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Politics & Government

Council Sidelines Resolution on Subway Opposition

The mayor and vice mayor will instead synthesize the views of council members and residents into a reworked resolution or an official letter to the MTA.

The City Council decided Tuesday not to vote on a resolution authored by Vice Mayor John Mirisch that sought to withdraw the city's support of the Westside Subway Extension in its .

Council members instead authorized the vice mayor and Mayor William Brien to draft a new resolution or an official letter that more comprehensively incorporates the views of the entire council and residents  plans to  to reach a subway station in Century City.

Mirisch and Brien have until no later than April 26—the date the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority's 13-member board will  on the proposed route under BHHS—to finalize the city's stance.

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Beverly Hills has always supported the subway, a decision based on Metro's initial proposal to place the Century City stop on Santa Monica Boulevard. It was later in the project design process that a station at Constellation Boulevard/Avenue of the Stars in Century City became an option, which requires tunneling under BHHS. Metro staff has recommended the Constellation station for board approval.

Mirisch's proposed resolution concluded:

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The City Council of the City of Beverly Hills hereby withdraws its previous support of, and expresses its opposition to, the Westside Subway Extension project as proposed in Metro's [environmental impact study], specifically the alignment proposed by Metro through Beverly Hills, the designation of the La Cienega station as an interim transit station and the selection of the Century City station at Constellation Boulevard. The City Council will take such steps to implement its opposition as circumstances warrant.

All council members reiterated their unified opposition to tunneling under the high school.

"I oppose the tunneling under Beverly Hills High School," Brien said. "If Metro ends up adopting the Metro staff's recommendation, we will challenge them if that recommendation is in fact to go under the high school."

He added that the council can't take further opposing actions, such as a legal challenge, until the Metro board has made a decision on the subway route.

Many Beverly Hills residents attended the council meeting and argued mostly in favor of withdrawing support for the subway extension in the event of Metro's likely approval of the Constellation station. 

A few Beverly Hills residents and business owners sent in open letters asking the council to continue supporting the project. A common concern among those in favor of the extension is the possible negative economic impact that could occur if Metro decides to deny Beverly Hills a subway stop.

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