By Kevin Herrera
Daily Press Staff Writer

DOWNTOWN Citing preliminary reports that have the Exposition Light Rail line traveling through Santa Monica down the middle of Olympic Boulevard with elevated sections in downtown that could be as high as 35 feet, city officials are spending $300,000 to have other options considered.

The Exposition Construction Authority will consider which routes will undergo further environmental review on Thursday, Nov. 1.

City staff has issues with the rail line traveling down Olympic Boulevard to a potential Fourth Street station adjacent to the Civic Center and a renovated Santa Monica Place mall. As currently proposed, the rail line would travel down the mid-section of Olympic, which would require the removal of the landscaped median and coral trees.

Staff would like the Expo Authority to consider removing one lane of traffic on each side of the median to preserve the landscaped median, coral trees and the green boulevard along Olympic.

“The future Exposition light rail line is critically important to Santa Monica and it is crucial that the project serve the community in the best way possible,” Ellen Gelbard, deputy director of special projects, wrote in a city staff report. “Much of the future land use planning focuses on the Exposition light rail and the incredible opportunity that it presents.”

There is also an issue with the Olympic route and how it connects with downtown. Current studies have the rail line rising as high as 35 feet above street level to cross Lincoln Boulevard and freeway ramps before connecting with the Fourth Street station, which would also be raised.

“It is important that the light rail station be well integrated into our downtown and the likelihood is vastly improved if the station is at-grade and easily accessible,” Gelbard wrote.

Councilman Kevin McKeown said he finds the idea of having elevated portions of the rail line “appalling.” Other members of the council agreed.

Their preference seems to be Colorado Avenue. Under this proposal, the rail line would use the Expo right of way until it ends at 17th Street, where the alignment would transition to run down the middle of Colorado to downtown. City staff considers this to be a more pedestrian friendly alternative.

Russell Sydney from the Sustainable Transport Club in Santa Monica, told council members that Colorado would be preferred by bicycle riders because it would be easily accessible and not include elevated sections that would create problems for those will neighborhood electric vehicles.

“I think one of the important elements is the character of Olympic Boulevard,” Sydney said. “If you think people are upset about ficus trees, wait and see what happens when the construction authority starts going after coral trees.”

Sydney was referring to the controversy over the council’s decision to remove ficus trees in the downtown area as part of a streetscape improvement project. The Treesavers group has filed to have the tress landmarked, which has put the project on hold.

The Colorado option would require the removal of one lane of traffic in each direction. City staff believes the majority of parking spaces could be retained on Colorado and have minimal impact on traffic given that the majority of drivers use Colorado east of 20th Street where the Water Gardens complex is located.

It is believed that the Colorado option would be less expensive than the Olympic aerial alignment. It would also avoid the issue of median and coral tree removal.

City staff is looking at other issues as well, including the placement of stations near Cloverfield Boulevard and 17th Street. Current studies show the easternmost station located above Cloverfield in an aerial configuration. The construction authority has indicated both aerial and at-grade stations will be evaluated. City staff believes a station should be located at Bergamot Station, which has been the plan ever since that property was purchased by City Hall.

In Mid-City, staff is concerned about the placement of a station to connect with Santa Monica College. Currently, the construction authority is not committed to a third station, just the one at Cloverfield and in downtown. City staff is hoping they can convince the authority to put a station at 17th Street and Colorado because of its proximity to SMC and its ability to connect with Big Blue Bus routes.

kevinh@smdp.com