Beverly Hills Rejects Metro Holiday Construction Waiver

The Beverly Hills City Council rejected Metro's request for a holiday construction waiver October 20, preserving the moratorium on additional street work near the Beverly Drive station during the 2026 holiday season.

The Council adopted the rejection as part of its consent calendar on a 4-0 vote. Councilmembers Pynoos, Nazarian and Friedman and Vice Mayor Wells voted yes; Mayor Corman was absent. Item E-12 was included in the motion adopted in the official meeting recording.

The moratorium runs from Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, through New Year's Day, January 1, 2027. Metro and contractor Tutor Perini Corporation/O&G sought permission for final paving and striping on Wilshire Boulevard and adjacent streets between El Camino Drive and Rexford Drive, with the modified application requesting weekday overnight work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

According to the October 20 staff report and attached application, the contractor intended to begin final paving in early November but wanted the waiver as a contingency if weather or other delays prevented completion before the moratorium.

Metro argued that restricting the work could delay the project and leave the roadway unfinished. City staff recommended denial, saying the waiver would not significantly shorten the overall schedule or expedite the station opening and could prolong lane reductions or create open-trench conditions during the holiday period.

The rejection does not stop all construction. Under the existing agreement, Metro may continue work within staging yards and underground areas around the clock during the moratorium. Maintenance and emergency traffic-control requests remain subject to city review.

Staff also called for Wilshire Boulevard to reopen to three lanes in each direction between Beverly Drive and Crescent Drive before Thanksgiving. If weather delays final paving, the report says city staff will coordinate with Metro on limited interim work needed to maintain safe roadway conditions. Such work would not authorize general construction beyond those safety needs.

The staff report identifies no direct fiscal impact from approving or denying the waiver because the Metro agreement provides for reimbursement of relevant city oversight costs. The city received the initial application July 30 and emailed notice of the request October 6.