Petition ‘raises awareness’ of Metro subway issues; 100 trees slated for removal

| April 1, 2014 | 0 Comments
PREPARATION FOR the Purple Line subway along Museum Row is ongoing. Photo by Dave Sotero/Metro

PREPARATION FOR the Purple Line subway along Museum Row is ongoing. Photo by Dave Sotero/Metro

“Sleepless in Miracle Mile,” the headline of a petition circulating the neighborhood, has done its job, says James O’Sullivan, president of the Miracle Mile Residential Association.

While the aim is to get 1,000 signatures on the online petition, the number is arbitrary as the process has already raised awareness of Metro’s “poor planning” in preparations for extending the Purple Line subway through the neighborhood, he says.

The group is not against the subway. It’s all for mass transit. It’s the nighttime, weekend and holiday work hours, with no strategic overview in the coming decade, that the group opposes.

The petition asks the L.A. Police Commission to deny granting Metro (L.A. County Metropolitan Transit Authority) carte blanche exemptions from city ordinances for the subway stations at Fairfax and La Brea at Wilshire.

The group seeks to meet with the contractor before the job begins to determine a thorough work schedule.

A spokesman for Metro said the agency is in the process of scheduling a meeting with the Police Commission to discuss permits. A time frame has not been decided, he added.

100 trees to be removed
Metro officials announced a  plan to remove more than 100 trees from several medians and parkways along the Miracle Mile for subway construction work.
The trees will be replaced after the subway is completed.At a recent meeting with Metro, hosted by the Miracle Mile Civic Coalition median advisory board, staff members explained the need for the tree removal to gain underground access.
Two Mexican fan palms and perhaps two other trees at the Wilshire/La Brea median will have to be removed soon because their roots interfere with utility relocation.The board is asking Metro to provide funding to relocate and take care of all four palms.
“Relocation of these trees gives us a great story to tell of how Metro, the council office and the community worked together to find an appropriate permanent home for the palms,” said Randy Murphy, board chairman.Kasey Shuda, Metro construction relations manager, said the agency understands the sensitivity of any tree removal.
Metro did look into the possibility of relocation and its arborist said the trees can be transplanted if a suitable site is found.

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