Joint Clean-up removes 140 tons of trash from Union Pacific right-of-way adjacent to the Metro A Line

The rail crossing adjacent to 92nd Street before the cleanup work.

The same location after the cleanup work!

Here’s an impressive statistic: more than 280,000 pounds of trash and weeds were recently removed from the Union Pacific right-of-way adjacent to the A Line (Blue) in South Los Angeles. That’s the equivalent of about 16 garbage trucks full of trash.

The clean-up along 11 miles of track between 24th Street and Alameda Street (about one mile north of Del Amo Station) led by Metro Facilities Contracted Maintenance Services Department was a courtesy of a joint effort between the Union Pacific railroad, the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. The work began in early February and wrapped up in mid-March. Graffiti abatement and bulky item removal were part of the work performed.

This is the third time crews have come together to clean-up the Union Pacific rail corridor — with two prior efforts in the latter half of 2019. All projects were completed to improve the safety and cleanliness conditions of the Union Pacific right-of-way adjacent to Metro’s A Line service — a stretch of track often perceived by the public as Metro right-of-way.

Metro would like to extend a huge thank you to its partners for supporting the Union Pacific clean-up activities. The success of this project is definitely a team effort. A special thank you is also extended to Metro’s Facilities Maintenance Supervisor Todd Garner for his tenacity and commitment to provide excellence in service and support.

Metro’s Facilities Contracted Maintenance Services Department continuously works with external public and private stakeholders to improve the overall safety and cleanliness conditions within and adjacent to Metro right-of-way and facilities throughout L.A.  County.

With ridership expected to rise as L.A. County reopens this spring, Metro will continue to make sure all riders — existing and those returning — have an enjoyable experience along our system.

9 replies

  1. Im glad the yellow borg finally came to understanding and got involved in the neighborhood and cleaned up those areas.
    Now if the can help out and get the LA mentally ill and homeless off the right a way

    Wilmington sub is not as busy it was years ago when SP owned it
    The trench Alameda cooridor handles most trains. Thanks MTA

  2. Since the people of LA dumped the trash there and sprayed the graffiti it’s good they contributed to cleaning it up.

  3. Union Pacific should have paid for this for as much hassle they give passenger services of any kind through much of this country.

  4. just as a matter of interest: how often are UP’s tracks used? surely not daily, but weekly? monthly? a handful of times per year?

  5. This is so good to see! One of the big disappointments I used to have traveling the A line (aka Blue Line) was the filth and trash along the tracks. Taking friends into LA or just traveling along, it gave such a poor image of the area. Now, if it could only be kept that way! It’s such a shame this is such an ongoing problem.

  6. Did Metro expend public funds to assist a multi-billion dollar company which pays very little in property taxes thanks to Proposition 13 in cleaning up its property? If so, as a shareholder in Uncle Pete, I thank you and I am sure especially Phil Anschutz thanks you.

  7. About time, but I am not sure waiting the graffiti is the right move. All that does is create a clean canvas inviting the next person,