Moving Southern California

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1 Moving Southern California Volume 7, Number 6 June 2012 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Transport Shorts 2 SFV Streetcar 3 Santa Ana ROW 4 Riverside Hot Lanes 5 Metrolink News 6 Orange Line Amenities 7 Upcoming Events 8 Become a Part of The Transit Coalition Want to make a difference in changing the face of transportation in Southern California? Then become a member of The Transit Coalition. Annual membership includes a subscription to our monthly printed newsletter, which features news on current projects and upcoming events. You also get access to our weekly newsletter, which focuses on behind-the-scenes action with political, community and industry leaders not reported elsewhere. Fill out and send our membership form on Page 7 along with your donation to The Transit Coalition and become part of the Solution! The Transit Coalition Metro Adds Night Service and Picks Westside Subway Route By Numan Parada The Metro Board adopted a final route for the Westside Subway and approved a plan to lock the turnstiles at existing subway stations at its May meeting. However, the largest piece of news, which would almost immediately benefit existing rail and bus service, went mostly under the radar. In late summer, some Metro Rail lines will have long-sought later service on Friday and Saturday nights. Other frequency increases are in the works for midday and rush hours and will be implemented on a phased basis. That news comes from adoption by the Board of the FY 2013 budget, which forecasts no shortfalls, no increases in most fares and, barring future Board action, a return of day pass prices to $6. Most importantly, the budget allots money for service increases on Metro Rail and Bus lines. Under the approved budget, Metro would add more than 20,000 bus service hours, an increase of 0.3%, for some of the most overcrowded lines in the system. As for rail, Metro would add more than 131,000 service hours, an increase of 16%. More than 76,000 of those will be used for increasing frequencies on the Blue and Gold Lines. Another 9,000 will be used to extend service hours, and the rest will go towards Expo Line service that is now in operation. The move will address perceived service deficiencies along the Gold Line through Pasadena and the Eastside. This would also bring the Gold Line into the fold of an existing pilot program to extend service hours on the Red, Purple and Blue Lines. The Transit Coalition Photo: The Source launched a campaign in 2011 to request an increase in service on these and other rail lines. The Board adopted a final route for phases 2 and 3 of the 9-mile Westside Subway. Particularly, the Board voted for a Century City alignment under Constellation Ave. instead of Santa Monica Blvd., with the intent of avoiding construction alongside active earthquake faults. The final route also calls for an on-street station for Westwood/UCLA and a station on the south side of Wilshire Blvd. in the Veterans Administration campus. The Century City route was approved despite consternation from Beverly Hills officials who contend that the faults are not active. You will not succeed and we will stop you at every turn, said Beverly Hills Unified School District Board Member Lisa Korbatov. However, the Metro Board and staff were left unmoved by the comment, as were scientific experts present at the meeting. The Santa Monica Fault is an active fault and there s no extra evidence that is going to come in that is going to change that, said Lucy Jones, a seismologist with the US Geological Survey who independently reviewed the project on a pro bono basis. With a route now approved, the Board voted to submit for a loan from the federal government to be used to accelerate subway construction. The Board also voted in favor of the Measure R Extension Principles, which aims to guide the agency towards how it will accelerate Measure R projects should voters approve a future measure to indefinitely keep the increase in sales tax that funds Measure R. (continued on Page 2)

2 The Transit Coalition Bart Reed Executive Director Board of Directors Kenneth S. Alpern, M.D. President Dane Pereslete Secretary Andrew Shaddock Treasurer Kenneth Tanji, Olivia Valentine, Bob Huddy, Stephen Box, Justin Walker and Whitman Lam Board Members Darrell Clarke Advisor TTC Staff Newman Parada Publications Director Faramarz Nabavi Legislative Director Nicholas Ventrone Communications Bill Haller Grants Director Donna Gooley Circulation Director Office: Fax: P.O. Box 567 San Fernando CA Copyright 2012 The Transit Coalition The Transit Coalition (a project of LACBC) is a 501[c](3) non-profit public charity whose goal is to increase transit options and mobility in Southern California by educating and mobilizing citizens to press for sensible public policy to grow our transit network. As a grass roots group, we depend upon your contributions to allow us to pursue our important work, so please donate. The publication of this newsletter is made possible through a generous grant from The David