Meeting_Body
REVISED
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 15, 2025
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 16, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: LINK UNION STATION PROJECT FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT CERTIFICATION
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. CERTIFYING the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (Final SEIR) for the Link Union Station Project <https://www.linkunionstation.com/> (Link US) described in Attachment A;
B. AUTHORIZING the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to file a Notice of Determination (NOD) with the State of California Clearinghouse, and the Los Angeles County Clerk (Attachment B); and
C. ADOPTING the following reports for Link US, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act:
1. Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations (Attachment C).
2. Revised Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan (Attachment D).
Issue
ISSUE
Implementation of Link US is expected to improve the overall efficiency of Metrolink, Amtrak, and future California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) trains that serve patrons traveling to and through Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS) by reducing the amount of time it takes for trains to arrive and depart Union Station by up to 30 minutes per train. The viaduct would benefit services such as the Amtrak Coast Startlight, Amtrak Texas Eagle, Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo rail corridor (LOSSAN) - Pacific Surfliner, Metrolink Antelope Valley, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino Train Lines that connects to Pomona North new connection to LA Metro A line and Ventura County, Metrolink 91/Perris Valley Line, future service of High Speed Rail from Los Angeles to Anaheim.
The Link US SEIR discloses changed circumstances that have occurred since certification of the Link US Final EIR on June 27, 2019, the subsequent approval of CEQA Addendum No. 1, and the adoption of the Revised Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Plan (MMRP) on October 28, 2021.
The Link US Final SEIR includes new design elements, refinements, and additional impacts that were not identified in the Final EIR. Certification of the Final SEIR will allow staff to continue to design and perform right-of-way activities, including the relocation work that started under the Phase 1 Preconstruction Services for Link US Phase A. Board approval is needed to certify the Link US Final SEIR.
Background
BACKGROUND
Link US will transform LAUS from a stub-end to a run through track station by providing run-through capability, enabling one-seat rides between Orange and Ventura Counties and from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. Link US will address existing capacity constraints and improve schedule reliability by providing reduced trip times, reducing delays, and improving on-time performance of regional and intercity trains that operate out of LAUS, serving the southern California region on six Metrolink lines and the LOSSAN corridor. The proposed improvements include a new viaduct structure connecting eight (8) new run-through tracks for regional and intercity trains, south of LAUS Platforms 2 through 5. These tracks would merge into a minimum of four (4) tracks on a viaduct over US-101 and continue south to connect to mainline tracks along the west bank of the Los Angeles River. Link US would replace the existing pedestrian passageway under the platforms and tracks with a new expanded passageway. The viaduct would benefit Amtrak Coast Startlight, Amtrak Texas Eagle, LOSSAN Pacific Surfliner, Metrolink Orange County Line, Metrolink 91/Perris Valley Line, future service of High-Speed Rail from Los Angeles to Anaheim. Other Link US project improvements are depicted in Attachment A.
With CHSRA serving as the lead agency responsible for preparing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Metro serving as the lead agency responsible for preparing the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), both agencies agreed to prepare a joint supplemental environment document for Link US to address the changed conditions and additional impacts that were discovered after the EIR was prepared in 2019.
In September 2020, and in response to the potential need for railroad improvements at Malabar Yard, CHSRA issued a revised Notice of Intent (NOI) to initiate additional scoping and solicit public agency input on the development of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Metro anticipates CHSRA will approve the Final EIS in November 2025. NEPA clearance is necessary to ensure the Final EIS includes all required information to meet federal environmental guidelines, so Link US can be eligible to receive federal funding.
On October 28, 2021, Metro issued CEQA Addendum No. 1 and adopted the Revised MMRP to address the impacts affecting the city of Vernon. In December 2022, Metro elected to prepare a Final SEIR to disclose minor additions/changes that were not included in the Final EIR that was certified.
Circulation of Draft EIS/SEIR
The Draft EIS/SEIR for Link US was distributed and made available for a 45-day public comment period from June 21, 2024, through August 9, 2024. A total of 136 comments were received during the public comment period (including an additional five comments received after the public comment period). Refinements to the Preferred Alternative were made in response to public comments received during the comment period. Comments related to historic preservation, and consulting parties through the cultural resources process were considered. Additional modifications were made in response to engineering design opportunities aimed at reducing costs and minimizing project impacts, as compared to the Build Alternative considered in the Draft Environmental Document.
