Antonovich on 710, Measure J, Metrolink Route to Burbank Airport & More – Wednesday in Glendale, Today at MTA 1


MTA Board Room, Thursday morning, June 27, 2013

MTA Board Room, Thursday morning, June 27, 2013

LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich cited “A regional transportation system that meets all of our needs and not just some of them” “Rail connections to all our major airports” and “Synchronization between regional transit providers and local operators” [such as the Glendale Beeline] as his priorities on the MTA.

He discussed each point Wednesday at the Northwest Glendale Homeowners Association annual meeting, and again today in comments as outgoing MTA Board Chair. The MTA meeting began shortly after 9am and was still under way after 1pm as a capacity crowd was on hand to comment on several projects and proposals.

Wednesday night: Antonovich told the Association he opposed Measure J (which was defeated) because it didn’t allocate funding equitably across the 88 cities and 134 unincorporated communities served by Metro. Asked about the SR-710 study, Antonovich stated that the tunnel was a likely candidate for selection as “the route” [alternative?], and alternatives would be presented when the EIR was complete. Antonovich noted as a significant step forward this week’s groundbreaking for the new Antelope Valley/Lancaster Metrolink station/route that will provide a direct connection to Burbank/Bob Hope Airport.

Thursday: “It ain’t over until it’s under!” was the motto of a huge number of speakers (60+?) who want the Crenshaw line undergrounded along a key stretch of a South Los Angeles business district. The current plan calls for a surface route. A contingent of the No 710 Action Committee is also on hand to ask why the SR-710 Project is included in a Measure R financing acceleration proposal, even though the EIR is not yet complete. As of 1pm, they are still waiting for that agenda item to be heard.

UPDATE 2:13pm: The surface route for the 8.5-mile Crenshaw/LAX Line light rail line was approved by the Metro Board over objections from the community. LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas introduced an amendment asking Metro to consider business mitigation measures. Metro Board member and Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian proposed an amendment to exclude funding for the SR-710 Project in Metro Agenda Item 10. Najarian’s amendment passed by a majority vote, and then the proposal (which required a 2/3s vote) passed as amended.


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