LACMTA shuts down Long Beach Loop for light rail reconstruction

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (LACMTA) long-planned $1.2 billion overhaul of the Blue Line will focus on the downtown Long Beach loop of the light-rail system, with a 30-day shutdown that began September 20, 2014.

 

Improvements will include a second canopy for stations designed with one canopy, new paint and lighting along with sections that will receive new track, track bedding and track switches along with new overhead power lines.

The Blue Line is Los Angeles County’s oldest light-rail line, linking downtown Long Beach and Downtown Los Angeles since 1990. With its nearly 90,000 weekday boardings, the Blue Line is one of the busiest light-rail systems in the United States.

“Back when the Blue Line opened, planners knew that in about 25 years they would need to replace components and an overhaul would be required to meet evolution in design standards and technology, said LACMTA Board member Diane DuBois, also a member of the Lakewood City Council and Gateway Cities Council of Governments. “This upgrade to downtown Long Beach embraces new design, new materials and new, safer standards for passengers and employees,”

LACMTA has five other projects either under construction or well along in planning, including the Crenshaw/LAX Line, the Expo Line extension to Santa Monica, the Purple Line extension to Westwood, the Gold Line extension to Azusa and the downtown Los Angeles Light Rail Regional Connector.

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