When we last checked on the Crenshaw Northern Extension last summer, the Metro Board was selecting three potential routes for further study in the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Report.
The 45-day scoping period for the project begins today (Thursday, April 15) and ends Friday, May 28. This is the time when Metro gathers public input on what to study during the project’s upcoming Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). For those who don’t speak planning, the DEIR is a legally-required study that determines why the project is needed, what impacts it might have and what Metro can do about any impacts.
The Crenshaw/LAX Line that is currently under construction will end at the E Line (Expo) Station at Crenshaw and Exposition boulevards. This project will extend the Crenshaw/LAX Line north to the D Line (Purple) and continue to the B Line (Red) at the Hollywood/Highland station, with a potential last station at the Hollywood Bowl.
On a big picture level, this project would forge a light rail connection between the South Bay and Hollywood. The project would connect with five of Metro’s busiest bus lines and also offer transfers to Metro Rail stations in the LAX area, South L.A., Inglewood, Crenshaw corridor, Mid-City, Central L.A. and West Hollywood. Riders would be able to transfer to the E Line, C Line (Green), D Line and B Line — meaning riders could continue to places including downtown L.A, Santa Monica, UCLA and USC, to name a few.
In other words, the project is a big deal that would serve a lot of destinations and make our growing local rail network even more useful for many people. This is important to understand: under the Measure M plan, the project would not be built until the 2040s. But Metro — working with the cities of West Hollywood and Los Angeles — is exploring ways to secure funding to accelerate construction.
As part of the scoping period, Metro will host three virtual meetings to provide the public with a project overview and to capture stakeholder input and feedback on alignment alternatives. The meetings will be held on the following days and times:
Thursday, April 29,
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87500507019
Meeting ID: 875 0050 7019
Thursday, May 6,
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82996680178
Meeting ID: 829 9668 0178
Saturday, May 8,
10 AM – Noon
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84880363069
Meeting ID: 848 8036 3069
Comments will be accepted between April 15 and May 28. Comments may be sent by email to crenshawnorth@metro.net or by visiting metro.net/crenshawnorth or call us at 213.418.3093.
