Tag: public comment

WEST HOLLYWOOD—The city of West Hollywood reported in a news release that the city is getting the word out that Metro is beginning its formal public comment period for the Northern Extension of the Metro K line (K Line North), the project that will bring Metro rail service to West Hollywood. Metro is studying underground rail options through WeHo, Mid City, and Hollywood and it will choose between three routes this fall.

According to the news release, Metro is accepting public comments on its Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) until Thursday, September 5, to help inform that final decision. West Hollywood supports the San Vicente-Fairfax route, which would include three stations in West Hollywood and would serve more workers, residents, and destinations than the other route alternatives.

Residents of West Hollywood and stakeholders are asked to attend one of Metro’s three upcoming in-person and virtual hearings to let Metro know what issues and design considerations matter to them and which route they prefer. Residents and stakeholders who cannot attend a hearing can submit comments, email messages, and formal comment letters, as well. All forms of engagement are impactful and links are provided at www.weho.org/metro to assist community members in providing feedback to Metro.

For those who want to attend a hearing, the schedule is as follows:

-Saturday, August 10, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Dorsey High School, located at 3537 Farmdale Avenue (served by the Metro Farmdale E Line Station);

-Tuesday, August 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pan Pacific Park Recreation Center, located at 7600 Beverly Boulevard (served by Metro Bus 14 and 217); and

-Thursday, August 15, at 12 p.m., virtual meeting via Zoom.

All Metro meetings are accessible to persons with disabilities. Spanish translation will be provided at all three meetings. Russian translation will be available at the Pan Pacific Park and virtual meetings only.

West Hollywood has been working with West Hollywood Advocates for Metro Rail (WHAM), the All on Board Coalition, and the City of Los Angeles to build support for the K Line North project for years. The city and its coalition partners have built momentum on a proposal to accelerate the completion of K Line North by up to 20 years.

The K Line North will provide transit and connect individuals to the Los Angeles International Airport to Central Los Angeles, West Hollywood, and the San Fernando Valley. If the San Vicente-Fairfax route is selected, the project will provide better mobility options to and from West Hollywood and more convenient access to key healthcare and employment centers such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the Pacific Design Center, as well as cultural and entertainment destinations such as the Grove and the Hollywood Bowl. K Line North will create more equitable and convenient regional access and improve the overall efficiency of the transit system, which will benefit transit-dependent residents throughout the metropolitan area.

A short video titled “Finish The Line: A Route to Connect More People to More Places,” is posted on the City of West Hollywood’s WeHoTV YouTube channel. It outlines the reasoning behind the city’s preference for the San Vicente-Fairfax route.  Note: the K Line is referred to by the project’s previous name (Crenshaw/LAX Line) in the video.

For more details about the future Northern Extension of the Metro K Line, contact David Fenn, West Hollywood Senior Planner, at (323) 848-6336 or at dfenn@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing call TTY (323) 848-6496.

By Trevor

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Tuesday, May 7, the city of West Hollywood indicated in a press release that community members are welcome to attend an upcoming Informational Open House to learn more about the Willoughby, Vista/Gardner, and Kings Street Design Concept Plan. The focus of the in-person open house is to provide community members with detailed information regarding the Street Design Concept Plan and share an overview of the project’s steps taken to-date and next steps, moving forward.

The Informational Open House will take place on Tuesday, May 21, at 6 p.m. at the Plummer Park Community Center in Rooms 1 and 2, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. Drop-in; no advance RSVP is needed. Light refreshments will be served.

West Hollywood’s mobility projects are guided by the adopted Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility Plan, which advocates for comfortable, safe, healthy, and convenient places to walk and bicycle in the context of a balanced, multimodal transportation network serving pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists of all ages and abilities.

The Street Design Concept Plan was identified as a priority project in the Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility Plan, and it launched in 2019. The project’s primary objective is to enhance the neighborhood and protect the safety of both pedestrians and cyclists through strategic street improvements across the corridor. This comprehensive streetscape initiative aims to create safer, more accessible routes for walking and biking while effectively reducing cut-through traffic.

By transforming Kings Road and Vista/Gardner Streets into key connecting corridors, the Street Design Concept Plan facilitates a seamless link between residential and commercial areas and east-west routes like Santa Monica Boulevard and Fountain Avenue. This connectivity not only supports a healthier, more active community, but promotes environmental sustainability and enriches local quality of life.

The Street Design Concept Plan is the first project stage in the development of the Willoughby, Vista/Gardner, and Kings Street Design Capital Improvement Project.

As a result of recent approval of the Street Design Concept Plan by the West Hollywood City Council, the Plan now moves forward to the Design & Engineering Phase, where concepts will be developed in much more detail. This includes the development and incorporation of detailed engineering plans, specifications, and cost estimates that will serve as the blueprint for project construction. The next stage of the project will determine the feasibility of the conceptual project elements from the Street Design Concept Plan and allow for additional insight into any refinements that may need to be incorporated into the project’s final design.

The Community Engagement and Plan Development Process to date has included:

-The Willoughby, Vista/Gardner, and Kings project was identified in the Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility Plan adopted in 2017, and outreach on the Concept Plan for these streets began with a visioning workshop in Summer 2019.

-The project was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, but in August 2022 the City hosted two community virtual workshops. Feedback and survey responses guided recommendations.

-In 2022, demonstration projects were installed along Willoughby as an alternative way to share ideas and provide community input.

-In addition to the community workshops, staff also met with residents to share information about the project. City staff attended multiple update meetings with the City of Los Angeles, including Council District 5 and the Mid-City West Neighborhood Council.

-As part of the demonstration project and community workshops in 2022, Here LA and the City’s WeHoTV collaborated to put together an engagement video to help community members envision potential street changes and improvements.

-In April 2023, based on feedback from the community, City staff finalized the report and recommendations to include protected bike lanes along Vista/Gardner, except for the two blocks between Fountain and Lexington, which were excluded due to the potential loss of parking along this segment.

-Staff presented these recommendations to the Transportation & Mobility Commission in June 2023, and the Commission expressed its support.

-In November 2023, the West Hollywood City Council directed staff to develop a policy to include protected bike lanes on all roadway projects. Following this directive, staff developed a protected bike lane option for Gardner between Fountain and Lexington.

-In March 2024, staff presented the Street Design Concept Plan to the West Hollywood City Council with two options for Gardner between Fountain and Lexington, including one with the addition of protected bike lanes.

The city will provide additional community outreach opportunities, moving forward, to refine concepts as part of the upcoming Design & Engineering Phase. West Hollywood will be looking for ways to address issues of concern, including decreasing impacts to on-street parking.

For additional details about the Street Design Concept Plan visit the Engage WeHo information and feedback page, which is located at https://engage.weho.org/willoughby.

For more information contact Bob Cheung, West Hollywood Senior Transportation Planner, at (323) 848-6346 or at bcheung@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing call TTY (323) 848-6496.

By Trevor