Bohnett Foundation. Paid annual membership includes a subscription to Moving Southern California. Details: Page 7. Letters and articles are welcome on all issues concerning transportation. All are subject to editing and condensation. Published monthly: Volume 7, Number 6 Affiliates: Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition 634 S. Spring Street, Suite 821 Los Angeles CA Night Service & Tunnel Vision The principles call for preserving existing Measure R funding commitments, ensuring geographic equity, and creating opportunities for new projects in the future. According to Metro staff, between 71% and 76% of Los Angeles County residents favor extending Measure R. Extending the measure would create bonding capacity for the agency and allow Metro to take advantage of lower interest rates and thus rein in construction costs, and complete promised projects much sooner. In the most extreme example, Metro would finish the Sepulveda Pass Transit Project by 2020, instead of 2039, a difference of 19 years. Should the state legislature allow Metro to place the matter before voters (through Assembly Bill 1446), a vote could be held this November. The Board also approved a funding framework and initial planning on improvements to the southern end of the Transport Shorts & News Bites By Zach Gutierrez The Westwood FlyAway shuttle service will continue service for another year due to a fare hike and a streamlined schedule. The service ended up with a $167,000 deficit over the past fiscal year, down from a $787,000 deficit the previous fiscal year. There are currently routes operating from Union Station, Van Nuys, Irvine and Westwood. New FlyAway routes may start up in Santa Monica, another route in the San Fernando Valley and the Expo Line corridor. The Irvine route has little promise of continuation due to sparse ridership. Since being transformed into a junction for the Expo Line, the light rail intersection at Washington Blvd. and Flower St. in Downtown LA was revealed to have a design flaw that causes excessive wheel wear and could increase the risk of derailment. Metro modified the junction, which should prevent the wheel wear from occurring and frequent state inspections will ensure that is not happening. Nortrak, the designer of the junction, says it should be redesigned and rebuilt, though that would cost a million dollars and require busing of Blue Line riders around the junction. 710 Freeway and interchanges along the 605 Freeway, both Measure R projects. The Board additionally approved the start of engineering work for a grade separated crossing at Doran Ave. in Glendale, an improvement The Transit Coalition has advocated for throughout the past year. Finally, the Board voted to lock subway turnstiles on a gradual basis, starting with the Wilshire/Normandie Purple Line Station, through the rest of the year. The plan Metro staff presented proposed locking gates at the stations and converting ticket machines completely to TAP. That is, the ticket machines will no longer issue paper tickets with the conversion set to begin in a few more months. During this time, Metro staff will continue to work with other agencies, particularly Metrolink, to fashion new fare media that passengers can use to get through the gates. Source: (continued from Page 1) Several Los Angeles County members of Congress are urging Metro to include the Gold Line Foothill Extension to Claremont in a list of projects that would be funded by a proposed permanent Measure R. Currently, there are plans to put this measure on the November ballot to make the half cent sales tax that funds transit projects in LA County permanent. The California High Speed Rail Authority selected Jeff Morales as their new CEO, replacing Roelof van Ark. Morales served as Caltrans director under Governor Gray Davis, and has been working on the HSR project as a Senior Vice President for Parsons Brinckerhoff. Meanwhile, an initiative to rescind voter-approved bonds for the project received approval to collect signatures; if the signature drive succeeds, voters could decide the matter in November Page 2 Moving Southern California volume 7, number 6

3 volume 7, number 6 Moving Southern California Page 3 Source: The San Fernando Valley Streetcar Project A streetcar line crossing the Northern San Fernando Valley would yield benefits to students and existing riders. SFV is More than Ready for Streetcar Service By Bao Ta, Chase Warmuth, Jason Ackerman and Terry Edwards The California State University Northridge San Fernando Valley Streetcar Team completed a feasibility study that proposes introducing streetcar service in the northwest SF Valley as a means to develop the local economy and to improve transit connections. Studies of existing streetcar systems in the US demonstrate that development of a streetcar route can bring various benefits to local economies. Economic benefits include not only direct short investment in local communities and temporary job creation during the construction phase, but also induced impacts of new commercial and residential development. Experiences in other cities show that