloped for any lane closures, detours, and parking restric-tions where Project construction will impact traffic operations atI-110/Exposition Boulevard and Venice Boulevard/RobertsonBoulevard.

L2-10 Metro notes the recommendations from Caltrans to the City ofLos Angeles.

L2-11 The Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority will requirecontractors to secure a Caltrans Transportation Permit for anyover-size or over-weight vehicles on State highways.

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L3L3L3L3L3 L3-1 Comment is noted.

L3-2 The Flower Street Design Option will likely be adopted andimplemented. The Final EIS/EIR must be certified before theapproval of the Project and adoption of specific Design Options.Metro has and will continue to coordinate with LADOT in thepossible implementation of the Flower Street Design Option. TheHazards Analysis report is a Mitigation Measure, which isprepared prior to commencement of Final Design. The reportitself describes design definition and is not representative of FinalDesign configurations.

L3-3 Metro is in agreement with the CPUC that CPUC approval of thedesign of each crossing will occur in the Final Design phase ofthe Project after thorough review of the proposed crossings.L3-1L3-1L3-1L3-1L3-1

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L3L3L3L3L3L3-4 Metro is aware of CPUC’s concerns regarding the Policy. Metro

will continue to coordinate with CPUC on possible future changesto the Policy. The safety of LRT operations and riders, pedestri-ans, and motorists is of great significance to Metro.

L3-5 Metro anticipates a possibility of express trains after LRT opera-tions have commenced. Review and evaluation of the need forexpress trains will be coordinated with input from CPUC.

L3-6 Metro intends on complying with CPUC standards and decsionsregarding devices to be constructed to control motorists. If streetlane configurations must be changed to accomodate alteredcapacity, Metro will coordinate a review of the conditions withLADOT (of other applicable agency) and propose additionalmitigation, if needed.

L3-7 Metro realizes that CPUC will be making decsions on thesilencing of bells on a case-by-case basis and will be aware thatthese decsisions may alter the Project (and/or require furthermitigation).


L3-9 The address provided will be noted for further correspondence.

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L4L4L4L4L4 L4-1 Comment is noted.

L4-2 Comment is noted. Metro made great efforts to incorporatecomments into the Final EIS/EIR.


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