One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Metro Staff Prefers Underground Route for Regional Connector [Updated]
Conceptual regional connector map | Image via Metro
Conceptual regional connector map | Image via Metro
As expected, Metro today released the draft environmental reports for the Regional Connector today and for downtown residents and commuters it carries some good news: staff recommend taking the route fully underground instead of at street level. As Metro explains, the nearly two-mile light rail segment will have a big impact on public transit in the region. "It connects four light rail corridors covering over 80 miles across Los Angeles County through the center of downtown Los Angeles," explains Metro spokesperson Dave Sotero. "As a result, light rail commuters should save 10 to 20 minutes per trip."
What that means is that trains will run continuously between Pasadena and Long Beach and East L.A. and Culver City (and eventually Santa Monica). The fully underground route will also add four new stations to downtown. 90,000 passenger are expected to use it daily.
It should be noted that the $1.24 billion fully underground recommendation is not final. Today begins a 45-day public commenting period which will be followed by a final Metro Board will vote. What they choose sends the project into a final environmental analysis before construction can begin.
[Update: Eric Richardson at blogdowntown, who has been following the line closely over the past two and a half years adds some facts. Those include the $173 million Metro needs bridge a funding gap and the projected opening date in 2019, which could be moved up by the 30/10 plan.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