Orange Line to Chatsworth... Opens June 30 Metro will open its Orange Line Chatsworth Extension Saturday, June 30. To celebrate, Metro will allow free rides from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., as well as free events at each of the 4 new stations. The Transit Coalition will need volunteers to staff our table during opening day. Can you help? Please contact us at info@thetransitcoalition.us. properties near streetcar routes gain value over time as a result of higher density development. Underutilized spaces which are far away from existing activity centers can become more attractive for development when a streetcar system connects existing and new activity centers. Some studies found that in Tampa, Portland and Seattle, vacant land value increased over 100% in areas near the streetcar routes over a 5 to 6 year period. Residents, living close to streetcar lines, can benefit from the ease of commuting to work and reduced travel cost. For the commercial sector, improved access to transit can increase the number of locals who can access businesses. Also, positive impact on property value may increase over time as a streetcar system may extend its service area and frequency. In Portland, Oregon, the $55 million streetcar line boosted new development by $1.5 billion and the number is still growing. The streetcar route proposed for the SF Valley would connect the Nordhoff Orange Line Station and CSUN in the first phase and CSUN and Van Nuys Blvd. in the second phase, running on Nordhoff St. in its entirety. To encourage streetcar innovation, the project team worked with Chatsworth based TIG/m LLC, Modern Street Railways. The design and retrofitting of the vehicles can be kept local, which keeps money spent on the project in the SF Valley. One peculiar innovation from TIG/m streetcars is that overhead power lines are not necessary, which would save money and dispense with the need of unsightly wiring on streets. The streetcar would operate on two lithium-iron sulfate battery banks and host an onboard clean fuel generator to provide energy for auxiliary power loads such as lighting, air conditioning, and door operation. TIG/m proposes to implement a customized computer controlled management system for each streetcar, which would detect changes or failures in the individual batteries and make automatic adjustments, making maximum battery life attainable. A regenerative braking system would provide a 90% recovery of the energy used to slow down or stop, which amounts to 60% of the energy needed to get back up to the initial speed. These factors allow the streetcar to operate with zero emissions and operate 18 hours a day on a single charge with a battery extender. The first streetcar phase would provide the West Valley with an attractive public transit line to the local university. In addition to offering transit to the campus, the streetcar line would connect riders to shopping outlets and employment centers. A few alignment concepts are on the table, one which includes a route extension running through the CSUN campus. The second phase, terminating at Van Nuys Blvd., would complete a full eastwest connection between major transit corridors. Currently, Metro is gathering information to decide on a major future northsouth transit line that will operate either on Van Nuys Blvd. or Sepulveda Blvd. This proposal offers connections between the proposed Van Nuys Rapidway and the Orange Line. Based on ridership numbers, the highest amount of potential paying riders comes from both of those terminals. The report estimates both phases of the streetcar would generate more than 4,000 daily boardings, cost a total of $193 million to build, and have annual operating expenses of $5 million. To read the rest of this report, visit

4 SCAG Reveals Options for Santa Ana ROW By Numan Parada The Southern California Association of Governments released an initial executive summary of a proposed rapid transit project along a branch of the former Pacific Electric Railway towards Santa Ana. This former PE branch line ran from what is now the Metro Blue Line in Watts southeasterly to Santa Ana until 1950, when the service was cut back to Bellflower. Bellflower lost passenger service in 1958, although freight service continued thereafter. Several old PE stations remain, with the Bellflower station now refurbished. The branch was abandoned in three sections: The Watts-Paramount section in the 1970s, the middle section from Paramount to Stanton in 2003, and the southernmost section from Stanton to Santa Ana in Part of the right-of-way through Lynwood was used to complete the 105 Freeway (and subsequently the Metro Green Line), while the northernmost segment was turned into a local park. The Alternative Analysis study aimed to find ways to provide high-performance public transit between Los Angeles Union Station and Santa Ana using this ROW. Possible technologies the document discussed include light rail, streetcar, bus rapid transit, and maglev. The study also considered no-build and Transportation Systems Management options. According to the study, several