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West Hollywood has been angling to get a Metro extension in their neck of the woods, although those plans have always seemed quite far off. Now, however, Metro has agreed to begin working on plans that might push construction to as early as 2020, WEHOVille reports. That's only four years away, as opposed to the quarter century or so that had been cited previously. West Hollywood City Councilmember Lindsey Horvarth worked with MTA CEO Phil Washington on a letter to the city in which they detailed the steps Metro will take to ensure that construction can begin if Measure M is approved this November. If Measure M passes, the county wide sales tax will increase from 9 percent to 9.5 percent, and Metro will use that extra money on transit projects. West Hollywood City Council has already approved a measure that would allow the WeHo to increase its own sales tax, in the hopes that Metro would include them in future plans. Some steps mentioned the letter include a feasibility study that must be complete by June 17, and an environmental impact report that must be finished by 2018. The feasibility study is already in progress.
The line in question would connect the upcoming Crenshaw/LAX Line to the Metro Red Line's Hollywood/Highland Station. This would send the train beneath West Hollywood, but as Curbed notes, it's not clear yet if trains will actually stop in West Hollywood. Metro's plan had once been to run the train from San Vicente underneath La Brea to Hollywood/Highland. However, consultants Fehr & Peers have presented a report that claims a longer route that went from San Vicente and along Santa Monica Boulevard would increase ridership by 300 percent.
More transit access to hospital @CedarsSinai @OlympiaMedical @MMMC_LA #finishthecrenshawline @metrolosangeles pic.twitter.com/4EVHy8lSlP
— AllOnBoardCoalition (@AOBCoalition) April 21, 2016
Horvarth issued the following statement to WEHOVille:
Investment in bringing Metro rail to West Hollywood is exactly what our community deserves. I am grateful to everyone who made the commitment from Metro possible. This is great news for anyone who’s ever wanted to get out of traffic congestion and avoid dealing with parking. Not only is West Hollywood the most walkable city in California, we are also on track to providing yet another transportation alternative for our community.
Related: Animated Map: Here's What Metro Wants To Do If Measure M Passes
This Dreamy Map Shows The Potential Future Of L.A.'s Transit System
