Eastside Transit Corridor


The Eastside Transit Corridor is a planned east to west transit corridor that will connect Downtown Los Angeles with East Los Angeles, by extending the Gold Line from Atlantic station further east to Whittier.

Overview

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has $6.0 billion in funds available for construction, available in 2029. The plan included in the Measure M transportation funding measure is to build improvements in two stages. In 2007, Metro issued a Request for Proposals to study alternatives for this new LA Metro Rail route. Metro narrowed the options to two alternatives and are currently preparing to publish a new Re-Initiated Draft Environmental Studies and Advanced Conceptual Engineering for public comment. A Supplemental/Recirculated Draft EIS/EIR is anticipated to be available for public review in mid 2020. A possible metro approval by late 2021. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2029 and service by 2035, though the project's timeline is expected to be accelerated under the Twenty-eight by '28 initiative.
LA Metro plans to rename the Gold Line to "E Line" east of downtown, once the Regional Connector thru Downtown Los Angeles is completed by 2022. The "E Line" service will be from Santa Monica in the west along this extension. A one seat ride. The San Gabriel Valley portion will be renamed "A Line" and be a one-seat ride to Long Beach.

Proposed routings and modes

The Transit Corridor Project was originally proposed as an LRT along Washington Boulevard. Metro studied during its initial Operating Study three alternatives east of Los Angeles. Along the 60 Freeway and the original concept to Whittier. Metro studied building both if funds and draft EIR concludes its feasibility. Metro concluded it did not. The combined routes would have served the communities of Montebello, Commerce, Pico Rivera, Monterey Park, South El Monte, South San Gabriel, Rosemead, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier in east side area of the county. All alternatives begin at the Gold Line's Atlantic Station and head east. Metro concluded the 60 Freeway alternative was not feasible. The Minimum Operable Segments must be a stand alone and a maintenance yard must be included.
Draft EIR AlternativesDescriptionNew trips
Estimated cost
Alternative 1: LRTSR-60 AlternativeTBDTBD
Alternative 2: LRTWashington Boulevard AlternativeTBDTBD
Alternative 3: LRTCombined AlternativeTBDTBD

Route selection: Alternative 2

Alt 2: Washington Boulevard RouteLRT Station
Atlantic Station ×
Atlantic/Whittier Station in East Los Angeles×
The Citadel Station in Commerce×
Greenwood Station in Montebello×
Rosemead Station in Pico Rivera×
Norwalk Station in Whittier×
Lambert station in Whittier×

In February 2020, Metro staff recommended Alternative 2. Removing the route along the I-60 freeway from further consideration therefore also eliminating Alternative three in the process. Metro will focus on further studying and building the Washington Boulevard alternative.
During the Initial Operating Segment study, Metro concluded that Alternative 1 and 3 would interfere with future SR-60 expansions. Metro would have to buy selective property, remove homes needed for a maintenance facility yard as no large vacant lots were found. Metro decided for funding reasons to remove the alternative and focus on the Washington Boulevard route to Commerce and Whittier.