Quadrant Gates

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.