Metro Board Postpones Vote on Century City Station

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors announced Thursday that it will postpone voting on the Westside Subway Extension stations west of La Cienega Boulevard until a takes place.

“I’m pleased that the vote was delayed. We now have the opportunity to set up a hearing and take time to review the data and look at the different interpretations,” Beverly Hills Mayor William Brien said. “We would all be best served finding a path by which we can work together to solve this very real problem.”

Beverly Hills City Attorney Larry Wiener told Patch that Metro has between 15 and 60 days to schedule the public hearing.

The board did vote 11-1-1 to certify the project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report.

Metro's recommendation calls for tunneling under Beverly Hills High School to reach a stop on Constellation Boulevard in Century City, a route strongly opposed in Beverly Hills but supported by many people in the city of Los Angeles and elsewhere.

Susan Bursk, president and CEO of the Century City Chamber of Commerce, supports a subway alignment that goes under BHHS.

“I think it was expected. They’re doing their due diligence and they’re addressing all the concerns,” Bursk said about the board's decision. “We just have to keep doing our part. Continue making sure the science is correct and hopefully, it will work out for us.” 

Wearing an “I Love Constellation Station” button, Renee Watkinson came out to advocate for the current subway plan.

“I’m here in support for the business community of Century City for the Constellation station as it’s the most centered location,” Watkinson said. “In Century City it will gain the most ridership for the city, across the board. From support staff, union workers, all the law firms—access to downtown court systems.”

Beverly Hills Human Relations Commissioner Tom Pease questioned the accessibility to a Constellation station.

“I take Metro every day. And frankly transit that doesn’t meet other transit makes no sense,” Pease said. “There’s no sense in having a stop at Constellation. It doesn’t meet up with their other transit lines at Santa Monica Boulevard.”

The Metro board has yet to schedule a public hearing with the city of Beverly Hills.

To read a live blog of the Metro board meeting, click .

To view a photo gallery of the Metro board meeting, click .

An earlier version of this story said Metro's Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report was approved in part. It has been corrected and now says the FEIS/R was approved in full. The location of the stations west of La Cienega have not yet been finalized by the Metro Board of Directors.