factors favor a transit line on this right-of-way. The Corridor is home today to 4.5 million people four times the population of San Diego, California s second largest city, the study explained. By 2035, population will grow by more than 500,000 residents with one in three Los Angeles and Orange County residents living in the Corridor. High residential density (at 12,000 people per square mile), high employment density (at 5,400 jobs per square mile), and a large proportion of low-income households also figured into a need for a transit line. 16% of households in the area currently lack access to an automobile, the study noted. The study also took note of the limited travel options residents and employees have. Connections to Metro and Metrolink are non-existent, and access to job and activity centers remain poor, despite the The study considers technology choices for this corridor. Source:pacificelectriccorridor.or availability of bus systems. SCAG held public meetings over a course of 27 months to receive input on the proposal. Attendees at these meetings have expressed enthusiasm for rapid transit in their area. At each meeting, residents repeatedly pointed out the woefully inadequate bus service that many must currently depend on. Buses run infrequently and within limited hours, with poor coordination between bus systems, according to participants. Attendees also reveled at the opportunity for transit-oriented development in their communities, seeing it as a catalyst for economic growth and a purveyor of pedestrian-friendly lifestyles. There was also a greater desire to see open space and trails along the largely undeveloped right-of-way. When SCAG officials at the meetings presented the technology choices under consideration, participants strongly favored the light rail option. Attendees felt that light rail is a proven technology that can provide the right balance of local and regional transportation for communities on the corridor. Participants felt the station spacing would support community economic development and revitalization needs. Most believed that maglev may work if used at a lower speed with more stops, in contrast to its usual method of deployment as a much speedier connector between two distant locations. Some residents, especially in northern Orange County, felt that a no-build option was (continue on Page 5) Page 4 Moving Southern California volume 7, number 6

5 g volume 7, number 6 (continued from Page 4) the best, citing noise and traffic impact concerns. Bus rapid transit was initially favored by some for its low cost, but its perception as nothing more than a faster bus hampered its appeal. The route towards Los Angeles once off the right-of-way would obviate dedicated lanes, hindering efficiency in comparison to a light rail route. All fixed-guideway options (light rail, streetcar, and maglev) would use the right-of-way from Harbor Blvd. and Westminster Ave. in Santa Ana northwest to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks near the 105 Freeway, just east of the Los Angeles River. Then, the route would follow the tracks north to Gage Ave. in Bell. There, four route options are left for further consideration: Three of them on the west bank of the LA River, one of them on the east bank. All routes would end at Union Station. A bus rapid transit option would gain as many as 67,200 daily riders, 26,600 of which would be new riders, at a cost of $1.1 billion, assuming there are dedicated lanes once off the ROW. The streetcar option, using the third west bank option, would attract 79,000 riders, with 26,000 of those new riders, for $2.9 billion. A light rail option on the same route would attract 87,200 riders, of which 32,800 would be new riders, at a cost of $3.2 billion. A low-speed maglev option would SCAG is looking at 4 options to connect the right-of-way with LA Union Station. Source:pacificelectriccorridor.org bring in 76,000 riders, 28,400 new riders, at a cost of $7.4 billion. In all cases, the West Bank 3 option would provide the fastest end-to-end times, the lowest operations costs and the highest ridership. However, it also had the highest construction costs and would require cumbersome connections with the rest Moving Southern California Page 5 light rail would attract 87,000 daily riders By Nicholas Ventrone The Riverside County Transportation Commission considered adopting a toll policy for the proposed 91 Express Lanes Extension Project in May. The proposed policy will reflect OCTA s policy where 3+ carpools may travel free except during the PM peak hour going eastbound where 3+ carpools would pay 50% of the posted toll. There was no report of whether 3+ carpools would be mandated to have a FasTrak transponder; current OCTA policy requires vehicles to use the device. The Transit Coalition advocates for free open access for such carpools (i.e. no requirement to have a FasTrak transponder). In lieu of charging a 50% toll to carpools during the PM rush hour, The Transit Coalition also advocates for free 24/7 access for any 3+ vehicle while raising the tolls for other traffic. Should the corridor get