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Metro Staff Prefers Underground Route for Regional Connector [Updated]
Conceptual regional connector map | Image via Metro
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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.
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[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.
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