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Expo Line crossing issue goes to mediation, for now
There’s a wee bit of a development on the California Public Utilities Commission’s hearings over the two disputed crossings along the Expo Line light-rail project in Los Angeles: the parties involved have been ordered into mediation this afternoon to try to agree on a way to solve the crossing issue at Dorsey High School.
The train, as proposed, would cross Farmdale Avenue, which runs adjacent to the high school in South Los Angeles. The Expo Line Construction Authority, which is building the line, wants to cross the street at grade, whereas community activists say that’s not safe and want the train to go under or above Farmdale.
At this point, the judge has told the parties to consider three options in their mediation: an under-crossing, over-crossing or pedestrian bridge over the tracks. If they can’t agree, hearings over the crossings will resume in September.
“I would say we’re happy to negotiate in good faith, and we intend to do that, and if we’re not able to reach an agreement then we’ll be presenting our case in September,” said Samantha Bricker, the chief operation officer of the construction authority. “Our goal is to move this project forward and complete it as quickly as possible.”
Damien Goodmon, of the Citizens’ Campaign to Fix the Expo Line, said he was pleased that the three options in mediation did not include an at-grade crossing, but he wouldn’t commit to the proposed pedestrian bridge. He would only say that that’s an option that he may take back to the community for consideration.
The pedestrian bridge, according to the construction authority, is estimated to cost about $7 million. Over- and under-crossings for the train would cost millions more, the authority says.
The other crossing dispute–at Harvard Avenue next to the Foshay Learning Center, nearby in South L.A.–isn’t on the table at this time. Again, the construction authority wants an at-grade crossing and activists don’t.
The construction authority wants to finish the Expo Line between downtown and Culver City by 2010. The PUC hearings are significant because decisions about the crossings could affect the cost of the project and lead to delays.
–Steve Hymon
photo: Expo Line Construction Authority
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