Billion dollar Crenshaw transit corridor underway (Source: Our Weekly)

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Billion dollar Crenshaw transit corridor underway

OW photo by Shirley Hawkins
By Shirley Hawkins | OW Staff Writer | 03.SEP.09

$1.7 billion project will bring jobs,
revitalization

County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas hosted a media luncheon Thursday, Aug. 27 to provide an update on the $1.7 billion Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Crenshaw Transit Corridor project.
The goal of the project is to improve public transit service and mobility in the Crenshaw corridor between Wilshire and El Segundo Boulevards by connecting with existing lines such as the Metro Green Line or the Exposition Light Rail Transit, which is currently under construction.
MTA officials hope that the project, funded mostly by last year’s Measure R, will relieve traffic congestion. The MTA will hold public hearings in late September and early October before voting on one of several options that have been proposed.
The supervisor was joined by Dan Rosenfeld, his senior deputy for economic development, sustainability and mobility; Roderick Diaz, project manager for the MTA; and MTA Chief Executive Officer Art Leahy, who all participated in outlining the massive public works project.
One of the options under consideration proposes implementing a Bus Rapid Transit line along Crenshaw which will feature special traffic lanes for the buses. The other proposal is a Light Rail Transit line along the street that would be powered by overhead electrical lines but potentially travel underground. The desire is for both options to link the Crenshaw corridor to the South Bay and to Los Angeles International Airport.
The MTA board is currently debating which option to chose, and whichever one is selected, is expected to be completed in 2018.
Ridley-Thomas stated he has two target objectives: “Quality is one and economic development is the second.”
Stops in South Los Angeles will include stations at Exposition and Crenshaw Boulevards as well as in the communities of Leimert Park and Inglewood. “The extension to LAX at Aviation and Century Boulevards will also be a major hub,” said Ridley-Thomas.
Ridley-Thomas added that the project will undergo an environmental review processes in early September.
“I want to make clear what I’m advocating for, and that is light rail transit,” said Ridley-Thomas. “I think it’s better for a lot of reasons. This alternative will provide relief on the 405 and other north/south routes as well as the western part of the city of Los Angeles. Congestive relief is the key factor in our rationale. It will provide efficiency and clean transportation to improve air quality.”
Rosenfeld, the supervisor’s senior deputy said that whichever option is selected will help economically revitalize the South Los Angeles community. “(The) Bus Rapid Transit project will generate about 3,500 jobs and 2,000 of those will be in construction. The Light Rail project (could create) 7,800 jobs. It becomes immediately clear why long term economic development will play a big part in this project.”
Rosenfeld added that the city of Los Angeles will create workforce training to make sure that high-quality jobs are developed along the corridor.