EXPO LIGHT RAIL ACTION ALERT!
TAKE ACTION TODAY!
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BACKGROUND: A
new light rail line, called the Expo Line, will eventually extend from
downtown to Santa Monica. The project is divided into two phases.
Phase I is under construction and will end at Robertson & Venice in
Culver City. Phase II will extend the line from there to Santa
Monica. Phase II is still in planning phase and a draft environmental
impact report was released last week. One
of items that have been promised for the Expo Line is a bikeway
adjacent to the train line. This would create a continuous bikeway
from Santa Monica to downtown if it were built! Recently,
the Expo Construction Authority (Expo) decided NOT to include the
bikeway in the environmental review for Expo Phase 2, to avoid the
burden of doing a federal environmental impact statement. Thus, there is no central authority coordinating engineering and construction of the bikeway.
Now, there are serious uncertainties about how, when or if an Expo Bikeway will ever be built!
As cyclists, we need to demand that the bike path be built simultaneously with the rail line!
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TAKE ACTION NOW!
1) Comment on DEIR! Comments are due March 13th!
2) E-mail key decisionmakers! See contact info below
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· The
bikeway must be built simultaneously with the Expo Line. If it is not
included in the environmental review, we need a commitment and a plan
from Expo on engineering and construction will happen. · If
the Expo Bikeway is not built at the same time as the rail line, costs
will increase dramatically and construction difficulties will arise if
Expo does not provide space for the bike path. · The
goal of the Expo Line is to reduce auto use. The bikeway is a critical
component for achieving this. It can deliver transit users to stations
without car trips and provides a much-needed crosstown commuter
bikeway. · Expo will be starting preliminary engineering soon. The bikeway must be included in this. · The Expo Bikeway is a wonderful opportunity to expand our network of safe bike routes for a growing community of cyclists.
Send comments via e-mail to ALL people below: |
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