Translate
Project Transforms LA River into Community Resource, Expands Safe Transportation Options for Equity-Focused Communities
Earlier this month L.A. Metro released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the LA River Path project, a walking and bicycling path along the LA River between Elysian Valley and the City of Maywood through downtown Los Angeles and the City of Vernon. With the release of the DEIR, Metro began a 47-day public comment period that will end on Feb. 2, 2026, during which community members and stakeholders are encouraged to submit verbal and written comments.
Once complete, the proposed project would close the longest-remaining gap in the LA River path, providing a seamless 32-mile grade-separated regional corridor for safe walking and bicycling from the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach. The LA River Path would directly serve communities in the Elysian Valley, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, Chinatown, downtown Los Angeles, the Arts District, the Industrial District, Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and the cities of Vernon and Maywood. The path would transform the largely inaccessible LA River into a community resource, establish new community open space and expand opportunities for safe active transportation in downtown Los Angeles.
“Projects like the LA River Path improve quality of life and provide mobility choices, foster connection and encourage more active lifestyles, all important goals as we look to build a transportation network worthy of a world-class city.” said Fernando Dutra, Metro Board Chair and City of Whittier Council Member. “The release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report is a significant milestone for the project and for active transportation infrastructure development in Los Angeles.”
IMPROVING ACCESS, MOBILITY AND SAFETY
The LA River Path project seeks to improve community access to employment centers, regional destinations, resources, amenities and healthcare services while expanding travel options. Approximately 76,000 Angelenos live within walking distance of the LA River, about one million people live within biking distance, and an estimated 17 percent of working-aged people who live within biking distance of the project bike or take transit to work.
All alternatives improve safety for people walking and biking while creating a path that serves recreational users, everyday travelers and commuters. Active transportation infrastructure strengthens community connections, lowers transportation costs, supports the local economy, improves quality of life and public health, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and eases traffic congestion.
Capital cost estimates for the project range from $595 million for a 3.2-mile northern segment, $688 million for a five-mile southern segment, and approximately $1-1.2 billion for a full 8-mile segment, depending on the alternative selected.
SHAPED BY COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT
The alternatives currently under study were shaped by extensive community and stakeholder input. Through Metro’s outreach efforts, community members identified access to opportunity as a top priority. While early feasibility study concepts placed the path entirely along the LA River’s west bank and mostly at the bottom-of-the-channel, all current alternatives now include segments that are either cut along the channel embankment or on structure on both the west and east banks that are linked by new bike and pedestrian-only bridges. Most equity-focused communities that stand to benefit from the project are located on the east bank and would not be adequately served by a west-bank-only alignment.
Community feedback also informed the selection of access points and key destinations. In response to concerns that a 12-foot path would not safely accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians, the proposed width has been increased to 16–20 feet, based on future demand forecasts of path users.
With limited available right-of-way along the riverbank, all alternatives incorporate elevated, incised and top-of-bank segments along the highly constrained corridor. A bottom-of-the-channel alternative was considered but not carried further because it fails to meet key goals for safety, access, sustainability and efficient mobility. Among the community and stakeholder concerns that were addressed in current alternatives include flood-related safety risks and closures, emergency access, length and grade of ramps and lighting and amenities. Significant permitting and construction challenges also impacted design choices.
“Through proactive community outreach, we’re striving to ensure the people who’ll use the LA River Path get the best possible project for their tax dollars,” said Metro CEO, Stephanie Wiggins. “The draft EIR studies multiple project alternatives that run along both the east and west banks of the LA River with design variations to better serve all Angelenos who live within walking and biking distance on both sides of the river.”
SUBMITTING PUBLIC COMMENT
Metro will hold a series of public hearings on the project during the public comment period, providing an opportunity to engage directly with the project team on the findings of the DEIR and provide feedback:
- Wednesday, Jan. 21: 6:30–7:30 p.m.Lincoln Heights Senior Center, 2323 Workman St, Los Angeles, CA 90031.
- Tuesday, Jan. 27: 6–8 p.m. Maywood Center for Enriched Studies, 5800 King Ave, Maywood, CA 90270.
- Thursday, Jan. 29: 6–8 p.m. Virtual via Zoom, https://bit.ly/larp_deir
Dial-in: 833 548 0276 Webinar ID: 833 2236 2142
- Saturday, Jan. 31: 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez Senior High School, 1200 Plaza Del Sol E, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
Live Spanish interpretation will be available at all public hearings. All Metro meetings are accessible to persons with disabilities. Other ADA accommodations and interpretation are available by calling 213.922.4710 at least 72 hours in advance.
In addition, comments can be submitted through the following channels:
- Via the project website at metro.net/lariverpath.
- Via email at lariverpath@metro.net. Please include “LA River Path – DEIR” in the subject line.
- Via mail to Metro, One Gateway Plaza, MS 99-22-3, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
- Via phone at 213-922-4004.
All comments received during the public review and comment period will be responded to in the Final EIR.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALTY ACT (CEQA)
The LA River Path DEIR was developed in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). It contains analysis on a range of alignment alternatives and design variations to address the transportation needs of the neighboring communities, providing important context that will be considered as the project advances and decisions regarding alternatives are made.
Metro will use the findings from the DEIR to facilitate the selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative and approve the project. Once the project has been approved, Metro will begin seeking additional funding sources for the project. The project is partially funded by Measure M, the Los Angeles County sales tax approved by voters in 2016, which allocates money to fund this and numerous other projects around the county.
Additional information about the LA River Path project can be found at
About Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for L.A. County and carries nearly 1 million boardings daily on a fleet of 2,200 low-emission buses and six rail lines. The latest October 2025 customer experience survey showed that customer satisfaction has risen to 87%.
Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, x.com/metrolosangeles, x.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.
