The Eastside Transit Corridor is a light rail line extension that currently connects Downtown Los Angeles with

East Los Angeles East Los Angeles ( es, Este de Los Ángeles), or East L.A., is an unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 118,786, a drop of 6.1% from 2010, when it was 126,496. For statistical purpo ...

. However, the extension is planned to extend further southeast to connect with the

Gateway Cities The Gateway Cities Region, or Southeast Los Angeles County (also shortened to Southeast Los Angeles and Southeast LA) is an urbanized region located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, between the City of Los Angeles proper, Orange ...

, continuing from a relocated

Atlantic station Atlantic Station is a neighborhood on the northwestern edge of Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States comprising a retail district, office space, condominiums, townhomes and apartment buildings. First planned in the mid-1990s and officially o ...

southeast to a new Lambert station in Whittier. The extension is planned to become part of the

Los Angeles Metro Rail The Los Angeles Metro Rail is an urban rail transit system serving Los Angeles County, California, United States. It consists of seven lines, including five light rail lines (the A, C, E, K, L lines) and two rapid transit (known locally as ...

A Line north of the

Regional Connector The Regional Connector Transit Project is a transit project currently constructing a light rail tunnel for the Los Angeles Metro Rail system in Downtown Los Angeles. It is designed to connect the A Line and E Line, which currently end at 7 ...

and the E Line south of it. The entire line is currently part of the L Line.

Phase 1

Following a new right-of-way, Phase 1 of the Eastside Transit Corridor extended the L Line (then known as the Gold Line) southeast from

Union Station A union station (also known as a union terminal, a joint station in Europe, and a joint-use station in Japan) is a railway station at which the tracks and facilities are shared by two or more separate railway companies, allowing passengers to ...

. It opened on November 15, 2009.

Overview of Phase 2

The

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), commonly branded as Metro, LA Metro, and L.A. Metro, is the state agency that plans, operates, and coordinates funding for most of the transportation system in Los Angeles ...

(Metro) has studied two alternative alignments for this extension. In 2015, Metro estimated the cost of both alignments of what was then known as the Gold Line Eastside Rail Extension at $6.0 billion (to be delivered in 2057). The plan included in the Measure M transportation funding measure is to build improvements in stages. In 2009, Metro published the Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 Final Alternatives Analysis Report, and in 2014 published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report. In February 2020, the Metro Board voted to eliminate the SR 60 alignment and combined alignment alternatives from consideration, and proceed only with the Washington Boulevard alternative of the project. (The SR 60 line may be considered for construction in the future.) Construction is scheduled to begin in 2029, with public service by 2035, though the project's timeline may be accelerated under the

Twenty-eight by '28 The Twenty-eight by '28 initiative is an effort set forth by former Mayor Eric Garcetti that the City of Los Angeles complete 28 transportation infrastructure projects before the start of the 2028 Summer Olympics on and the 2028 Summer Paralymp ...

initiative. Metro plans to merge the portion of the L Line east of Downtown Los Angeles into the E Line (which will then use the gold color instead of aqua on maps) upon completion of the

in early 2023. This will allow a one-seat ride for travelers as far west as Santa Monica, with transfers to other lines at downtown stations. In 2022, Metro recommended building the extension in phases — initially running as far as Greenwood Avenue in Montebello. Under the plan, the full extension would be studied to make way for the construction to Whittier when funds become available.

Proposed routings and modes of Phase 2

The Transit Corridor Project was originally proposed as a light rail route along Washington Boulevard. Metro studied three alternatives during its Initial Operating Study: along

California State Route 60 State Route 60 (SR 60) is an east–west state highway in the U.S. state of California. It serves the cities and communities on the eastern side of the Los Angeles metropolitan area and runs along the south side of the San Gabriel Valley ...

, the original concept to Whittier, and a project that built both routings. The combined routes would have served the communities of Montebello,

Commerce Commerce is the large-scale organized system of activities, functions, procedures and institutions directly and indirectly related to the exchange (buying and selling) of goods and services among two or more parties within local, regional, natio ...

Pico Rivera Pico Rivera is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California. The city is situated approximately southeast of downtown Los Angeles, on the eastern edge of the Los Angeles basin, and on the southern edge of the area known as the ...

, Monterey Park, South El Monte, South San Gabriel, Rosemead, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier in the east side of the county. All alternatives begin at the Gold Line's

Atlantic Station Atlantic Station is a neighborhood on the northwestern edge of Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States comprising a retail district, office space, condominiums, townhomes and apartment buildings. First planned in the mid-1990s and officially o ...

and head east. Metro ruled out the SR 60 Freeway and combined alternative, leaving just the Washington Boulevard alternative for further consideration and study. A new maintenance yard is included as part of the extension. During the Initial Operating Segment study, Metro concluded that Alternative 1 and 3 would interfere with future SR 60 expansions. Metro would have to buy some property and remove homes needed for a maintenance facility yard, as no large vacant lots were found. In February 2020, Metro staff recommended Alternative 2, removing the route along the SR 60 freeway (Alternative one) from further consideration, therefore also eliminating Alternative three in the process. Metro will focus on further studying and building the Washington Boulevard alternative.

Route selection: Alternative 2

References

External links

Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2

Measure R
{{Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Transportation in Los Angeles Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Los Angeles Metro Rail projects Public transportation in Los Angeles Public transportation in Los Angeles County, California Proposed railway lines in California 2035 in rail transport