Metro planning officials last year rejiggered the Regional Downtown Connector so that tracks would go under Alameda in Little Tokyo rather than across it. Many area residents and businesses complained that a street-level crossing would disrupt traffic and commerce on a grand scale.

The new under-Alameda concept, which adds an underground Little Tokyo station, has to be added to the draft environmental study that is underway. The Metro Board of Directors planning committee will vote on that next Thursday at 2 p.m. at their meeting at Metro headquarters. The meeting was originally scheduled for Wednesday but has been pushed back one day.

On a related note, the regional connector now has a Facebook page and so far has accumulated 236 friends.

All the details about Thursday’s meetings are after the jump in an email recently sent by the Connector project team to interested parties.Greetings:

Last week we sent an email updating you about a new conceptual alternative that would fully grade-separate the proposed Regional Connector. This option was created in response to specific concerns regarding 1st and Alameda Streets.

The fully grade-separated alternative needs to be formally added to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report, so the alignment can be fully studied as part of the environmental process. Metro staff will present this recommendation at Metro’s February 18th Planning and Programming Committee meeting.

Please note the Planning and Programming Committee meeting was originally scheduled for the 17th at 1 p.m. The meeting date and time has changed to Thursday, February 18th at 2 p.m. at Metro Gateway Headquarters – in the Boardroom.

You can voice your opinion in a number of ways:

·Attend the Metro Planning and Programming meeting on Thursday, February 18th at 2 p.m. at Metro Gateway Headquarters. Please email us if you plan to attend.

·Send us an email

·You can listen to the meeting by calling 213.922.6045.

·Use Twitter and call attention to the Regional Connector study by using#regionalconnector! (You can follow Metro on Twitter!)

·Join our Facebook Group

We will send a follow-up email at the conclusion of the Planning and Programming Committee meeting, alerting you to the next steps. Most likely, the Metro Board of Directors will hear the item at their next Board Meeting scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 25, 2010, 9:30 a.m. at Metro Gateway Headquarters.

Metro appreciates your continued involvement and participation. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.