Transforming Los Angeles’ Transportation ParadigmOctober 8, 2012

Cris B. Liban, D.Env., P.E.Environmental Director, LACMTA

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Outline

• Los Angeles and Its Transportation Challenges

• Transit’s Regional Sustainability Role

• Metro as a Laboratory of Sustainable Ideas

• Comments/Questions

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• 88 incorporated cities

• Large area – 10,570 km2

› Larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined

• Large Population

› Over 10 million people

› 17.6 million in surrounding counties

› More than 42 states

• Diverse – More than 40% foreign-born, over 220 languages spoken

• The 17th largest economy in the world

Los Angeles County – largest economy in the United States

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Los Angeles –The second largest city in America

• Founded in 1781

• Large and spread out: 1,213 km2 (469 square mi.)

• Fits 8 large American cities

• Close to 4 million people

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Los Angeles’ Transportation Paradigm

Westwood

LAXNorwalk

East Los Angeles

Pasadena

Hollywood

Long Beach

Los Angeles

Santa

Monica

Azusa

Chatsworth

• Prior to the 1930’s• Extensive Transportation System• California-Nevada Border to the Ocean• Mexico-California Border to Central Valley

• Specifically in the 1950’s onwards• Extensive Freeway System• The Car is “King”• Predominance of urban sprawl

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Los Angeles’ Transportation Challenges

Los Angeles has its unique mobility challenges

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Private vehicles are the largest contributor to a household’s carbon footprint

Source: “Public Transportation’s Contribution to U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reduction,” Science Applications International Corporation, September 2007.

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Transit Paradox

Transit’s Effects on Regional Carbon FootprintTransit’s Effects on Regional Carbon FootprintTransit’s Effects on Regional Carbon FootprintTransit’s Effects on Regional Carbon Footprint

To reduce emissions from mobile sources, we need higher levels of To reduce emissions from mobile sources, we need higher levels of To reduce emissions from mobile sources, we need higher levels of To reduce emissions from mobile sources, we need higher levels of public transit and more compact patterns of land use that transit public transit and more compact patterns of land use that transit public transit and more compact patterns of land use that transit public transit and more compact patterns of land use that transit supports.supports.supports.supports.

APTA, 2010APTA, 2010APTA, 2010APTA, 2010

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For Los Angeles County, Metro isE

The Regional Planner

The Regional Builder

The Regional Operator

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World Class Solutions to Los Angeles’ Mobility Challenges

• Transit (Rail/Bus)

• Carpool Lanes

• Ridesharing

• Bicycle Lanes

• Pedestrian Linkages

• Transit-oriented Development

• Goods Movement

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Metro – the Regional Planner

• Plans

› Long Range Plan

› Capital Plan

› Transit Corridor Plans

› Environmental Assessment

• For All Modes:

› Rail and Bus

› Highway

› Major Roads

› Pedestrian and Bicycles

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Partnering on a Regional Strategy

• Required by state law to develop regional strategy and to implement and achieve GHG reduction targets

• Strategy Components:• Land-Use

• Transportation Demand/Systems Management

• Transportation Investments

• Pricing

Energy and Resources

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Leveraging Transportation Investments

Long-Range Plan

� Adds 80 miles of light rail lines, doubling the existing system with possible connection to High Speed Rail

� Expands carpool lanes, improves highway systems management, explores public-private partnerships and pricing

� America Fast Forward—Builds 12 transit projects in 10 years, rather than 30

OpportunitiesOpportunitiesOpportunitiesOpportunities

• Achieve Greenhouse Achieve Greenhouse Achieve Greenhouse Achieve Greenhouse Gas Reduction GoalsGas Reduction GoalsGas Reduction GoalsGas Reduction Goals

• Reduce AutoReduce AutoReduce AutoReduce Auto----Dependency Dependency Dependency Dependency

• Meet Market Demand Meet Market Demand Meet Market Demand Meet Market Demand for More Walkable for More Walkable for More Walkable for More Walkable CommunitiesCommunitiesCommunitiesCommunities

• Utilize and Catalyze Utilize and Catalyze Utilize and Catalyze Utilize and Catalyze Technological Technological Technological Technological InnovationsInnovationsInnovationsInnovations

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Los Angeles Metro’s Service Area

These figures do not include Munisand Metrolink

Nearly 1/3 of California is within Metro Service Area

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LA Transit and Transportation System

103 stations

121.2 miles

Future Expansion over 30 YearsFuture Expansion over 30 YearsFuture Expansion over 30 YearsFuture Expansion over 30 Years

