metro.net/wsab

west santa ana branch transit corridor

Next stop: new rail to Southeast LA County.

Fact Sheet

fall 2019

OverviewMetro is evaluating a new light rail transit (LRT) line that will connect southeast LA County to downtown Los Angeles, serving the cities and communities of downtown Los Angeles, unincorporated Florence-Graham community of LA County, Vernon, Huntington Park, Bell, Cudahy, South Gate, Downey,Paramount, Bellflower, Cerritos and Artesia. The West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor (WSAB) Project is a 19-mile corridor undergoing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process to prepare the corridor for LRT.

The project area is home to 1.2 million residents and is a job center to approximately 584,000 employees. Projections show the resident population increasing to 1.5 million and jobs increasing to 670,000 by 2040. Population and employment densities are five times higher than the LA County average. This rail corridor is anticipated to serve commuters in a high travel demand corridor by providing relief to the limited transportation systems currently available to these communities. In addition, the project is expected to provide a direct connection to Metro’s Green and Blue lines.

GoalsThe main goals of the WSAB Project are to:

1. Provide mobility improvements

2. Support local and regional land-use plans and policies

3. Minimize environmental impacts

4. Ensure cost effectiveness and financial feasibility

5. Promote equity

BackgroundPrevious studies analyzed opportunities for transit connections in southeast LA County, including:

Alternatives Analysis (AA) (2013) – Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) assessed alternatives to add a new connection along a 34-mile corridor from Union Station in LA County to the City of Santa Ana in Orange County, and recommended the LRT alignment as the preferred transit mode and northern alignment alternatives for further consideration.

Technical Refinement Study (TRS) (2015) – Metro built on the recommendations in the SCAG AA with a focus on the LA County segment of the Pacific Electric Right-of-Way (ROW)/WSAB project corridor. This study identified four new northern alignment options, updated capital cost and ridership forecasts, and analyzed specific challenges identified in the SCAG AA within the LA County segment.

Northern Alignment Options Screening Report (2017) – Metro analyzed six northern alignment options. Upon review, the Metro Board of Directors approved carrying forward four of the northern alignment options identified in the TRS for environmental study and initiated the scoping process for this project.

In May 2018, the Metro Board selected two Northern Alignment Alternatives – Alternative E: Alameda Underground and Alternative G: Downtown Transit Core Underground – to proceed into the Draft EIS/EIR.

In December 2018, the Metro Board updated the project definition after receiving feedback through scoping and other ongoing outreach efforts. Key updates to the project definition include: aerial structure over the I-10 (Santa Monica) Freeway; five new aerial grade separations; three proposed stations removed from further study (Washington, Vernon, 183rd/Gridley); removal of the optional Bloomfield extension and station; and elimination of Alternative G2 (Pershing Square design option).

Initial Operating Segments (IOS)Metro is evaluating the following two Initial Operating Segments (IOS) options as part of the EIS/EIR to accelerate delivery of the project faster than assumed in the Measure M Expenditure Plan:

IOS 1 – I-105 (Century Freeway)/Green Line Station to Pioneer Station

IOS 2 – Slauson Station to Pioneer Station

These IOS options were developed based on physical infrastructure limits and barriers, major origins/destinations, market trends and high activity areas. Proposed stations serving major activity areas and operational feasibility were also considered. These options were identified for further evaluation based on how they met the project’s five goals.

The EIS/EIR will study the entire project and the two IOS options. If an IOS option is implemented, connectivity to downtown LA could be accomplished via a transfer to existing Metro lines.

Public-Private Partnerships (P3)Metro is evaluating the feasibility and potential benefits of delivering the WSAB Project through a Public-Private Partnership (P3) program. P3s do not provide additional funding but may enhance financial capacity to advance construction in certain cases, along with other potential benefits to the project. Metro is engaging with the P3 industry to explore options to enhance financial capacity in order to advance construction of the full corridor.

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West Santa Ana Branch Transit CorridorProject Overview

Northern Alignment AlternativesAlternatives E and G are the two northern alignments currently being studied as part of the Draft EIS/EIR with the following station termini options:

Alternative E: Alameda UndergroundLos Angeles Union Station (LAUS) ForecourtLAUS east of the Metropolitan Water District (MWD)

Alternative G: Downtown Transit Core UndergroundAt 8th St/Flower, with a pedestrian connection to 7th St/Metro Center

Corridor Overview19 miles

12 new stations

Five new Park & Ride facilities

Study area: 98 square miles

Population and employment densities are five times higher than LA County

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board authorized study of additional northern alignments & community meetings

march 2018

Phases of Project Development

Meghna Khanna, Project ManagerMetroOne Gateway Plaza, MS 99-22-7Los Angeles, CA 90012

213.922.6262

wsab@metro.net

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Environmental Planning ProcessThe WSAB Project's environmental process is well defined by federal requirements stipulated in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and state environmental requirements stipulated in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The flow chart below highlights the major milestones in the environmental study phase.

Project Delivery and CoordinationThe project is on schedule for environmental clearance and the Draft EIS/EIR is expected to be released in December 2020. The Metro Board is anticipated to select a Locally Preferred Alternative in April 2021.

The WSAB Project involves a shared corridor of approximately ten miles of freight-owned Right-of-Way (ROW) that runs along the Wilmington and La Habra Branches (owned by Union Pacific Railroad, UPRR) and the San Pedro Subdivision (owned by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach). Staff is actively coordinating with UPRR and the Ports to obtain agreement on design and ROW, which is needed to advance the project.

FundingPer Measure M and Metro’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) financial forecast, as amended, the project has a

$4 billion (B) (2015$) allocation of funding (comprised of Measure M and other local, state and federal sources). Measure M funding becomes available in two cycles:

FY 2028 - $1B

FY 2041 - $3B

The current project cost is estimated to be $6.5-$6.6B (in 2018$), contingent upon further project design, coordination with freight railroad and the Ports on ROW, and development of First/Last Mile plans and costs.

Measure M indicates that an early project delivery may be made possible with a P3 delivery method. A P3 with a comprehensive delivery approach is being pursued as part of a strategy for accelerating a significantly increased project scope by 2028.

Project InvolvementMetro is committed to a comprehensive outreach program that provides project stakeholders with the necessary tools and resources to be educated and informed, and provide valuable input at key milestones. The Draft EIS/EIR is anticipated to be circulated in December 2020 and will include public hearings in early 2021 and an official public comment period.

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