too heavy, only 3+ carpools should freely use the lanes. An outside study by UC Berkeley shows that this policy would better promote 3+ ridesharing; San Diego and Santa Clara counties use this structure (except local demographics permit for 2+ carpools instead of three). Several other agencies throughout the country also have adopted this policy. If you support free carpool access into Southern California toll lanes without a transponder requirement and would like of Metro Rail at Little Tokyo. At the southern end, all options except maglev would leave the ROW and use city streets, either 17th St. or 1st St., to reach the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center, with connections to Metrolink and Amtrak. SCAG is performing the study, since the project would cross both Los Angeles and Orange Counties. A total of $240 million is available for the project through Measure R. With an Alternative Analysis study now prepared, a SCAG steering committee will make final recommendations in June to be carried forward for environmental studies. Huntington Park officials recently expressed their support for rail in their community by asking for two light rail stations on the West Santa Ana Branch route, a Measure R project currently under study by SCAG. City planners also expressed their support for the West Bank Alternative 3, which would bring the route further west. Two other alternatives being considered by SCAG place only one station in the Huntington Park city limits. Portions of this article were excerpted from Zach Gutierrez contributed to this report. For more information on the current project and to see a copy of the executive summary, visit Riverside HOT Lanes Must Be Done Right LA, OC, and Riverside County to follow the example of several other agencies in the nation, please consider contacting your local representative and let them know that you want HOT done right.

6 Metrolink will Increase Fares, Boost Service From Metrolink and NARP Southern California passengers will have to pay a little extra for a Metrolink monthly pass starting July 1, after the Metrolink Board voted to approve a 7% fare hike in a special session held on Wednesday, May 30. This will be the 11th time Metrolink raised fares in the past 14 years, and the highest percentage increase in ticket prices in the commuter railroad s 19 years of operation. Metrolink faced a $13 million deficit in this year s budget. The commuter rail agency attributes the deficit, in large part, to $4 million in higher fuel costs, $4.2 million in added labor expenses, and $1.2 million for passenger transfer costs. The 7% hike will net Metrolink a projected $4.5 million in additional passenger revenue. The Board was presented with a 9% fare increase which members rejected, fearing that too many passengers would be driven away from the service. The remaining $8.5 million portion of the deficit will be paid by member agencies, which includes the Los Angeles County Metro, the Orange County Transportation Authority, the Riverside County Transportation Commission, San Bernardino Associated Governments and the Ventura County Transportation Commission. Ridership on Metrolink is up 8% this year alone, coming on the heels of an 8% increase during the previous year. The same soaring gas prices that are straining Many So. Cal. drivers and mass transit users will rely on Metrolink to get them through what is projected to be a very tough summer for gas prices. Metrolink s operating budget are driving more and more commuters to use the service, and transit advocates were quick to make the case for strong local support of the system. Many Southern California drivers and mass transit users will rely on Metrolink to get them through what is projected to be a very tough summer for gas prices, said Transit Coalition Executive Director Bart Reed to the Whittier Daily News. Maintaining current service levels, as well as service additions such as express, weekend and holiday trains, will provide Southern California commuters more options to escape high gas prices. Other fare-related changes will take effect over the summer. Metrolink ticket machines ceased selling 10-Trip tickets on May 14; Metrolink will not honor them after June 29, when the last of these tickets are set to expire. The Metrolink Board voted to eliminate the 10-Trip ticket in May 2011 replacing them with 7-day passes. Starting July 1, the Amtrak 10-trip ticket will no longer be accepted on Metrolink trains as part of the Rail 2 Rail program. Metrolink and Amtrak Monthly Pass holders will be the only ticket types valid for interchangeable travel between station pairs on a pass. In turn, Metrolink announced a spate of service increases. On July 2, Metrolink will add an additional Inland Empire-Orange County Line round trip between Riverside and Laguna Niguel. Metrolink will also add a train between Laguna Niguel and Fullerton on the Orange County Line. Starting the weekend of July 7, Metrolink will add four round-trip trains on its Orange County Line between Los Angeles Union Station and Oceanside on the weekends. This allows riders from across the region to use the $10 Weekend Pass to visit destinations in Orange County such as Disneyland and area beaches. Metrolink seasonal beach trains will also return on July 7, operating between Oceanside and San Bernardino as in the past. Starting this year, however, the service will continue indefinitely, rather than ending in October. For more info, visit A Metrolink train stops at Anaheim Station with Angel Stadium in the background. Source: Flickr/8thNotchPhotography Page 6 Moving Southern California volume 7, number 6

