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Edward R. Roybal Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension

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Play It Safe. Look & Listen.

The Metro Gold Line arrived in East LA on Nov. 15, 2009.

With eight new stations serving diverse LA neighborhoods, such as the Arts District, Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights, this eagerly awaited extension will connect the Eastside by rail to Downtown LA, Pasadena, San Fernando Valley, South Bay, Long Beach and dozens of points in between.

Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension features include:

Six miles long
Directly connects to existing Metro Gold Line to Pasadena without passengers having to transfer
Eight new stations, two of which are underground
New public artworks at stations
Twin tunnels under Boyle Heights: 1.8 miles long
A budget of $898 million
Start of construction: 2004
Grand opening: November 15, 2009
Powered electrically with overhead catenary wires

Gold Line Service

Keywords: Gold Line Eastside Extension Overview
Last Revised: Wednesday January 26, 2011
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Metro has been working with the Community Advisory Committee and the Boyle Heights community to develop the list of transit related, pedestrian and bicycle improvements that will be implemented as part of the Eastside Access Project. These are now available at Eastside Access Enhancements.

Making the Connection

In November 2009, the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension began to provide residents on the Eastside new light rail transit service. Today the community is better connected to job centers and exciting destinations in Los Angeles County. Now Metro is teaming with the City of Los Angeles to improve pedestrian and bicycle access around four of the Eastside station areas, including:

Pico/Aliso Station
Mariachi Plaza Station
Soto Station
Indiana Station

Project Goals

Metro's design team will identify ways to improve access and safety with improvements that reflect the local culture and community spirit on streets surrounding the stations. To do this, the design team will work with the community members and businesses to identify opportunities, prioritize improvements, and design creative solutions for landscape, public art, lighting and signage on City-owned streets and sidewalks.

Project Benefits

Street improvements around each station will provide a better walking and bicycling experience. These improvements will provide both a healthier environment for the communities as well as an energized atmosphere for businesses.

Funding and Project Partners

In 2008, Los Angeles County voters approved a ½ cent sales tax called Measure R. As part of this funding source, $12 million has been allocated for these improvements. Metro will oversee the planning and initial design and partner with the City of Los Angeles who will oversee construction. Metro and the consultant team will also explore other funding sources and partnering opportunities that can create a sustainable and thriving environment once this initial project is completed.

Schedule and Timing

This is intended to be a model project for Metro and the City of Los Angeles for achieving improvements in a faster timeframe. The design concepts are scheduled to be completed by summer 2011 with implementation on some elements beginning sooner.

Please Participate

The success of this project depends on active community involvement. Metro will be hosting workshops in the community at each station location to get input right on the street. We will also conduct walking tours with community members in a hands-on exercise that will translate into buildable ideas. A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) will serve as a steering committee and help determine which improvements are most important to achieve.

Community Meetings

There are no meetings scheduled at this time, please check back frequently for updates.

Past Community Meeting Presentations
Meeting #1 - June 22 & 25, 2011

Keywords: Gold Line, Eastside Access
Last Revised: Monday August 08, 2011
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Quadrant Gates EIR

Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension Quadrant Gates Project

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is evaluating the installation of rail crossing gates for up to 24 at-grade intersection crossings along the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension (MGLEE). MGLEE is a six-mile light rail train service that extends the Gold Line from Pasadena to Union Station to East Los Angeles. Approximately four miles of the alignment is "street running" and operates at the speed of traffic in the center median of 1st St. and 3rd St. (Approximately two miles of the alignment operate underground.) There are a total of 24 signalized, at-grade intersection crossings in the surface portion of the alignment which are being evaluated for rail crossing gates.

Background

In October 2008, approximately one year prior to the opening of the MGLEE alignment, the Metro Board of Directors directed staff to prepare a feasibility study identifying the requirements for installing rail crossing gates at all at-grade intersection crossings along the alignment as an additional precaution to make drivers and pedestrians aware of the trains. The feasibility study was completed and presented to the Metro Board in October 2009. In November 2009, MGLEE opened for revenue operations, providing service from 4 a.m. through 1 a.m. daily. In December 2009, the Metro Board directed staff to take the necessary steps to install four quadrant gates at 24 intersection crossings along the corridor.

Environmental Analysis

Metro will initiate an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Assessment (EA) during the fall of 2010 in order to fully analyze potential impacts that could result from the construction and operation of the rail crossing gates. Findings will be used to identify the most feasible layout for the proposed rail crossing gates. An Initial Study was completed in June 2010 to identify the following impact areas for analysis in the EIR:

Transportation/Circulation
Land Use/Land Acquisition/Environmental Justice/Community Impacts
Noise
Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Historic Resources/Aesthetics (related to Historic Resources only)

Project Schedule/Next Steps

Scoping Meetings

Two Public Scoping meetings were held for the project with members of the public invited to attend at the following times and locations:

Tuesday, April 26, 2011
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Boyle Heights Senior Center
2839 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90033

Thursday, April 28, 2011
6:30pm - 8:00 pm
Centro Maravilla Service Center
4716 E. Cesar Chavez Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90022

Written comments on the scope of the EIR, including the purpose and need, the alternatives to be considered, the impacts to be evaluated, and the methodologies to be used in the evaluation should be sent on or before May, 6, 2011 to: Mr. Eric Carlson, Project Manager, Los Angeles Country Metropolitan Transportation Authority, One Gateway Plaza, MS 99-22-2, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or via e-mail to carlsone@metro.net.

Traffic Simulation

Please be informed that Metro in cooperation with the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) will be conducting a two-week traffic simulation at selected intersections along 3rd. St.

The purpose of the exercise will be to simulate Metro Gold Line train operations and traffic conditions that would occur with the installation of rail crossing gates at intersections along the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension. The simulation will take place over two weeks from May 11 and May 24 and will include changes to the traffic signal phasing at three intersections.

During the simulation period traffic signals at the intersections listed below will do to an "all red" traffic signal phase when Gold Line trains are approaching to simulate the the train's preemption timing that would aoccur with the installation of crossing gates. For this reason, drivers are advised that additional traffic delays are expected at the following intersections during the simulation period:

3rd St. and Civic Way
3rd. St. and La Verne Ave.
3rd. St. and Woods Ave. and Beverly Blvd.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's motorcycle officers and Metro Safety Ambassadors will be stationed at each intersection throughout the two-week simulation period to help insure that the exercise is carried out as smoothly as possible.

We thank you for your patience during the simulation period. If you have questions or would like to be notified of upcoming meetings, please go to Contact Us.

Last Revised: Monday May 02, 2011
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Eastside Access Project

If you would like to know more about the Eastside Access Project and/or be added to the mailing list, please contact:

Laura Cornejo
Metro Project Manager
213.922.2885
cornejol@metro.net
One Gateway Plaza, MS: 99-22-02
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952

Chester Britt
Outreach Consultant
Arellano and Associates
909.627.2974
CBritt@ArellanoAssociates.com
13791 Roswell Avenue, Suite A
Chino, CA 91710

Quadrant Gates Project

If you have questions or want to be notified of upcoming meetings regarding the Safety Gates Project, please contact:

Luzmaria Chavez Outreach Consultant Barrio Planners Inc. 323.726.7734, Ext. 15 luzmaria@barrioplanners.com 5271 E Beverly Bl Los Angeles, CA 90022-2020	Henry Gonzalez Metro Community Relations 213.922.3023 gonzalezh@metro.net One Gateway Plaza, MS: 99-4-5 Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952
Eric Carlson Metro Project Manager 213.922.3052 carlsone@metro.net One Gateway Plaza, MS: 99-22-2 Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952