Josh Stephens describes the fierce battle raging between Beverly Hills and Metro, the region's transportation authority, over the proposed route of the long-planned westward subway extension.
Beverly Hills' concerns focus around the proposal to tunnel underneath the city's high school to accommodate the 9.6-mile westward extension of Metro's Purple Line subway towards (but not to) the sea.
According to Brian Goldberg, president of the Beverly Hills School Board, local concerns focus on two issues: "The potential that the excavation would cause a dangerous explosion, and potential that the tunnels would prohibit future construction on the site."
"Metro officials say that they are more than willing to collaborate with the school district to try to accommodate future development and to ensure that the place doesn't blow up. If only the district would collaborate with Metro," notes Stephens.
"I'm sure we could and I'm sure we would be willing [to collaborate], but we're in a situation right now that makes it difficult because we were told some time ago that all communications between Metro staff and school district staff had to go through attorneys," said Jody Litvak, community relations manager for Metro. "There's been a fair amount of saber-rattling leading one to infer the likelihood of lawsuits."
FULL STORY: L.A. Tries Bringing Subway to Land of Maseratis
Purple Line Extension Gets $1.6 Billion Boost in Los Angeles
The Purple Line subway extension is picking up momentum in Los Angeles. With construction already underway on the first phase, the second phase should commence in 2018.
Los Angeles' Purple Line Moves Past Legal Opposition
A subway extension that would cut across the Los Angeles basin has cleared another legal hurdle, despite the efforts of a coalition of opponents in the city of Beverly Hills.
Los Angeles Breaks Ground on Purple Line Subway Extension
The long awaited groundbreaking for work on Los Angeles’s Purple Line Extension commenced. The project is expected to open in 2023.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
USDOT Eliminates Environmental, Equity Considerations
A new memo rescinds Biden-era regulations that prioritized renewable energy, accessibility, and equity for historically disadvantaged communities.
Study: Drops in Transit Ridership Linked to Extreme Weather
Unsurprisingly, people are less likely to use transit during extreme weather events, which are becoming more common around the country.
Washington State May Cap Rent Increases at 7 Percent
House Bill 1217 was passed by the House and will move next to the state Senate.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research