Public Hearing
A Public Hearing for Link US was held on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Metro 3rd Floor Board Room at One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012, with a simultaneous virtual session held via Zoom. Approximately 29 attendees signed up for the in-person hearing, while around 30 participants attended online. Link US received 133 comment submissions via comment card, email, info line, and online comment form. Language interpretation services were available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, and Japanese, but were not utilized by participants
Discussion
DISCUSSION
As disclosed in the Final SEIR, the regional and intercity rail run-through track connection to the mainline track (lead track) would result in a temporary impact on Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) West Bank rail yard operations. After the certification of the Final EIR and before the start of the EIS/SEIR, it was determined that the permanent acquisition of a portion of the BNSF West Bank storage yard would be required to accommodate construction of a new rail embankment on the west bank of the Los Angeles River wide enough to support regional and intercity tracks and future high speed rail tracks. Off-site mitigation to address freight related impacts is proposed at BNSF’s Malabar Yard in the City of Vernon (City), primarily on 46th Street and 49th Street. Malabar Yard, a BNSF-owned and operated facility, was selected to offset the permanent loss of 5,500 track feet of storage track capacity at the BNSF West Bank Yard. Currently, 49th Street bisects Malabar Yard. The proposed closure of 49th Street would accommodate 3,350 new track feet of freight storage track capacity that does not exist at BNSF’s Malabar Yard. Additionally, a new track connection is proposed between two existing track segments along 46th Street to enable direct freight rail access to and from BNSF’s Malabar Yard and Los Angeles Junction (Attachment E).
Following the release of the Draft SEIR/DEIS for public review and comment, and during the preparation of the Final EIS and Final SEIR, several modifications and changes were made to Link US. These changes were informed by public and agency comments, ongoing coordination with stakeholders, technical refinements, and updated environmental and engineering analyses. The modifications aim to reduce environmental impacts, respond to community comments and regulatory concerns, improve constructability, and enhance overall project feasibility.
The next paragraphs outline key modifications made between the presentation of the Draft and Final Environmental documents for Link US and are followed by general information about the Revised MMRP and the environmental review process (i.e., Public Hearing, Community Engagement, and Response to Final SEIR Comments Received and the Availability of the Final SEIR). Additional information about updated mitigation measures and community engagement for the Final SEIR are summarized in Attachments F and G.
KEY MODIFICATIONS
Maintain Vignes Street Bridge
In lieu of replacing the Vignes Street Bridge as originally proposed in the Draft SEIR/EIS, space will be made available for an additional lead track within the LAUS rail yard throat just south of the bridge. This change will minimize construction-related impacts to the surrounding area, and facilitate enhanced train operations for Metrolink, Amtrak, and CHRSA in the future.
Modified Elevated Rail Yard
This change includes providing a shorter elevated rail yard with fewer raised platforms than originally proposed. Instead of six raised platforms, only four platforms would be raised nine to twelve feet above the existing grade. The new platform and track configurations are as follows:
• two (2) platforms for regional (Metrolink) and intercity (Amtrak) rail trains,
• two (2) platforms with four (4) tracks for future CHSRA trains constructed to meet level-boarding requirements, and
• two (2) tracks at existing grade with stub-end tracks would continue to be allocated for Metrolink regional and Amtrak intercity trains.
Revised Concourse-Related Improvements
The following revisions to the concourse will reduce construction complexity, project costs, and visual impacts:
• The West Plaza baggage handling and ticketing services in the Amtrak building, and canopy will be removed. No changes to the exterior loading dock or parking area outside of the Amtrak building will be required.
• The existing pedestrian passageway is 28 feet wide. The Draft SEIR/EIS proposed replacing it with a 140-foot-wide passageway. However, the modified design reduces the passageway width to 100 feet. This change will improve pedestrian capacity and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act safety features.
• Providing a canopy to cover the entire rail yard is no longer being considered. Instead, four individual canopies 25 feet high (like the existing butterfly canopies, in style) will be adjusted to fit over the four new wider and longer platforms.
