The Board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has approved the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 Project (Los Angeles E Line extension project).
This action finalises the environmental review for this two-phased project that will extend the Metro E Line 14.5 km further east from its current terminus at Atlantic station in East Los Angeles to Lambert station in the City of Whittier.
The Eastside extension will include three new rail stations with the new Atlantic/Whittier and Commerce/Citadel stations underground and the Greenwood station at street level. Additionally, a new maintenance and storage facility (MSF) will also be added and located in the City of Montebello.
“Extending the E Line from East LA to Whittier will offer access to jobs — including the creation of as many as 16,000 good-paying union jobs in construction — educational opportunities, and housing which will deliver economic benefits to many of our most vulnerable residents,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, First District and Metro Board Member.
The phase 2 of the project will provide commuters in a high travel-demand corridor relief to the limited transport systems currently available.
The initial segment from East Los Angeles to Greenwood station in Montebello will include approximately 4.8 km of light rail transit (LRT) underground, an 800-metre aerial transit and 1.8 km of track at street level for a total of 7.4 km of new rail line from the current terminus at Atlantic Boulevard.
“When this new section of the E Line opens, Metro riders in our Eastside communities will be connected to the greater network of transit throughout the Metro system. Added connectivity for all communities throughout Los Angeles County is a priority for Metro,” LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said.
The funds for the second phase of Los Angeles E Line extension are provided from the Measure M transport sales tax measure approved by voters in 2016. Measure M allocates USD 6 billion for this project in two funding cycles. Cycle 1 allocates USD 3 billion for the Washington Alternative beginning in 2029 and Cycle 2 allocates USD 3 billion for the second alternative beginning in 2053. The second alternative is being evaluated through the San Gabriel Valley Transit Feasibility Study.
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