Metro Holds Final Rund of Regional Connector Meetings
Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008

An illustration of the intersection of Alameda and First streets shows a rail junction, vehicle underpass and pedestrian overpass proposed as part of the Metro Regional Connector. It is a component of an underground rail line alternative being considered by Metro.

Officials with Metro held their final round of community update meetings in Little Tokyo last week on the Regional Connector Transit Cor­ridor Study. The Regional Connector seeks to create an almost two-mile transit link between the Gold and Blue Line light rail systems through downtown Los Angeles.

Metro officials said the Regional Connector would cut down the com­mute time by eliminating two transfers along the city’s light rail line. It would also add an additional 7,650 to 10,000 new riders, according to Metro.

Two build alternatives will be pre­sented to the Metro Board for analy­sis and approval. An underground op­tion would have a rail line run under Second Street in Little Tokyo before heading south on Flower Street. This alternative proposes three stations along the underground line.

An above ground option would run past City Hall and connect north of Little Tokyo on Temple and Second streets. The board will also be present­ed with the option not to build a new rail system or to create a bus line.

During a presentation on Oct. 21 at the Little Tokyo Community Council meeting, some board mem­bers including Alan Nishio and Bill Watanabe expressed concern about the impact the underground option would have on Little Tokyo busi­nesses on Second Street. Officials for Metro said that while they couldn’t guarantee there would be no impact, but that they try to mitigate the im­pact to communities.

Metro staff will next take their findings to the Metro board which meets in November or December.