The anticipation of a new light rail line in Downtown Los Angeles has been met with strong advocacy from local businesses and civic groups, pushing for the construction of the Southeast Gateway Line to occur underground.
In a significant development last month, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) board voted to advance the construction of an underground segment of this line.
The board’s motion also directed Metro to explore funding options for the entire 19.3-mile line extending to Artesia through an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD).
This financing model aims to divert future property taxes generated by new developments along the rail corridor, creating a revenue stream to repay initial financing for the project.
Estimates suggest that this EIFD could potentially raise up to $2.5 billion for the project, according to the Solutions Alameda Coalition, which represents a collective of downtown business interests and civic organizations.
The Southeast Gateway Line, previously identified as the West Santa Ana Branch line, has been under consideration for several decades.
The line will travel in a southward direction along the Metro A Line corridor before turning southeast to follow an almost deserted rail line, connecting the Watts Towers to a new transit station in Artesia.
Projected costs for the entire project hover around $9 billion.
The Metro has broken the project into two phases, with the first phase encompassing a 14.5-mile segment stretching from Artesia to Slauson Avenue station on the A Line, also known as the Blue Line.
However, it is the second phase, a 4.8-mile stretch from Slauson Avenue to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, that has stirred significant concern among local advocates.
Metro has been evaluating two potential options for this segment: an underground tunnel or an elevated guideway.
In response to these considerations, the Solutions Alameda Coalition has been vocal in its advocacy for the underground option.
This coalition includes the Central City Association, which champions the interests of downtown businesses and property owners, as well as neighborhood councils, nonprofits, and key individual businesses.
Moreover, the coalition has garnered support from the Los Angeles/Orange County Building and Construction Trades Council, a significant local labor union.
The coalition argues that opting for the more expensive underground option is essential, claiming that an elevated guideway would disrupt neighborhood connectivity, hinder access for local businesses, and detract from the overall community atmosphere.
“Today’s vote is a watershed moment for Downtown Los Angeles and the entire region,” remarked Mark Falcone, chair of the coalition.
He emphasized that adopting the underground construction approach reflects not only sound transit policy but also a broader statement regarding community values and aspirations for the region.
In its efforts to support the more costly underground option, the coalition is urging Metro to collaborate with various jurisdictions along the route to establish an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD).
EIFDs are designed to replicate the financing mechanisms used by redevelopment agencies that were dissolved across California a decade ago.
This approach employs tax increment financing to capture revenue generated from subsequent developments within the designated area, thus providing critical funding to support the public infrastructure project.
“Our members build the infrastructure of this region – and we want to build it the right way,” stated Ernesto Medrano, executive secretary of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council.
image source from：https://labusinessjournal.com/transportation/southeast-gateway-line-heads-underground/
