Metro and Caltrans hosted the first in-person and virtual Special Combined Meeting of the Long Beach-East Los Angeles Corridor Task Force (formerly known as the I-710 South Corridor Task Force) and Community Leadership Committee (CLC) on Monday, November 21, in South Gate as part of the Corridor Mobility Investment Plan development effort. Over 100 people participated in the meeting, including 41 from the Task Force, 21 from the CLC, and 40 members of the public.

During the meeting, Task Force members unanimously appointed four additional CLC members representing the cities of Downey, Lynwood, Montebello, and Vernon. In addition, Task Force and CLC members received presentations on Multimodal Strategy, Project, and Program recommendations for the investment plan from the Coalition for Environment Health and Justice (CEHAJ) and Goods Movement representatives.

The CEHAJ presentation was given by Laura Cortez, Co-Executive Director of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, with support from Sylvia Betancourt, Program Manager of Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma, Dilia Ortega, Youth Program Coordinator of Communities for a Better Environment, Fernando Gaytan, Senior Attorney with EarthJustice, Ghirlandi Guidetti, Attorney with Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, and Natalia Ospina, Staff Attorney with Natural Resources Defense Council.

This presentation gives you an idea of some of the improvements being considered.

Key recommendations from CEHAJ for the Investment Plan included investing first in residents who disproportionately suffer increased cancer risks and lung disease from diesel emissions trucks traveling from the ports along the Long Beach-East Los Angeles Corridor (LB-ELA Corridor), and recommendations for meaningful community engagement.

The GM presentation was given by President Sharon Weissman of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners with support from Chris Wilson, Senior Policy Manager of the Los Angeles County Business Federation, and Eric Lopez, Director of Public Works of the City of Long Beach.

The Goods Movement presentation highlighted recommendations for infrastructure improvements including roadway (street/active transportation), technology (Metro’s LB-ELA Corridor Management), and Freight Rail (increased on-dock rail infrastructure by ports & improved rail operations).

Metro and Caltrans District 7 initiated the Long Beach-East Los Angeles Corridor Mobility Investment Plan in September 2021 to develop a community-supported, regionally significant, multimodal approach to addressing major mobility, safety, air quality, and equity needs for moving people and goods through the LB-ELA Corridor between the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and State Route 60. The Task Force, with input from the CLC, Working Group Members, and the public, will develop a comprehensive investment plan for the LB-ELA Corridor for Metro Board review in 2023.