Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has opened the Southwestern Yard, where light rail cars to be used on the future Crenshaw/LAX Line and Green Line will be maintained. The facility is adjacent to LAX, and the Crenshaw/LAX Line will be put into operation next year.
The LRVs will be maintained and inspected at the 115,000-square-foot facility where other work will be done including body repairs, painting, storage and cleaning and washing. In addition, the facility will house general administration and support service staff, miscellaneous maintenance shops and equipment housing and storage. The rail yard will have the capacity to store 70 light rail vehicles and will have about 200 employees.
Depot’s features include pollution reducing construction processes, easy access to public transport for workers, treatment of storm water runoff and the use of low-emitting paints, sealants, coatings and materials. There is also energy-saving lighting and air conditioning.
The USD 172-million rail maintenance was designed and built by Hensel Phelps Herzog (HPH) under contract with Metro. Design work began in 2015and work was completed in January 2019 with the project on time and on budget.
The Southwestern Yard is part of the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, the 13.7-km light rail line that will meet with the Expo Line and connect with the Green Line near the Aviation/LAX Station. When the Crenshaw/LAX line opens in 2020 it will offer the communities of Crenshaw, Inglewood, Westchester and LAX a modern transit option that offers easy access to the rest of the Metro Rail system.
In 2020, Metro is expected to begin major construction on the Airport Metro Connector/96th Street Transit Station, which will be next to the new rail yard.
Share on:
