Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Metro

Metro West Santa Ana Branch Light Rail Alignments Narrowed

5:24 PM PDT on April 19, 2017

Metro’s West Santa Ana Branch study area. All images via Metro staff reports

Today Metro's Planning and Programming Committee approved four specific West Santa Ana Branch light rail alignments to be used for environmental studies.

The West Santa Ana Branch is a historic Pacific Electric Streetcar right-of-way that runs diagonally through southeast L.A. County cities including Paramount, Bellflower and Artesia. Measure M includes funding for two phases of light rail on the West Santa Ana Branch, with the line ultimately expected to run from Union Station to the city of Artesia.

In September 2016, the Metro board approved a four-year $12 million contract with Parsons Brinckerhoff to complete environmental clearance work for the line. The environmental clearance studies follow several earlier preliminary studies by the Southern California Association of Governments and Metro.

The southern portion of the line runs on a very clear off-street rail right-of-way. The alignment for the northern portion, connecting to Union Station, has not been finalized. With various options including extensive aerial tracks and subway tunnels, the northern portion looks like it will be relatively expensive.

Potential northern alternatives for the West Santa Ana Branch light rail. Image via Metro staff presentation
Potential northern alternatives for the West Santa Ana Branch light rail. Image via Metro staff presentation
Potential northern alternatives for the West Santa Ana Branch light rail. Image via Metro staff presentation

Today, the committee approved further study on four alignments for the northern portion of the line, two along the Pacific Boulevard corridor, two along the Alameda Street/Blue Line corridor. Metro labels the alignments as follows:

    1. Pacific Boulevard/Alameda Street
    2. Pacific Boulevard/Vignes Street
    3. Alameda Street
    4. Alameda Street/Vignes Street

The four alignments are mapped below.

West Santa Ana Branch Pacfic/Alameda alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Pacfic/Alameda alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Pacfic/Alameda alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Pacfic/Vignes alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Pacfic/Vignes alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Pacfic/Vignes alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Alameda alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Alameda alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Alameda alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Alameda/Vignes alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Alameda/Vignes alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Alameda/Vignes alignment
West Santa Ana Branch timeline
West Santa Ana Branch timeline
West Santa Ana Branch timeline

Metro plans to scope their Environmental Impact Report this spring, then prepare the full EIR, which the agency expects to approve in late 2019.

For additional details, see Metro's article at The Source and Metro's project page.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

South Pasadena to Remove Bike Lanes on Grand Avenue

The 0.6 miles of lanes are part of a batch of temporary Slow Streets installations that will mostly be removed, save for a few bits and pieces.

March 28, 2024

Legislative Update: Some Bills to Watch This Session

It's a good time to take a peek at how sustainable transportation and related topics are showing up on legislators' priorities. Here's a very NON-comprehensive list.

March 26, 2024
See all posts