LACMTA Board adopts FEIS for Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor light-rail project

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors certified the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Final Environmental Impact Report for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Project. The 8.5-mile light rail project now advances into the construction phase, which could begin next year with completion expected by 2018. "Today's approval of the final EIR for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Project brings us one step closer to delivering another Measure R light-rail project that will bring thousands of badly needed jobs to L.A. County," said Los Angeles Mayor and MTA Board Chairman Antonio Villaraigosa. "Once completed, the new light-rail line will connect residents of South L.A. to Downtown and provide all Angelenos a new transit option to LAX." LACMTA is proceeding with preliminary engineering and refining costs. Later this fall, the LACMTA Board will consider the life-of-project budget. The total funding available for the project is $1.715 billion. The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation estimates that the rail line will generate approximately 15,100 jobs directly related to the project. The Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Project light rail line will connect the Expo Line to the Metro Green Line with six stations: • Exposition/Crenshaw • Crenshaw/Martin Luther King Jr. • Crenshaw/Slauson • Florence/West • Florence/La Brea • Aviation/Century The project connects downtown Los Angeles and the Westside with the South Bay and the LAX area. It provides critical linkages for the region's residents, employees and national and international visitors. The alignment is a combination of at-grade, below-grade and above-ground sections. For information on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Light Rail Project and to review the environmental documents, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net/crenshaw.