Regional Connector final environmental study to be released Jan. 20

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This just in: The Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the Regional Connector project will be released on Jan. 20 for public review. It is expected that the Metro Board of Directors will consider approval of the document at their February meeting.

Here is the news release from Metro:

Regional Connector Final EIR Release Press Release

Categories: Projects

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8 replies ›

  1. @ Joel C:

    The good news is, if I recall correctly, they’re designing it such that it will be easier to add a station at 5th/Flower later if demand calls for it. I also imagine they will, as they have at most other subway stations, include accomodations for possible future entrances.

    Think of this project like a new bicycle. What we’re getting is nice, shiny, and highly functional. The bells and whistles and that nifty little baseball card for the spokes? Those can be added in later if/when they’re needed – but we do need the bike itself in the here and now. It’s not worth throwing away the bike just because it doesn’t have the cool basket the display model had.

  3. […] The final environmental impact report for the Regional Connector light rail will be released on Janu… After that, there will be a month of public comment–including two community open houses in February–before Metro’s board votes to approve the project and move it toward final engineering. Construction could start next year on the two-mile, fully underground line that will link the Blue, Expo, and Gold Lines (one way seats from Santa Monica to East LA and Long Beach to the San Gabriel Valley) and create three new Downtown stations by around 2018. [The Source] […]

  4. […] The final environmental impact report for the Regional Connector light rail will be released on Janu… After that, there will be a month of public comment–including two community open houses in February–before Metro’s board votes to approve the project and move it toward final engineering. Construction could start next year on the two-mile, fully underground line that will link the Blue, Expo, and Gold Lines (one way seats from Santa Monica to East LA and Long Beach to the San Gabriel Valley) and create three new Downtown stations by around 2018. [The Source] […]

  5. Like Joel C., I’m also disappointed in the lack of station entrances and the elimination of the 5th/ Flower station.

    However, I think we would be making a huge mistake to abandon the project at this stage. We’ve invested a lot of time and effort in meetings and planning just to get the project to this point. I would hate to have to start over from “point A” just because it isn’t “perfect.”

    We have to realize that funds are limited, and will continue to be limited until we are willing to pay more for transit through taxes and other revenue sources.

  6. I’m still confused on this because I have been getting so many different and not so straight answers. If I am coming from usc, lets say, and I want to go to pasadena, will I have to get off at chinatown and board the gold line, or will the expo line eventually just share the track and I dont have to get off the expo train.

    Thank you

    • Hi Gary,

      The plan at this point is for trains to run from Pasadena to Long Beach and for trains to run between Santa Monica and East L.A.

      In your scenario, you would switch trains at one of the downtown stations. The Connector still saves you a transfer — no having to go from Expo to Red to Gold.

      Steve Hymon
      Editor, The Source

  7. I have long been a supporter of this project, because it represents an unparalleled opportunity to connect the region’s separate light-rail lines into a single system.

    However, I am now strongly considering withdrawing my support and urging the Board to reject this project, due to the “compromises” which have been wrought by Metro staff. These include the deleted 5th Street station, and the lack of secondary station entrances (especially the lack of an entrance at 3rd/Flower, at the bottom of Bunker Hill).

    With the drop in steel prices due to the bad economy, I would expect this project to cost much less. I cannot even fathom how this project can cost as much as they are saying it will cost, with only three new stations and limited access. I expect the these compromises will result in much lower ridership and cost-effectiveness figures), as well as greater public mistrust of Metro’s ability to build cost-effective projects.