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 presentationPotential 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:
Pacific Boulevard/Alameda Street
Pacific Boulevard/Vignes Street
Alameda Street
Alameda Street/Vignes Street
The four alignments are mapped below.
West Santa Ana Branch Pacfic/Alameda alignmentWest Santa Ana Branch Pacfic/Alameda alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Pacfic/Vignes alignmentWest Santa Ana Branch Pacfic/Vignes alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Alameda alignmentWest Santa Ana Branch Alameda alignment
West Santa Ana Branch Alameda/Vignes alignmentWest Santa Ana Branch Alameda/Vignes alignment
West Santa Ana Branch timelineWest 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.
Foothill Transit CEO Doran Barnes credits their successes to a "commitment to community," a "spirit of innovation," and fruitful collaborations with numerous partners
If you’re a regular reader and you’ve already contributed this year, thank you! If you value Streetsblog and you haven’t already supported us, please consider a donation as part of our End of the Year fundraising drive.