AEG Releases Environmental Impact Report For Proposed Stadium
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Anschutz Entertainment Group released Thursday a 10,000-page environmental impact report for its proposed $1.5 billion football stadium in downtown Los Angeles.
In an executive summary of the report, AEG says it will pay for upgrades at 73 intersections in the area surrounding the stadium.
It will also commit $10 million to pay for an expanded light rail platform at 11th and Hope streets, as well as $2.5 million to add a lane on the 101 Freeway to prevent traffic backups onto the 110 Freeway.
"Light rail is going to play a huge roll here, because I think Farmers Field is the first time, a major project that is a destination that can change the habits of how people travel to those events," President Tim Leiweke said.
The traffic analysis prepared by The Mobility Group predicts football games would bring about 19,500 new car trips to downtown on game days.
The report estimates that 20 percent of fans would take public transit for weekday games and 15 percent on weekends. About 7 percent of fans would walk to games on weekdays, 3.5 percent on weekends, the report predicts.
The entire report was posted on the city Planning Department's website.
The EIR is scheduled to go through a 45-day public comment period, although Councilman Bill Rosendahl said Wednesday he wanted to extend it to 90 days, given its size. Once approved by the City Council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the report would be open to legal challenges for 175 days.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law in September 2011 that created special legal protections for the proposed stadium.
Earlier this week, billionaire developer Philip Anschutz said he's also willing to buy an NFL team to bring football back to Los Angeles.
After reports surfaced that NFL executives aren't pleased with the company's plans, Leiweke told reporters the company is also willing to revamp the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Podcast
AEG President Tim Leiweke talks about Farmers Field with KNX 1070.
The company has proposed building Farmer's Field, a state-of-the-art sports stadium and convention center that would be completed by 2016.
"As a company, you name me one project AEG's been involved in that we didn't finish," Leiweke told CBS2. "Whether that be Staples Center, a partnership with Dr. Buss and the Lakers, whether it be L.A. Live, whether it be the Convention Center hotel, whether it be the Home Depot Center, whether it be the L.A. Galaxy, and now, proud to say the Kings and the winning ways that they're on here. Every project we ever started, we've finished."
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