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CC - (1) Presentation and Discussion of a Proposed Underground Transportation Tunnel through Culver City; and (2) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: January 22, 2018
Contact Person/Dept: Jesse Mays, City Manager’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-6000
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/17/18); (E-Mail) Subscribers of Bicycle and Pedestrian, Capital Improvement Projects, Chamber of Commerce, City Council, Construction, Street Maintenance and Closures, Culver City News and Events, Culver CityBus, Press Organizations, Public Notifications, Transportation Tunnel (12/06/17).
Department Approval: John Nachbar, City Manager (01/17/18)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) receive and discuss a presentation from representatives of The Boring Company for its proposal for an underground transportation tunnel through Culver City; and (2) provide direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
A private company, The Boring Company, has proposed a privately funded human transportation tunnel that would run underneath the Westside of Los Angeles. The proposed route is from Hawthorne to West L.A., including underneath Sepulveda Boulevard through the City of Culver City. The tunnel would contain a high-speed underground public transportation system in which passengers are transported on autonomous electric skates traveling at 125-150 miles per hour. Electric skates will carry between 8 and 16 passengers (mass transit), or a single passenger vehicle. Additional information about the proposal is attached, including a tunnel alignment map, a preliminary regional tunnel system map, and a Frequently Asked Questions document.
At this time, the City has not approved any project, nor has the City received an application for any permits or approvals from The Boring Company. In October 2017, the Boring Company submitted an application for permits from the City of Los Angeles for the portions of the tunnel that run underneath Los Angeles. Los Angeles has not yet granted approval, and it is not known when approval will be granted and in what form it will be given. The City of Hawthorne in August 2017 approved a subsurface easement agreement for The Boring Company to complete a two mile long test tunnel underneath public property (the public street right-of-way as well as Hawthorne Municipal Airport) in Hawthorne. The Boring Company is required by its agreement with Hawthorne to monitor and report daily on potential subsidence, reimburse Hawthorne for all costs associated with the agreement, be responsible for the cost of any repair work from boring impacts, and compensate the City of Hawthorne at fair market value for the value of the easement. The exact compensation to Hawthorne for the easement is to be determined by a future appraisal.
Any potential project proposed within Culver City would need to be evaluated to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the California Environmental Quality Act.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving this presentation.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2018-01-22 - ATT Tunnel Alignment Map
2. 2018-01-22 - ATT Preliminary Regional Tunnel System Map
3. 2018-01-22 - ATT FAQ
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Receive and discuss a presentation regarding a proposed underground transportation tunnel through Culver City; and
2. Direct the City Manager as deemed appropriate.