Metro has plans to connect more of the South Bay by extending the C Line (Green) from the Redondo Beach (Marine) Station to the new Torrance Transit Center which would bring much needed rail to the area. This extension will provide an alternative to congestion along the busy I-405 corridor and expand access to the region by connecting to the existing Metro Rail K (Crenshaw), J (Silver) and A (Blue) Lines.
But this project is in danger thanks to the whims of a few wealthy suburbanites in Torrance, Lawndale, and Redondo Beach — even though almost 70% of the residents of those cities support the project. We need mobility advocates to voice their support for the project, especially those who live and work in the South Bay.
Streets for All supports the alignments on the Metro right-of-way (Metro ROW Elevated/At-Grade and ROW Hybrid) since they are most financially feasible, connect directly to the Redondo Beach Transit Center for seamless bus & bike connections, add new neighborhood multi-use trails, and provide much-needed modernizations and safety upgrades to the freight corridor for the people who live there.
Tell Metro that you support the train to Torrance with this letter. Do you work for or with another local org? Join our coalition sign-on, because our voices are stronger together!
Upcoming Meetings:
LA Metro Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, May 23 at 10am
In person at: One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles 90012, 3rd Floor, Metro Board Room
Or via phone: 202-735-3323 and enter Access Code: 5647249# (English) or 7292892# (Español)
Want to make public comment? Use this toolkit from our friends at South Bay Forward!
LA Metro Planning and Programming Committee
Wednesday, April 17 at 1pm
In person: One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles 90012, 3rd Floor, Metro Board Room
Or via phone: 202-735-3323 and enter Access Code: 5647249# (English) or 7292892# (Español)
LA Metro Executive Management Committee
Thursday, April 18 at 11:00 am
In person: One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles 90012, 3rd Floor, Metro Board Room
Or via phone: 202-735-3323 and enter Access Code: 5647249# (English) or 7292892# (Español)
Past Meetings:
South Bay Cities COG Transportation Meeting
Monday, December 11 at 10am
In person: 2355 Crenshaw Bl, Suite 125, Torrance, CA
Or via Zoom
C Line Community Walk with Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell
Saturday, December 16 at 10am
Meet at William Green Park in Lawndale
Metro Board Meeting
This item was originally scheduled for the meeting on October 26 at 10am, but has been rescheduled to early 2024 — date TBD. Details to follow about submitting advanced written public comment to the Board, and participating live.
South Bay Cities COG Transportation Meeting on Oct 16
Details to follow about submitting advanced written public comment to the Board, and participating live.
Torrance City Council Meeting on Oct 24
Details to follow about submitting advanced written public comment to the Board, and participating live.
Redondo Beach City Council: September 19th at 6pm
In person: 415 Diamond Street, Redondo Beach, CA.
Participate via Zoom by registering in advance at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MRH1d55jQlS1-qh5ONJ8eA
Metro Planning & Programming Committee: September 20 at 1pm
In person: One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 3rd Floor, Metro Board Room
Watch online: https://boardagendas.metro.net
Listen by phone: Dial 888-251-2949 and enter Access Code: 8231160# (English) or 4544724# (Español)
Metro Executive Management Committee: September 21 at 11am
In person: One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 3rd Floor, Metro Board Room
Watch online: https://boardagendas.metro.net
Listen by phone: Dial 888-251-2949 and enter Access Code: 8231160# (English) or 4544724# (Español)
For organizations:
An overview of the situation:
EQUITY & MOBILITY: The extension will connect people to jobs and homes, including disadvantaged communities in the South Bay. Two of Metro’s bus lines that serve the South Bay—the 125 from Norwalk through Gardena, Hawthorne and Manhattan Beach, and the 211/215 from Inglewood through Lennox, Hawthorne, and Lawndale and terminating at the Redondo Beach Transit Center—have the highest levels of cash paying riders in the entire Metro system. ROW alignments will also add new neighborhood walking and biking paths for safe mobility for residents on sections where there is no sidewalk currently.
SEAMLESS TRANSIT: The ROW alignment provides direct bus, bike, and parking connections at the new Redondo Beach Transit Center, making it easy to choose transit. It is a much quieter and pleasant transit station than any along Hawthorne Blvd, which is a loud highway and would force riders to cross 4 lanes of traffic to reach an elevated median station.
COST-EFFECTIVE: Metro ROW Elevated/At-Grade is most cost-effective and responsive to taxpayer dollars because Metro already owns the right-of-way and will not need to acquire homes. Hawthorne Blvd is $1 billion more expensive and severely underfunded, and will require significant property acquisitions and further delays with Caltrans and NEPA review processes.
SAFETY: The ROW alignment brings essential safety upgrades to an aging freight route with new bridges, pedestrian gates, sound walls, multi-use trails, and quiet zone technology. This is a major upgrade to the current conditions of the freight corridor in neighborhoods and will make conditions safer for pedestrians.
STREAMLINED BUILD: Metro already owns the right-of-way so construction will be efficient and streamlined, with the fastest date of completion (2033). Similar conditions exist along the A Line in South Pasadena, Highland Park, and South LA and along the E Line from Westwood Blvd to Bundy Dr. Construction will occur in phases to minimize disruptions to the neighborhood.
