On Saturday, May 17, L.A. Metro marked a significant milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of Segment A of the Rail-to-Rail Active Transportation Corridor. Transforming a once-abandoned rail line, the project has created a 5.5-mile path designed for walking, biking, and other forms of active transportation, emphasizing a more physically engaged way of traveling.
The event attracted a diverse group of attendees, including city officials like Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and Councilmembers Curren Price and Marqueece Harris-Dawson, alongside community organizers and local residents.
In his speech, Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson underlined the urgent need to address climate change, stating, “We need to take this business of climate change seriously and figure out how we transport ourselves from place to place.”
The newly constructed corridor runs from the Fairview Heights Station on the Metro K Line in Inglewood to the Slauson Station on the Metro A Line, providing an essential new transportation link for neighborhoods across South Los Angeles and Inglewood.
Originally proposed in 2014 by former board members Mark Ridley-Thomas and Gloria Molina, the Rail-to-Rail project has taken nearly a decade to realize, navigating years of negotiations, securing grant funding, community engagement, and making design revisions before breaking ground in 2022. With an estimated total cost of $143 million, as reported on its official project website, this investment reflects the importance of public infrastructure for community wellness.
During the event, Councilmember Harris-Dawson acknowledged early advocates of the project, including Stephanie Wiggins, Mark Thomas, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, lauding their collaborative efforts as a model for future initiatives.
Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell further emphasized the shared responsibility of the community in maintaining the corridor, urging attendees to take ownership of the space. “Family, we can do better too,” she remarked, motivating local residents to engage in small yet impactful actions to help keep the path well-maintained.
Echoing this commitment, Council President Harris-Dawson added, “The first order of business for our community is to use the trail, and the second order of business is to keep it in pristine condition.”
Local resident Angel, who attended the ribbon-cutting with his nephew, expressed his appreciation for the corridor as a safer option for cycling.
image source from：https://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2025/05/27/la-metro-celebrates-opening-of-active-transportation-corridor-in-south-los-angeles/
