Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
MAY 14, 2025
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MAY 15, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST GATEWAY LINE SLAUSON / A LINE TO LOS ANGELES UNION STATION STUDY UPDATE
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE status report on the Southeast Gateway Line Slauson/A Line to Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS) Study.
Issue
ISSUE
The Board directed staff to initiate a Slauson/A Line to LAUS Segment Study (the LAUS segment) to identify a cost-effective alignment route and configuration in lieu of the all-grade separated configuration (underground from LAUS to I-10 along Alameda and aerial along A Line to Slauson Station) included in the Draft EIS/EIR . Metro staff has completed the study and this item presents the findings of the LAUS Segment study and discusses next steps.
Background
BACKGROUND
In January 2022, the Board identified the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the Southeast Gateway Line (SGL). The LPA includes a 14.5-mile light rail transit (LRT) line with nine stations from a northern terminus at the Slauson/A Line Station located in the City of Los Angeles/Florence-Firestone unincorporated area of LA County to a southern terminus at the Pioneer Station located in the City of Artesia, a new C Line infill station at I-105, five parking facilities, and a maintenance and storage facility (MSF) in the City of Bellflower. The LPA was subsequently approved by the Board on April 25, 2024, after certifying the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) per the California Environmental Quality Act and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) per the National Environmental Protection Action (NEPA) successfully receiving a Record of Decision (ROD). The Project has initiated implementation of the early works components of the project.
As part of the January 2022 Board Action, the Board also identified LAUS as the ultimate northern terminus for the Project and directed staff to conduct a separate study to identify and evaluate cost-effective options for the approximately 4.8-mile alignment along Alameda Street from the SGL Slauson/A Line Station to LAUS, inclusive of three proposed stations (LAUS, Little Tokyo, and Arts/Industrial District). The study intended to provide an opportunity to identify concepts that would lower the project capital cost, make it competitive for “New Starts” Grant Funding, and reengage the community to best define a project (including station design and locations) to meet the changing mobility needs of Little Tokyo, Arts District, LAUS and surrounding area. The study also provided an opportunity to address several comments received from the Little Tokyo community related to the Little Tokyo Station location and design. Attachment A includes the LAUS Segment Study Executive Summary.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
At the January 2022 meeting, the Board approved Motion #10 by Directors Hahn, Solis, Garcetti, Mitchell, and Duta to recommended that the Board adopt as policy that the full SGL project will be declared complete once it provides a single-seat ride connecting the City of Artesia (Pioneer Boulevard) to LAUS via rail (Attachment B). As directed by Motion #10, staff worked with downtown stakeholders to explore a cost-effective/competitive alignment for the Slauson/A Line to LAUS segment for “New Starts” Grant Funding. The FTA's New Starts project evaluation uses a weighted, multi-criteria framework. Qualitative and quantitative ratings across various criteria are combined to produce justification, financial, and summary ratings. Notably, cost-effectiveness is a critical factor; projects rated below 'medium' will not receive funding, regardless of performance in other areas.
Study Approach: Lower the LAUS segment cost & make it cost-effective/competitive for “New Starts” grant funding
The LAUS segment includes a 4.5-mile segment along Alameda Street from LAUS to the Slauson/A Line Station, in which three stations are being considered: LAUS, Little Tokyo, and Arts/Industrial District. A range of preliminary concepts were developed based on key considerations, including providing a one-seat ride to LAUS, enhancing regional and local mobility, supporting economic growth and transit connections, potential to transform the Alameda Corridor character, and cost competitiveness for seeking Federal “New Starts” funding. These concepts are shown in Figure 1 below. The concepts were then further narrowed based on stakeholder feedback and technical considerations such as right-of-way constraints and operational constraints.
Figure 1: Preliminary Study Alignment Concepts
Two concepts were advanced and evaluated in comparison to the baseline alignment from the Draft EIS/EIR, as shown in Figure 2. The two concepts include:
• Concept 1: Draft EIS/EIR Underground Refined
• Concept 2: Alameda Aerial Median
Figure 2: Slauson/A Line to LAUS Study Baseline and Concepts
Concept 1: Draft EIS/EIR Underground Refined is similar to Alternative 1 from the Draft EIS/EIR with an underground alignment constructed via tunnel boring machine between LAUS and 14th Street. The alignment was revised to an at-grade segment under the I-10 freeway instead of an aerial configuration that was proposed in the Draft EIS/EIR. Consistent with Alternative 1 from the Draft EIS/EIR, the Concept 1 alignment would continue on an aerial structure adjacent to the existing A Line on Long Beach Boulevard until it ties in with the Approved Project at Slauson/A Line Station.
Concept 2: Alameda Aerial Median proposes the same horizontal alignment as Concept 1 but proposes an aerial structure between 4th Street and 14th Street instead of an underground alignment. Similar to Concept 1, Concept 2 proposes an at-grade configuration under the I-10 freeway and continues on an aerial structure adjacent to the existing A Line on Long Beach Boulevard until it ties in with the LPA at Slauson/A Line Station.
Station refinements to address stakeholder comments
This study also re-explored the LAUS and Little Tokyo Station locations considered in the Draft EIS/EIR. Figure 3 shows the station layouts.
• At LAUS, the Metropolitan Water District station option is proposed to be advanced instead of the Forecourt station option due to higher ridership and fewer conflicts with other projects in the LAUS area.
• In Little Tokyo, the Little Tokyo Station is being included for all concepts as requested by the Metro Board. The layout and configuration of the station portals were refined to address stakeholder comments and input. The north entrance portal has been shifted closer to the A and E Line portal entrance, and the southern portal has been rotated to allow for improved visual considerations for adjacent residences.
Figure 3: SGL LAUS and Little Tokyo Station Layouts
Stakeholder and Public Outreach
Metro staff coordinated closely with stakeholders and the public in the study area to ensure the design and study recommendations reflect community input. Outreach efforts included booths at community events, collaborating with community-based organizations (CBOs), and study-specific briefings, including: 13 community stakeholder and public meetings, one in-person community update meeting, 2 virtual stakeholder working group (SWG) meetings, 6 property owner briefings, and 5 CBO partnerships. CBO partners were each sponsored at the $500 level to help reach out to stakeholders, distribute project information and encourage participation at working group sessions and hosted project briefings. Comments and feedback received from stakeholders are considered in the study findings.
Feedback from the stakeholder meetings and property owner briefings indicated that stakeholders overwhelmingly preferred an underground alignment concept. 94% of stakeholders, including residents, businesses and property owners, preferred an underground alignment, while 6% stated they had no preference. No stakeholders preferred an aerial alignment. Key topics of concern for stakeholders included potential business impacts, noise and vibrational impacts, urban design, and visual effects.
Key Findings
Each concept was evaluated for engineering constraints, environmental considerations, cost savings, and public support. Table 1 summarizes the environmental considerations for the alignment concepts, evaluating factors such as street closures, grade crossings, traffic circulation, freeway access, on-street parking, utility relation, noise and vibration, and planned bicycle facilities.