Metro has a plan for better transit in LA County -— which includes the Green Line Extension to Torrance Project. This project is an extension of light rail along a four-mile segment of the Harbor Subdivision Corridor from the existing Redondo Beach Marine Station to the proposed Regional Transit Center (RTC) in Torrance, served by the Metro Green and Crenshaw/LAX Lines.
This extension will provide an alternative to crowded I-405 freeway and better connect southwestern LA County into the regional rail network through connections to the Metro A (Blue) and E (Expo) Lines and future LAX/Crenshaw Transit project. The project is anticipated to open in 2030-2033.
Project Goals
- Improve mobility in the South Bay by introducing reliable and high-frequency transit service.
- Enhance the regional transit network by providing more direct connections from South Bay to regional destinations.
- Provide an alternative mode of transportation for commuters who currently use the congested arterials in the study area and I-405. Improve transit accessibility for residents of communities in and around the South Bay.
- Encourage more people to ride transit, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Project Area
The project study area encompasses three communities, including the Cities of Lawndale, Redondo Beach, and Torrance.
Funding
The Green Line Extension to Torrance is funded by Measure M and Measure R, both a half-cent sales tax that funds a number of transportation projects/programs. Under both Measures, the project received a combined $891 million.
The Metro Board authorized a contract in January 2020 to begin the environmental process for the Green Line Extension to Torrance project and the team began preliminary studies. Public presentations and conversations are tentatively scheduled for late summer, pending public health guidance on assembly due to COVID-19.
In 2018, Metro completed the Supplemental Alternatives Analysis (SAA), soliciting feedback from corridor cities and stakeholders, refining alternatives previously identified as part of the Metro Harbor Subdivision Alternatives Analysis (AA) Report prepared in 2009. The SAA identified two alternatives to be studied in the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS):
Alternative 1: Metro-Owned Right-of-Way
Alternative 1 would begin at the existing Redondo Beach Station and follow the existing Metro railroad right-of-way for the length of the Project. Two stations are proposed: Redondo Beach Transit Center and Torrance Transit Center.
Alternative 2: Hawthorne Boulevard
Alternative 2 would begin at the existing Redondo Beach Station and leave the Metro right-of-way to parallel I-405 between Inglewood Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard. It would then follow Hawthorne Boulevard south before rejoining the Metro railroad right-of-way near 190th Street. Two stations are proposed: South Bay Galleria and Torrance Transit Center.
At this time, public presentations and conversations are tentatively scheduled for late summer or fall 2020, depending on public health guidelines due to the COVID-19 crises.
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