A Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) was released by Metro today for the Regional Connector project, the 1.9-mile underground light rail line in downtown L.A. that will tie together the Blue, Expo and Gold Lines.

Some quick background: Metro had been sued by some downtown business owners who alleged the agency failed to properly analyze why cut-and-cover tunneling was being done on that stretch of Flower Street — the concern being that construction could harm the businesses. A judge last year ruled largely in favor of Metro but ordered the agency to redo this section of the project’s environmental study to better explain why two tunneling methods were not being used.

The study will be circulated for public comment; details are below. The study does not change the Regional Connector’s route, require Board of Director action or the tunneling method chosen for Flower Street between 4th and 7th streets.

Two public hearings for the DSEIS will be held where the public can submit official comments:

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Los Angeles Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium

630 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles

Served by Metro Red Line: Pershing Square Station, Metro Lines 55, 53, 18, 62, 335, 720, and DASH D

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Japanese American National Museum

100 N. Central Avenue, Los Angeles

Served by Metro Gold Line: Little Tokyo/Arts District Station, Metro Lines 30, 31, 40, 42, and 730, and DASH A

Spanish, Korean, and Japanese translation services will be provided at both meetings.

ADA Requirements

Special accommodations are available to the public for Metro-sponsored meetings. All requests for reasonable accommodations must be made at least three working days (72 hours) in advance of the scheduled meeting date. Please telephone the project information line at 213.922.7277 or email us at regionalconnector@metro.net. Our TDD line is 800.252.9040 or California Relay Service at 711.

Information

The document is available for review by visiting the project website. Copies of the environmental document are also available at the following libraries:

Los Angeles Central Public Library 630 W 5th St, Los Angeles
Little Tokyo Public Library 203 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles

Public comments on the DSEIS will be accepted through July 27, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. You may submit your comments by:

•Email to: regionalconnector@metro.net.
•US Mail to: Dolores Roybal Saltarelli, Metro Project Manager, One Gateway Plaza, MS: 99-22-2, Los Angeles, CA, 90012.
•Visiting our website metro.net/projects/connector and clicking on “contact us.”
•Here is a complete listing of locations where the document is available for review. For more information, please call the project information line at 213.922.7277.