7 volume 7, number 6 Moving Southern California Page 7 The Transit Coalition Your larger membership gift helps TTC do more to advocate for better transit! Federal Tax ID: IRS EIN Please include TTC in your will, trust or estate. The Transit Coalition (a project of LACBC) engages in many activities for the improvement of transit and the betterment of Southern California in its role as a policy framing and advocacy group. Each month, the print newsletter you are reading is published and a weekly enewsletter is distributed. Additionally, Coalition members attend various transit related meetings where they engage in public comment and speak to board members to make our views known. But in running the Coalition comes the financial challenge to pay our costs. A volunteer may go to Washington or Sacramento, whose expenses need to be covered. Publishing MSC incurs printing and postage costs. That s where we need your help. Whether it s a small donation or a large gift, it all helps us grow. Can we count on your contribution? Join! Your gift makes it all possible! Fixed Income $20 to $74 Individual $75 to $124 Family $125 to $249 Partner $250 to $499 Organization $500 to $999 Patron $1,000 to $2,499 Corporation $2,500 to $4,999 Sponsor $5,000 to $9,999 Supporting $10,000 or more Other (enter amount): Name (First, Last) Organization/Affiliation Please Print Dedicated to improving and expanding all modes of transit in Los Angeles and everywhere in Southern California. Please join to help maintain and expand our valuable activities and make the Southland more livable. Web: Contact: info@thetransitcoalition.us Make your tax deductible contribution payable to The Transit Coalition (write donation on the check memo) and mail this completed form to: The Transit Coalition P.O. Box 567 San Fernando, CA The Transit Coalition is a public charity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501[c](3) of the Internal Revenue Code. TITLE Address SUITE/APT # CITY STATE ZIP Phone CELL Seven Improvements for the Orange Line by Numan Parada The Metro Orange Line is one of the most successful transit projects in the San Fernando Valley and one of the busiest busways in the country. Metro will open an extension to Chatsworth on June 30. Despite its success, however, the Orange Line lacks many amenities that would build upon its success. The Transit Coalition offers seven capital intensive ideas that would increase busway ridership and make it a more meaningful part of the transportation fabric. 1. Add a portal connecting the Red and Orange Line platforms at North Hollywood. Currently, patrons transferring between the two services must cross Lankershim Boulevard. The Red Line station has a knockout panel at the mezzanine level in anticipation of a second portal on the west side of Lankershim where the Orange Line station now resides. 2. Bring FlyAway connections to the Orange Line. The successful Van Nuys FlyAway bus service to LAX is stationed in an area that otherwise sees little transit service. FlyAway could provide an additional stop at the Orange Line, either by rerouting FlyAway buses along the Orange Line to the Sepulveda Station or stopping at the Woodley Station, on the south side of Victory Blvd. 3. Extend to Bob Hope Airport. The Orange Line is 3 miles shy of this vital employment generator and transportation hub. Several national and entertainment companies, including Yahoo!, have offices within half a mile of the proposed station. 4. Build a station at Saticoy St. This intersection already features high density apartment buildings, a charter school, a mental health facility and a community center. 5. Add a station at White Oak Ave. This is another corridor that would greatly Fax benefit from access to busway service. 6. Address blight on the existing and new Orange Line. Several streets abutting the Orange Line right-of-way lack pavement and sidewalks, have overgrown vegetation, and are used for illegal dumping. The city, along with Metro, should provide these streets with adequate street facilities and proper landscaping. 7. Build a pedestrian walkway at the Roscoe Station. Currently, residents next to the backside of this Orange Line station have no access to the station. A walkway would connect the station with the neighborhood and could significantly increase ridership and use of alternate modes. The Orange Line Extension to Chatsworth promises to come in ahead of schedule and under budget. Metro will wind up with a probable $35 million surplus. The Transit Coalition asks Metro to address and fund these seven improvements.

