Breaking News: Expo Board Backs Route Down Right of Way and Colorado (Updated Below)

Photo: Friends 4 Expo

I just got off the phone with Darrell Clarke who confirmed our suspicions, the Expo Construction Authority Board of Directors has authorized the staff to move forward with the studies for Phase II with the “LRT-2” alignment down the existing right-of-way and then Colorado straight to Santa Monica.

There was a couple of minor changes to the resolution posted with the Board’s agenda.  Following the testimony of 53 speakers representing supporters, opponents, people worried about the rail yard, people trying to preserve Bergamont Station, the Los Angeles County Bike Coalition and a couple of Midnight Ridazz, and some of the opponents of Phase I; the Board asked the staff to take a second look at the issues in question.  Those include the fate of the bikeway, and location of the rail yard and stations in Santa Monica.  That report will be presented at their June board meeting.

This move is hardly the end of the road for Phase II, heck we’re not even at the end of the road for Phase I which is already under construction.  During his public comment, Damien Goodmon threatened to file a federal Environmental Justice lawsuit three weeks from tomorrow.

Thanks also to Ingrid Peterson who kept me in the loop during the meeting.

UPDATE: Just got an email from Damien Goodmon that explains the
potential Environmental Justice lawsuit in better context.  First, his
comment about the lawsuit came at the end of a statement pleading for
Measure R and stimulus funds to go towards grade separating between
Dorsey High School and USC.  Second, the suit only has to do with Phase
I of the project.