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Maps: Transit Coalition's Proposed I-405 Rail Project
With a decisive focus on the massive I-405 corridor, a transit project back by The Transit Coalition and The Regenerative Communities Project was presented yesterday during a joint House-Senate hearing in Los Angeles on transportation, and the 30/10 plan to implement several transit projects in the region as expediently as possible.
Bart Reed, Executive Director of The Transit Coalition, explains the scope and purpose of the project:
"If Metro can move forward with 30/10 by building a direct rail tunnel from the San Fernando Valley to Westwood, commuters could go from Ventura Boulevard to Wilshire Boulevard in just six minutes. This project is the linchpin of the 30/10 Plan, connecting Metrolink, Orange Line, Wilshire subway, and Expo rail together. The I-405 Rail Corridor would give commuters from Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, and the Antelope Valley an alternative that can be faster than driving to job centers in Westwood, Century City, and Santa Monica."
Included in the project, and depicted in maps distributed at yesterday's hearing is a proposed direct rail tunnel from the San Fernando Valley to Westwood, which would move riders between the two regions in six minutes. Phase 1 (Sylmar to West L.A.) would be partially funded by the 30/10 initiative, with a Phase 2 (West L.A. to Long Beach) a long-range project that currently does not have projected funding.
The 30/10 plan requires congress to loan billions of dollars upfront for the transit projects with a guarantee of paying it back, thanks to the Measure R sales tax.
"The I-405 Rail Corridor Long Term Vision map is the first of its kind identifying a specific route implementation for the project, for which Metro intends to begin the scoping process later this year," notes the Transit Coalition in an e-mailed release.
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