Fewer Run-Through Tracks for Modified Single Aerial Viaduct
South of the elevated platforms, a single bidirectional 75-foot-wide aerial viaduct that extends from LAUS, over US-101, to the west bank of the Los Angeles River, will be constructed, in lieu of the 205-foot-wide viaduct that was proposed in the Draft SEIR/EIS. This modified structure will reduce the total number of run-through tracks from ten (10) to eight (8). The eight (8) run-through tracks will merge into four (4) tracks on the portion of the viaduct that extends over US-101. The tracks will merge again into two (2) tracks on the portion of the viaduct west of Center Street and then connect to the Amtrak lead (or mainline track) before transitioning to the BNSF West Bank Yard.
REVISED MITIGATION MONITORING REPORTING PROGRAM (MMRP)
The Revised MMRP summarizes minor updates and refinements to the mitigation measures that are identified in the original MMRP, and reports on any adverse impacts that remain after implementing the design options considered for the Malabar Yard railroad improvements. These changes will do the following:
1) Address the changed circumstances considered in the SEIR.
2) Clarify the implementation approach and responsibilities.
3) Cite new policies/regulations applicable to the mitigation.
Refer to Attachment G for an overview of enhancements included in the Final EIS/SEIR as additional mitigation measures (quiet zones, pedestrian and streetscape upgrades, transit amenities, active transportation and Transit Oriented Community (TOC) support).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Metro, as the lead agency and project proponent, upon formally certifying the Final SEIR, affirms that the CEQA document was completed in full compliance with CEQA and was reviewed and considered prior to project approval. This certification confirms the legal adequacy of the environmental document and demonstrates that decision-makers have reviewed and understood the environmental consequences. As part of this action, the Board also adopts the required findings- including Statements of Overriding Considerations, if applicable- and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP).
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), as the NEPA lead agency, will certify the Final EIS and issue the Record of Decision (ROD) at its Board meeting. Metro staff will pursue financial assistance from CHSRA to support the engineering and construction of the project. NEPA clearance is essential to ensure the environmental document includes all information required to meet federal environmental guidelines and to maintain the Project’s eligibility for federal funding. The project is supported by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), Caltrans, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
Community & Stakeholder Engagement
A series of community engagement meetings were held with various stakeholders and staff briefings with Directors Bass, Los Angeles City Council Districts 1 and 14, and Directors Solis and Hahn were held before, during, and immediately after the Draft EIS/SEIR public review period that took place from June 21, 2024, through August 9, 2024. In-person meetings were also held within the project area near LAUS and the City of Vernon, and six virtual sessions were conducted via Zoom. Project materials and information were made available in English and Spanish during the in-person meetings and on Metro’s website. Language interpretation services were available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, and Japanese. Community and stakeholder attendance varied across different forums ranging from 3-20 attendees. Attachment F lists community and stakeholder meetings.
After the Public Hearing, there was ongoing coordination with members of the Little Tokyo and Los Angeles River Artists and Business Association (LARABA) communities to address the construction impacts related to the US-101 viaduct. The proposed mitigation measures include:
• Covered temporary night-time closures of the southbound ramps at Commercial Street.
• Aesthetic features for the viaduct columns.
• Streetscape improvements and bike lane enhancements.
On February 21, 2025, Metro received a letter of comment from the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles and William Mead Homes, requesting the following:
• Construction of a soundwall before work begins on the throat rail track area to mitigate noise.
• Coordination of aesthetic features of the soundwall.
• Air quality monitoring during construction.
The William Mead Homes and Hilda Solis Care First Village are located north of LAUS and near the proposed Link US improvements. To address the concerns raised by both organizations, soundwall abatement is proposed to help mitigate construction noise and dust and provide long-term noise reduction benefits for the surrounding communities.
Refer to Attachment F for an overview of other community/stakeholder engagement.
City of Vernon Workshops
After the Draft EIS/SEIR 45-day public comment period, Metro coordinated with City staff to address the concerns raised by the community, and in response, Metro proposed a suite of community improvements to offset the adverse effects of the Malabar Yard railroad improvements. When the City requested additional community improvements they were accommodated by the team. The Link US team participated in workshops with Vernon staff from September 2024 to May 2025, to gather the input needed to refine the mitigation strategies and to identify additional measures to be implemented to improve the quality of life for the surrounding communities. The topics discussed included traffic congestion, safety, air quality, emergency response, vehicle diversion, and quiet zones; and ensure there will be a comprehensive response to the City’s concerns.
