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The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors at its meeting on Dec. 1 approved a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 Project, which will extend the Metro L (Gold) Line in phases from East Los Angeles to Whittier.
The Metro Board chose staff’s recommended Alternative 3 for the project’s Initial Operating Segment (IOS), which will extend the Metro L Line further east from its current terminus at Pomona/Atlantic in East Los Angeles to Greenwood Station in Montebello.
“Our selection of the LPA represents a key milestone in the project’s planning phase and will now allow us to complete the environmental work needed to get this vital transportation improvement project into construction,” said Glendale City Council Member and Metro Board Chair Ara J. Najarian.
The alternative chosen best meets the communities’ needs by having fewer impacts related to construction, traffic, noise, and property acquisitions. This alternative also has more environmental benefits and provides additional regional connectivity.
The Board also approved the Lambert Station in the City of Whittier as the terminus for the nine-mile project and authorized the preparation of the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the full project through the California Environmental Quality Act. Metro can now complete the EIR and make this project ready for construction by 2029 as programmed under the Measure M transportation sales tax measure approved by voters in 2016.
“The Eastside has been waiting a long time for this connection to the L Line that will serve a densely populated area of the county, offering equitable access to jobs and educational opportunities and providing economic benefits to surrounding communities,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Hilda L. Solis.
Over the last few years, Metro has been evaluating an approximately nine-mile extension of the Metro L (Gold) Line from its current terminus at Pomona and Atlantic boulevards to the City of Whittier via Washington Boulevard. When built, the new line will serve the cities of Commerce, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier, and the unincorporated communities of East Los Angeles and West Whittier-Los Nietos.
“It is important that we finally deliver this project all the way from East LA through Commerce to Pico Rivera and Whittier. This is just one more step in getting there, and we will make this project happen as soon as possible, to deliver a one-seat ride for these communities to downtown LA and beyond,” said LA County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Janice Hahn.
The Alternative 3 IOS approved by the Board today begins at the Atlantic/Pomona terminus station on the L Line (Gold) and ends at the Greenwood Station in Montebello. The selected LPA is approximately 4.6 miles and includes four stations. The LPA also includes design options at the Atlantic/Pomona station, a Montebello alignment and maintenance and storage facility site options and the Greenwood Station.
“I am pleased that the Board approved the Lambert Station in the City of Whittier as the terminus for this project. Like many Metro projects, the Eastside extension will be built in phases, and I look forward to its completion to serve the residents of Southeast Los Angeles,” said Whittier City Councilmember and Metro Board Member Fernando Dutra. “The Board also voted to aggressively pursue $150 million in statewide Major Project – Project Development Reserve funding for projects that expect to receive federal funding in the future. Our cities are eager to have multiple transportation options for their residents”.
Three build alternatives have been studied extensively in the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Build alternatives consider the full project to Whittier and IOS that would construct the project in phases. A quick summary of all the alternatives studied are:
- Alternative 1 Washington: Extends the Metro L (Gold) Line further east from its terminus at Pomona/Atlantic in East Los Angeles to Lambert Road in Whittier.
- Alternative 2 IOS Commerce/Citadel: Extends the Metro L Line further east from its terminus at Pomona/Atlantic in East Los Angeles to Commerce/Citadel.
- Alternative 3 IOS Greenwood: Extends the Metro L Line further east from its terminus at Pomona/Atlantic in East Los Angeles to Greenwood Station in Montebello.
Design options were also studied, including an underground relocated station at Atlantic/Pomona or an underground open-air station. Other design options are aerial (elevated structure) or at-grade (or street-level) segments in Montebello, including an at-grade Greenwood Station.
“We worked with all the communities along this corridor to ensure that we heard their concerns and needs and recommended the best possible alignment for the Eastside Transit Corridor. The locally preffered alternative will add rail connectivity and vastly improve transportation options in this corridor,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “We look forward to continuing the work to improve transit connectivity for our Eastside communities.”
The Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 is a rail extension anticipated to provide commuters in a high travel-demand corridor relief to the limited transportation systems currently available to them. In addition, the project will provide a connection to the regional transit network via the Regional Connector, a new Metro rail extension under construction in downtown Los Angeles that will open in the spring of 2023.
Measure M allocates $6 billion for this project in two funding cycles. Cycle 1 allocates $3 billion for the Washington Alternative beginning in 2029 and Cycle 2 allocates $3 billion for the second alternative beginning in 2053. The second alternative is being evaluated through the San Gabriel Valley Transit Feasibility Study (https://www.sgvcog.org/transit-study).
For more information on the project, please call Metro at (213) 922-3012 or send an email to eastsidephase2@metro.net. Information about the project is also available on Metro’s website at metro.com-beta.com/eastsidephase2.
About Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for L.A. County and carries about 800,000 boardings daily on a fleet of 2,200 low-emission buses and six rail lines.
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