Overview
Metro’s plan for better transit includes a new light rail transit (LRT) line to southeast LA County. This project would connect Artesia, Cerritos, Bellflower, Paramount, Downey, South Gate, Cudahy, Bell, Huntington Park, Vernon, unincorporated Florence-Firestone and downtown Los Angeles. Connecting this area to Metro’s rail network will provide alternatives to driving and create more access to opportunity.
Help Metro Rename the Project
In March 2023, the Metro Board of Directors motioned to rebrand the project to help increase awareness and excitement for the project prior to the release of the Final EIS/EIR in Summer 2024. The name “West Santa Ana Branch” is an outdated and inaccurate description of the project itself. Metro is launching a renaming contest and is offering participants the chance to win a $100 gift card for submitting name recommendations. The project name should reflect the communities’ character, culture and experience of the people who live, work and play in the cities this new line will serve. Take a quick moment to submit your new project name recommendations by Friday, September 29, 2023 at either of the following:
- RenameWSAB.com
- Call the project helpline at 213-922-6262 and leave a voicemail
Status
In January 2022, the Metro Board of Directors approved the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the project from Slauson/A Line in unincorporated Florence-Firestone to Pioneer Station in Artesia, a 14.5-mile segment, and approved a Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) in the City of Bellflower. The LPA will advance as part of the analysis in the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR), expected for Metro Board certification in 2024.
The Board also selected Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS) as the northern terminus for the project and directed staff to conduct a separate study to evaluate options for connecting from Slauson/A Line. The Slauson/A Line to Union Station Study is anticipated to be presented to the Metro Board in late summer 2023 and then expected to advance into a separate environmental planning process, after completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the LPA.
Metro anticipates initiating First/Last Mile plans for the project in summer 2023. The team will continue involving project stakeholders with the necessary tools and resources to be educated, informed and provide valuable input at key milestones.
Join us
The outreach team will be present at local events and destinations through the release of the Final EIS/EIR to share the latest updates. Find us at any of the events shown on this map. Events are subject to change.
To learn more about the project and access past project fact sheets, presentations and more visit the Documents section.