8 The Transit Coalition P.O. Box 567 San Fernando, CA Join us Tuesday, June 26, 6:45 p.m. for our monthly meeting at Metro Gateway Headquarters, 1 Gateway Plaza, L.A. Guest Speaker: Robert Ball Deputy Executive Officer, Project Mgmt. Executive Office-Construction, Metro NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID VAN NUYS CA PERMIT NO. 20 address service requested Office: Fax: Moving Southern California VOLUME 7, NUMBER 6 JUNE Upcoming Transit Events Jun 1 Ventura County Transportation Commission 9 a.m., Camarillo City Hall, 601 Carmen Dr., Camarillo. Jun 6 Metro San Fernando ValleyService Council Meeting 6:30 p.m. Marvin Braude Center, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys. Jun 7 Transportation Committee Sierra Club 7 p.m Wilshire Blvd.,#320, Los Angeles. Jun 9 Southern California Transit Advocates (SO.CA.TA) 1 p.m., Angelus Plaza, Los Angeles. Jun 11 and 25 OCTA Board 9 a.m., 600 S. Main St., Orange. Jun 11 Metro San Gabriel Valley Service Council Meeting 5 p.m., East Los Angeles Public Library, 4837 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles. Jun 12 LA City Bicycle Advisory Committee 7 p.m., Hollywood Neighborhood City Hall Community Room, 6501 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles. Jun 13 Metro Westside/Central Service Council Meeting 5 p.m., Young Oak Kim Academy, 615 S. Shatto Place, L.A. The Southland s leading transit advocacy group. Jun 13 Orangeline Development Authority Board Meeting 6 p.m., Santa Clarita City Hall, Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita. Jun 14 Metro Gateway Cities Service Council Meeting 2 p.m., Salt Park Recreation Center, 3401 E. Florence, Huntington Park. Jun 18 LOSSAN Board of Directors 9:30 a.m., SANDAG Headquarters, 401 B St., Suite 800, San Diego. Jun 20 and 21 Metro Committee Meetings Metro Gateway Hdquarters, 1 Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles. Jun 22 SCRRA Metrolink Committee Meetings and Special Board Meeting 9 a.m., Metro Gateway Headquarters, 1 Gateway Plaza, LA. Jun 26 Transit Coalition Monthly Meeting 6:45 p.m. Metro Gateway Headquarters, 1 Gateway Plaza, L.A. Jun 28 Metro Board Meeting 9:00 a.m., Metro Gateway Headquarters, 1 Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles. Jun 29 Foothill Transit Executive Board 8 a.m., 100 S. Vincent Ave., 2nd floor, West Covina. An Invitation from TTC s Executive Director The Metro Board approved the rest of the routing for the much-needed Wilshire Subway. With this landmark vote, sanity prevailed over the objection of NIMBY obstructionists. That latter group, however, threatened to sue Metro over the project. Similar lawsuits against the Expo Line have at worst brought about additional mitigations, without the desired effect of stopping the project outright. How will Metro proceed in light of these threats? Join us for our monthly membership meeting, on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, featuring Robert Ball, who will discuss Metro Crenshaw Line construction activities. Our two-hour meeting at Metro Gateway Headquarters starts at 6:45 p.m. If you or anyone you know is interested, get them there on the 26th to join the discussion. We hope to see you there! Bart Reed Executive Director