Local transit officials on Thursday approved funding for major studies of a proposed Red Line subway extension to the ocean, a light rail connector through Downtown Los Angeles and a tunnel for the northward extension of the Long Beach (710) Freeway, among other projects.
At its meeting on Thursday, the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted to approve a “major investment study” of the long-proposed 13.2-mile Red Line subway extension from the current terminus at Western to the ocean. The line would be built in two segments costing about $2.5 billion each: one to Century City and the other from Century City to Santa Monica.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who championed the subway extension under Wilshire Boulevard during his mayoral campaign, presided over the board meeting as chair of the MTA board and helped push the study funding through.
“The Red Line extension is critical to the future of our region,” he said. “We must provide viable alternatives to driving alternatives that are safe, clean and reliable.”
As originally proposed, the Red Line was to go to the ocean. But a methane gas fire in the Fairfax district and spiraling construction costs forced transit officials to halt construction of the Wilshire portion of the line at Western Avenue. Over the last year, opposition to the project has faded as studies have been done showing construction through the methane gas pockets can be done safely.
The MTA board also voted to study a proposed $723 million “regional connector” that would go underneath Downtown Los Angeles, hooking up the Long Beach Blue Line, the Pasadena Gold Line, the Eastside Extension now under construction and the Exposition light rail line slated to begin construction later this year.
Among the 19 other studies approved by the MTA board on Thursday was one for a controversial tunnel project that would extend the Long Beach (710) Freeway from its current terminus at Valley Boulevard in Alhambra to the Foothill (210) Freeway in Pasadena. Residents of South Pasadena have for decades resisted attempts for a surface extension.
Also, the MTA board voted to study a light-rail spur from the Exposition light rail line to Los Angeles International Airport.
