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Metro rep tells WANA about possible new LB light-rail line
July 10th, 2009 · No Comments
Randy Lamm and Cory Zelmer
BY NICK DIAMANTIDES
Staff Writer
Twenty years from now, there could be a new light-rail line linking The Blue Line at Long Beach to San Pedro and the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). That’s what Randy Lamm told the approximately 30 people who attended the monthly meeting of the Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance (WANA) last week at Jackie Robinson Academy.
Lamm is the project manager of a study being conducted by the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority (Metro). “I and Metro Transportation Planner Cory Zelmer are here to tell you about the progress we are making on what we call the alternatives analysis study for a 26-mile rail right-of-way that Metro purchased from Burlington Northern Railroad in the early 1990s,” Lamm said. “This corridor runs from just south of Union Station in Los Angeles to the east side of LAX and then southeast through the South Bay to Wilmington.”
Lamm explained that Metro is conducting the study to determine how to best utilize the 26-mile corridor. He added that, in the future, the transit agency might have to acquire additional right-of-way to link the corridor to the Blue Line (which runs from downtown Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles). He said that if that happens, a light rail might one day run along either Spring or Willow streets.
“We are looking at various alternatives and service options to serve the 26-mile corridor,” he said. “It’s a big area that traverses 12 jurisdictions.” He noted that the right-of-way varies in width. “It is very narrow in the northern area– probably only wide enough for one type of transit service,” he said. “It’s wider in the southern area and it also overlaps (for five miles) with another project that we are studying right now called the Crenshaw Corridor Transit Project that will run from Green Line Aviation Station near LAX to Crenshaw Boulevard and then north to Wilshire Boulevard.” He explained that part of the complexity of the alternatives analysis is making sure that whatever is done on the corridor is compatible with the Crenshaw Project.
Lamm told the audience that the Metro study is evaluating 13 different criteria, beginning with costs. He explained that his staff will try to estimate the capital costs as well as operating and maintenance costs of each of the alternatives being considered. Some of the other criteria include: the type of system that can fit in the right-of-way; travel time, reliability and connectivity; environmental benefits and impacts; environmental sustainability; financial feasibility; safety; and security.
Lamm explained that the study began with 25 alternatives, but his staff has narrowed the number down to four. The first of those is a train with local stops from Union Station to LAX. The next is a train with local stops running from LAX to either San Pedro or Long Beach. Third is a train with regional stops running from Union Station to either San Pedro or Long Beach. The fourth is an express train running from Union Station to LAX.
Lamm noted that the four alternatives could use light-rail (electric) transit, clean-burning diesel-powered trains, or commuter rail modes. He added that bus rapid transit was eliminated from further consideration after staff determined that it was not feasible on the 26-mile right-of-way for a variety of reasons.
He told the WANA audience that Metro began the study last year. “We have done extensive community outreach, beginning with five scoping meetings that we conducted in fall 2008,” he said. He added that seven technical advisory meetings have been held to date, five community meetings were conducted in spring 2009, and more will be conducted before the study is completed.
Lamm explained that so far the community meetings have shown that the public desires transit improvements along the 26-mile corridor and there is strong support for connections to LAX, downtown Los Angeles and the communities along the corridor. He acknowledged, however, that residents have also expressed concerns about environmental impacts, air-quality issues and safety due to the large number of grade crossings in the corridor.
After the presentation, Lamm and Zelmer fielded questions and comments from the audience. Several people said they would not want a light rail running on either Spring or Willow because those streets are already heavily used. Others expressed concern about parking problems caused by a large influx of commuters driving their cars to the light-rail stations.
Lamm replied that their concerns would be included in the analysis. He added that his staff expects to complete the study and make recommendations to the Metro board of directors by the end of this year. At that point, the board could approve one of the alternatives and vote to go forward with the next phase– an environmental review of the selected alternative. Lamm stressed that the study is the first small step in a very long process and the Metro board could decide to alter the alternative that it ultimately selects. A few days after the WANA meeting, Lamm gave essentially the same presentation at the monthly meeting of the Wrigley Association.
More Information
(213) 922-4004
www.harborsubdivision@metro.net
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