Total: 197- 205 stations

236.2+ miles

• Congestion Reduction Strategies• Highway Programs• Bikes and Bike Paths• Funding and Programming• Employer-Employee Incentives

Los Angeles CountyMetropolitan Transportation Authority

Project Schedules*Project Schedules*

* Major Capital Projects Only

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Sustainable Transit Infrastructure

• Sustainable Features

– Energy Efficiency

– Low Impact Development

– Sustainable Practices

• Technology Innovations

• State of Good Repair

Los Angeles County

VenturaCounty

Orange County

San Bernardino

County

Los Angeles CountyMetropolitan Transportation Authority

Orange Line and Extension

�Light Rail�Opened in 2005, then 2012�CNG articulated buses�Over 1 million drought tolerant or

native plants and trees�Recycled water irrigation�Stormwater capture and

infiltration�Recycled asphalt/concrete sub-

base�LED lighting stoplights�Solar panels along bikepath

Sustainable FeaturesSustainable Features

Orange Line and Orange Line Extension

Los Angeles County

VenturaCounty

Orange County

San Bernardino

County

Los Angeles CountyMetropolitan Transportation Authority

Gold Line Foothill Extension�Light Rail�Under Construction, after 2015�Green Maintenance Building�Consider wastewater capture

and infiltration�Energy efficient stations�Electric vehicle considerations

Sustainable FeaturesSustainable Features

Gold Line Foothill Extension

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Additional Project Requirements

Westwood

LAXNorwalk

East Los Angeles

Pasadena

Hollywood

Long Beach

Los Angeles

Santa

Monica

Azusa

Regional ConnectorRegional Connector

Westside SubwayWestside Subway

Crenshaw/LAXCrenshaw/LAX

Chatsworth

Green

Gold

Red

Orange

Expo

- Green Construction Policy- Renewable Energy Policy- Climate Action and Adaptation Plan

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Transit Oriented Districts

• Joint Development of Metro Properties to Promote Less Use of Private Vehicles

• More than 30 available sites

• Partnership to build green buildings

• Encourage the implementation of sustainability guidelines

• LA Metro Study on land use impacts of transit

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Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Deployment

• California Energy Commission Grant

• Reliability of Chargers

• Economic Model and Implementability

• Effect on Transit Patterns

• Five Park and Ride Stations, 20 Chargers

• Partnership with other stakeholders

EV Charger Deployment Locations

EV Charger Deployed by City of LA

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Fleet Management and Clean Air

• Emissions Reduction Initiatives – Nation’s 1st and Largest Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fleet: >2,500 and growing

• 97% less priority pollutant emissions compared to retired diesel buses

• 100% CNG Fleet as of February 2011

– Newer vehicle technologies are always considered

– All system vehicles have multi-mobility capabilities

– Development of a Green Rail Plan

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Green Facilities and Energy Independence

213KW

Chatsworth Sun Valley Carson Downtown LA

213KW 1000KW417KW+ + +

Metro Gateway HQ

Division 9 Building

Wayside Energy Storage System

• Green Buildings

• Renewable Energy Technology

and Energy Efficiency

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On A Pure Greenhouse Gas Emissions Perspective, Which Strategy is Cost-Effective

< $14 / ton

$ $300-900 / ton

$$ >$1000 / ton

Large GHG Benefit (> 10,000 MtCO2e/year)

Ridesharing/Transit Programs for Employers

Transit Oriented Development

Vanpool Subsidy

On-board Railcar Energy Storage

Moderate GHG Benefit (1,000-10,000 MtCO2e/year)

45-foot Composite Buses

Facility Lighting Efficiency

$ Metro Employee Transit Subsidy

$$ Bicycle Paths along Transit Corridors

$$ Gasoline-Electric Hybrid Buses

$$ Wayside Energy Storage Substation

Small GHG Benefit (< 1,000 MtCO2e/year)

Red Line Tunnel Lighting Retrofit

Hybrid Non-Revenue Cars

Recycled Water for Bus Washing

Low Water Sanitary Fixtures

$ Solar Panels

$ Bike-to-Transit Commuter Incentives

$$ Hybrid Non-Revenue Light Trucks

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Metro and a Sustainable Transportation System

• Metro’s programs organically create a nexus among various sustainable elements

• Forging partnerships and finding common-ground solutions

• Ensures that our operations consider environment, economy, and society

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Great Things are Happening in LA!!!

Photo credit: CALSTART

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Questions/Discussions

For additional information:http://www.metro.net/projects/www.metro.net/sustainability+1 213/922-1100

Dr. Cris B. Liban, P.E.p: +1 213/922-2471e/m: LibanE@metro.net

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