Leimert Park Metro stop's future remains uncertain following board vote

The future of a light rail stop at the cultural core of black Los Angeles remains in doubt following a recent vote by the Metro board of directors.

The Metro board raised budgetary concerns as the reason it refused to require a stop at Leimert Park Village along the Crenshaw Light Rail Line. It instead voted to build one only if it can be done within the line’s $1.7 billion budget.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who sits on the board, is optimistic. “The bids have been coming in much lower than expected. I believe we will be able to build that station within the projected amount.” But the bids for the Crenshaw Line go out next year, when the economy may be better and the bids higher.

The mayor’s appointee to the board Richard Katz said Metro could use future federal money to build a Leimert station, but Congress is considering slashing transportation funding.

So Metro’s vote frustrated board member and L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, especially as the mayor declared his support for Leimert. “The objective here is to send a message to the stakeholders that we are serious about Leimert Park in this instance. To do otherwise creates unnecessary confusion.”

For the dozens of African-American business and civic leaders in attendance, there was little confusion after the vote – Metro’s board had declined their pleas to ensure that the first rail line through their community would stop at their cultural nucleus.