Metro evaluated alternative rail sites to mitigate impacts on the BNSF storage rail yard. Malabar Yard, located in the City of Vernon, is predominantly surrounded by industrial land uses and has a residential population of approximately 200 people. In contrast, other comparable rail yards are situated in similar land use areas that have at least 60 times more residential population or would require property acquisitions. Similarly, some rail areas are surrounded by communities that would be more affected by air quality and noise impacts. At Malabar Yard, most residences are located one-quarter to one-half mile away, minimizing potential community impacts.
Additionally, staff met with local business/property owners and the community at large. Metro staff met with Director Hahn on August 6, 2025, and November 4, 2025. These workshops helped to foster collaboration among community members and business owners; marked a shift from previous outreach efforts that may have been limited; and helped to ensure the proposed mitigation strategies and design refinements being considered were aligned with affected communities and local priorities. The design refinements addressed public comments and concerns about construction impacts, property acquisitions, requests for additional traffic and grade crossing analysis and mitigation, and other issues. The Link US team completed several studies/reports that include, but are not limited to the following, to address the City’s concerns:
• Train Redistribution Reduces Train Movements with the new 46th Street connection serving local customers between BNSF’s Malabar Yard and BNSF’s Los Angeles Junction
• Intersection Blockages would decrease with the use of Malabar Yard to build trains instead of using the street
• Additional Community Mitigation Measures include Train Detection Cameras & AI Traffic Control, Quiet Zones Infrastructure, pedestrian access, and transit amenities.
Refer to Attachment G for an overview of the additional City community mitigation measures and improvements that are proposed.
Comments Received, Responses to Comments & Final EIS/SEIR Availability
Metro staff received Draft EIS/SEIR public comments through multiple channels, including verbal testimony at the Public Hearing, and via email, regular mail, online comment form, written comment cards, and the Project hotline. A total of 479 specific comments were identified, and Metro provided detailed responses to each in the Final SEIR/EIS response to comment section. CHSRA and Metro reviewed all comments received and continued to consult with regulatory agencies, organizations, and members of the public to resolve various concerns and comments raised. These consultations resulted in revisions and updates to the Draft EIS/SEIR documentation, including refinement of the proposed mitigation measures.
When the Final EIS/SEIR is approved and certified it will be made accessible to all from the Link US project website. A digital copy of the Final EIS/SEIR will be mailed to agencies, impacted parcel owners, and Draft EIR commentors. Also, hard copies of the Final EIS/SEIR Executive Summary will be made available in English, Spanish, Cambodian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Khmer, and Vietnamese by request. Printed copies of the Final SEIR will be made available at 9 libraries.
Refer to Attachment F for a complete listing of the libraries that will make the Link US Final EIS/SEIR available to the public.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Approval of the staff recommendations has no known adverse impact on the safety of Metro’s patrons, employees and/or users of the facility.
Link US is being planned and designed in accordance with LA Metro, Metrolink, CHSRA, Caltrans, and city of Los Angeles standards, as well as applicable state and federal requirements.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This action will not have an impact on the approved FY26 budget. The current Fiscal Year (FY26) budget for Link US under Project No. 460089 is $41,713,993.57, which includes funding for the Construction Management General Contractor Phase 1 Preconstruction Services.
Since this is a multi-year capital project, the Chief Program Management Officer and the Project Manager will be responsible for budgeting costs in future fiscal years.
Impact to Budget
The funds required for completing the preliminary engineering and environmental certification are Measure R (3%) Metrolink Commuter Rail Capital Improvements fund and State Transit Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) fund.
These funds are not eligible for Metro bus or rail operating or capital expenditures.
...Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The increased rail service provided by LinkUS will make it easier for Metrolink riders to access key destinations, such as jobs, housing, and healthcare appointments, as well as provide access to the greater LA Metro public transportation system at LAUS. Link US will also result in reduced train idling times, saving as much as 5 minutes for each ride linking the counties of San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara to LAUS. The project provides associated fuel savings and emission reductions.
Further, it is estimated that Link US will generate 4,500 jobs during construction, resulting in over 200 permanent jobs. In addition, during Early Work and Phase 2 Construction, the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and the Construction Careers Policy (CCP) will require the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) to hire 40% Targeted Local Workers, 20% Apprentice Workers, and 10% Disadvantaged Workers. Lastly, to mitigate impacts on the LAUS-adjacent William Mead Homes, the first public housing project in the City of Los Angeles constructed in the 1950s and located within a Metro Equity Focused Community, Link US includes construction of a new sound wall designed to reduce noise due to existing and future increases in train operations; and quiet-zone safety improvements at the railroad crossing on North Main Street to reduce the train horn noise in the area.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through planning and investment activities that will improve and increase rail service, thereby encouraging taking transit, including Metrolink, Amtrak, Metro Rail, High-Speed Rail, Municipal Bus Systems, and High-Speed Ridesharing.
