BEVERLY HILLS—The Beverly Hills City Council approved an agreement with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority (Metro) on August 19, limiting the levels of construction activity for the utility relocation phase of the Purple Line Extension/La Cienega Station.
According to a press release from the City of Beverly Hills, the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the party’s places restrictions on construction hours, the time frame and volume of construction noise, allows pedestrian access, parking options for residents and businesses if needed and Metro is expected to provide funding to businesses affected by the construction.
City staff will be issuing permits for relocation of the City’s water, sewer and storm drain systems and SoCal Edison’s electrical lines to prepare for the construction set to start on the La Cienega subway station. A specified date has not yet been announced, but utility relocation work is slated to begin in either September or October and will take about one month to complete.
Daytime construction is expected to take place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., and nighttime work will only be given approval in response to activities that would be considered a major disruption to citizens during the day. Such activities would include planned utility service interruptions and large scale road closures.
The City Council has implemented limitations on various construction noises which includes back-up alarms, slamming tailgates, jackhammers, and idling of vehicles. Noise levels cannot exceed five decibels above existing ambient noise levels. Residents will be able to call in complaints via a phone line that will be staffed by Metro 24 hours a day.
“The agreement also provides for enforcement using an independent compliance monitor who will have the authority to levy fines and immediately halt work if there is a violation of the permit conditions or a threat to public safety. Metro will pay up to $1 million for alleviating the impacts of construction on local businesses and has agreed to pay for public outreach and reimbursement of City staff costs associated with this agreement,” states the release.
Parties were able to reach an agreement after several meetings between local residents and business owners, who expressed their concerns about how the construction would impact the quality of life and business in the City.
The current agreement only applies to the utility relocation activity. Construction for the subway tunnel and station will be determined by separate agreements that are expected to be negotiated in the future. To review the entire agreement residents can visit the City’s website at www.beverlyhills.org/subwayconstruction.
