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Metro to Hold Community Meetings to Discuss Transportation Options for the Harbor Subdivision Transit Corridor

Metro will hold a series of community meetings in late September as part of their Alternative Analysis Study (AA) for the Harbor Subdivision Transit Corridor. The study will examine potential transit service along the Metro-owned Harbor Subdivision.

The Harbor Subdivision is a freight rail corridor, approximately 26 miles in length that traverses southwest Los Angeles County from Vernon to Wilmington. In the early 1990’s, Metro purchased the portion of the corridor between Redondo Junction and Watson Yard, along with several other rail rights-of-way, to further the development of the region’s rapid transit system.

The AA will evaluate a broad range of alternatives including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) with dedicated bus lanes, various types of rail technology such as Light Rail Transit (LRT) and commuter rail, as well as “no-build” and Transportation Systems Management improvements. Though alternatives will generally follow the Harbor Subdivision corridor, potential alignment and improvement options outside the immediate Harbor Subdivision right-of-way also will be studied. In addition, the analysis will examine potential financing mechanisms20outside the traditional funding sources commonly used for constructing and operating transit service.

The study area will encompass approximately 26 corridor miles including the jurisdictions of Huntington Park, Vernon, City of Los Angeles, Hawthorne, Inglewood, El Segundo, Lawndale, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Carson, Los Angeles County, and the port areas of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Together with the planned Crenshaw Transit Corridor, the Harbor Subdivision would establish a north-south transit link connecting the downtown Los Angeles area to LAX and potential South Bay area destinations.

At the conclusion of the AA, Metro staff will recommend a course of action to the Metro Board, including possibly proceeding with an environmental document consistent with both federal and state requirements.

Harbor Subdivision Study

The study’s goals include improving mobility in southwestern Los Angeles County by introducing reliable, high-frequency transit service options, enhancing the regional transit network by interconnecting existing and planned rapid transit lines, providing an alternative mode of transportation for commuters currently using the congested I-405 and I-110 corridors, improving transit accessibility for residents of underserved communities along the corridor, and encouraging a mode shift to transit, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Public involvement is critical to the success of the Harbor Subdivision Transit Corridor project. Metro encourages the public to attend at least one=2 0of the meetings listed below to learn more about the Harbor Subdivision Transit Corridor Study and provide Metro with your feedback and/or suggestions.

* Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 6:30-8:30 pm, Torrance Cultural Arts Center, George Nakano Theatre, 3330 Center Dr., Torrance, CA 90503
* Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 6:30-8:30 pm, Banning's Landing Community Center, 100 E. Water St., Wilmington, CA 90748
* Thursday, September 25, 2008, 6:00-8:00 pm, Westside Park Community Center, 2061 E. Gage Ave., Huntington Park, CA 90255
* Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 6:00-8:00 pm, El Segundo Public Library, 111 W. Mariposa Ave., El Segundo, CA 90245.

The Early Scoping comment period will end on October 22, 2008. Comments will be accepted up until that date by sending them to Kathleen McCune, Project Manager, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop: 99-22-3, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The public also can call (213) 922-4004 and leave a voice message or e-mail comments to HarborSubdivision@metro.net.