Metro staff have conducted preliminary analysis to show that the net effect of this multi-modal item is to decrease VMT. Using data provided by the Los Angeles, San Diego, San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN), Metrolink, and SCAG, it is estimated that this project will result in 299,889,346 additional passenger-miles per year; and an annual reduction in VMT of 239,911,477 per year, or a 679,687 daily VMT reduction.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from the highway performance monitoring system data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Link US supports the following Metro Vision 2028 Strategic Goals:
1: Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling.
The proposed run-through tracks would increase regional and intercity rail capacity and reduce train idling at Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS), which would enable one-seat rides between Orange and Ventura Counties and from San Diego County to San Luis Obispo County through LAUS, and accommodate a new high-quality transportation option such as High-Speed Rail in Southern California.
2: Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system.
The proposed new passenger concourse and the new outdoor plaza (West Plaza) would improve customer experience and satisfaction by enhancing transit and retail amenities at LAUS and improving access to train platforms with new escalators and elevators.
4: Transform LA County through regional collaboration and national leadership.
The project requires close collaboration with many local, regional, State and Federal partners including city of Los Angeles, Metrolink, the Los Angeles, San Diego, San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency Caltrans, CHSRA, CalSTA, FRA and Amtrak.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could delay action to certify the Final SEIR, adopt the Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations, as well as the MMRP. However, deferral is not recommended as it would delay the project schedule, including advancing preliminary design and meeting the requirements in existing funding agreements, and for discretionary programs for which staff will be submitting applications for a grant award.
In Fall 2024, Metro submitted an application to the FRA requesting an award from the Federal-State Partnership (FSP) for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program and to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) requesting a grant from the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP). The FRA did not announce projects selected for a grant award from the FSP Program. The CTC did not select the project for a grant award from the SCC Program.
Staff will continue to explore federal and state funding opportunities, including from the FSP Program and California’s Cap and Invest Program, to address the project’s estimated funding gap of about $650 M. Staff will also work with Caltrans in its initiative to develop a framework for Metro and other County Transportation Commissions in the SCAG region to consider for addressing the project’s funding gap, including financing.
Any delay in SEIR certification would postpone platform improvements, affecting major events in and around Los Angeles. It would also disrupt timelines and cost estimates in future grant applications and existing funding agreements with the CHSRA and the California State Transportation Agency for Proposition 1A and Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) funds. A delay in certification would also directly delay the submittal of grant applications and decrease the opportunity for the project to be selected for awards due to the larger project cost and funding gap that can be reasonably expected for the grant programs to address.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval of staff’s recommendation, staff will make the Final EIS/SEIR accessible to all by posting it on Metro’s Link US project website. In addition, staff will
continue to engage and inform project stakeholders and the community about Link US, while completing the Final SEIR this Fall 2025.
Staff will also support CHSRA in delivering the Final EIS for CAHSR Board consideration this Fall 2025 for approval to help position Link US for federal funding as well as state funding.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Link US Project Location Map
Attachment B - Link US Notice of Determination
Attachment C - Link US Findings of Fact & Statement of Overriding Considerations
Attachment D - Link US Final SEIR Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan
Attachment E - Malabar Yard Railroad Improvements Location Map
Attachment F - Summary of Community Engagement
Attachment G - Summary of Additional Mitigation Measures
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Carlos J. Montez, Deputy Executive Officer, Complete Streets & Highways, (213) 418-3241
Danielle Valentino, Manager, Community Relations, (213) 922-1249
Michelle Smith, Executive Officer, Complete Streets & Highways, (213) 922-3057
Scott McConnell, Executive Officer, Program Management, (213) 922-4980
Michael Cano, Senior Executive Officer, Multimodal Integrated Planning (Interim), (213) 418-3010
Nicole Ferrara, Deputy Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4322
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Tim Lindholm, Chief Program Management Officer, (213) 922-7297
Ray Sosa, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4274
