File #: 2024-0272   
Type: Project Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 4/19/2024 In control: Board of Directors - Regular Board Meeting
On agenda: 5/23/2024 Final action: 5/23/2024
Title: CONSIDER: A. APPROVING the 170th/182nd Grade-Separated Light Rail Transit Alternative, also referred to as the Hybrid Alternative, as the Proposed Project for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the Metro C (Green) Line Extension to Torrance Project (Project); and B. AUTHORIZING the preparation of the Final EIR through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) based on the LPA.
Sponsors: Program Management (Department), Maria Luk
Indexes: "Hot Spots" Program, Access-To-Jobs, Air quality, Airport Metro Connector (AMC) Station Project, Alignment, Average daily traffic, Bids, Budgeting, C Line (Green) Extension to Torrance, California Environmental Quality Act, California State Transportation Agency, Construction, Construction Acquisitions, Draft EIS/EIR was published, Environmental Impact Report, Federal Transit Administration, First/Last Mile, Fuels, Grade separations, Grant Aid, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, Grn Lin Ext Rdondo Bch-S. Bay (Project), Hawthorne, Holly J. Mitchell, Housing, I-405, Landscaping, Lawndale, Light rail transit, Los Angeles International Airport, Measure M, Measure R, Metro Rail A Line, Metro Rail C Line, Metro Rail K Line, Metro Vision 2028 Plan, Mitigation, National Environmental Policy Act Of 1969, Norwalk El Segundo Transit Project, Notice Of Preparation, Outreach, Partnerships, Pedestrians, Privacy, Professional Services, Project, Property acquisition, Purchasing, Quiet Zone, Rail transit, Redondo Beach, Redondo Beach Station - North, Redondo Beach Station - South, Redondo Beach Transit Center, Ridership, Safety, Safety and security, San Pedro, Senate Bill 1, Sidewalks, South Bay Cities subregion, South Bay Service Sector, Southern California Association Of Governments, Subdivisions, Surveys, Third rail, Torrance, Torrance Transit Park and Ride Regional Terminal, Transfers, Transit buses, Transit centers, Travel time, United States Department Of Transportation, User benefits, Vehicle miles of travel, Vibration, Walking, Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station, Zoning
Attachments: 1. Attachment A - Comparison of Alignments & Alternatives Evaluated in Draft EIR, 2. Presentation
Related files: 2023-0532, 2024-0448
Meeting_Body
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
MAY 23, 2024


Subject
SUBJECT: PROPOSED PROJECT AND LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FOR THE C LINE EXTENSION TO TORRANCE

Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION

Heading
RECOMMENDATION

Title
CONSIDER:

A. APPROVING the 170th/182nd Grade-Separated Light Rail Transit Alternative, also referred to as the Hybrid Alternative, as the Proposed Project for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the Metro C (Green) Line Extension to Torrance Project (Project); and

B. AUTHORIZING the preparation of the Final EIR through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) based on the LPA.

Issue
ISSUE

The South Bay lacks a fast, frequent, and reliable transportation option to connect the region to greater Los Angeles (LA) County. This unmet transportation need threatens the South Bay's economic growth, exacerbates socioeconomic disparities across the County due to limited access to opportunities, and worsens environmental conditions due to auto-related pollutants, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and energy use. The C Line Extension to Torrance is a critical piece of the rail network to connect people throughout LA County to and from the South Bay, facilitating access to jobs, services, and destinations within the region. Metro is leading the environmental study for the C Line Extension to Torrance Project and prepared a Draft EIR, which was released on January 26, 2023. Pursuant to CEQA, a single alignment (or Locally Preferred Alternative) must be selected by the Metro Board of Directors (Board) to finalize the definition of the Proposed Project and prepare a Final EIR.

Background
BACKGROUND

The concept of a rapid rail connection to the South Bay was first envisioned in 1980 as part of Proposition A, the first sales tax measure to fund the regional rail system. Connecting the rail network to the South Bay has been a long-term regional goal to provide a fast and reliable connection to...

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