The railroad, which runs through the heart of downtown Los Angeles and connects the foothills and the beach, will open on Father’s Day weekend, June 16.
known as regional connector, Two-mile lines eliminate the need to transfer between L (Gold), A (Blue), and E (Expo) lines, allowing commuters to ride from Azusa to Long Beach in 1 hour and 58 minutes, or from East Los Angeles to Santa Monica You will be able to in 1 hour and 9 minutes. Officials plan to make the rides free when they open.
Two years behind schedule and $335 million over budget, this four-station underground light rail line will take the historic city from the existing 7/Metro Center station to the new Little Tokyo/Arts District station. cross the center of
Metro Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Wiggins will speak Monday during a “sneak peek” ride of the new regional connector, which is due to open soon.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
“This is a game changer,” said Stephanie Wiggins, chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “This eliminates all the so-called friction within the system and you don’t have to worry about where to change to connect to another train.”
The new tracks connect the Gold, Blue and Expo routes, giving riders longer, more seamless north-south and east-west travel options. The connection will connect three major lines along a single route downtown, and Wiggins said he could shave 20 minutes off travel time for commuters who previously had to transfer. This rail line is crucial to the agency’s overall plan to significantly expand its rail network for the 2028 Olympics.
Construction under some of Los Angeles’ oldest urban areas has proven difficult.
“No one has ever done anything to build something in the heart of downtown that connects three existing legacy lines that have been built in 30 years,” said the deputy chief program manager for the project. Matthew Antonelli said.
Subway train driver Glenda Murrell, who has worked for Metro since 1997, drives a train during a “secret” ride on the soon-to-be-opened new regional connecting line.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Excavations in the tunnels have unearthed everything from old aqueducts to whale bones. Near Walt Disney Hall and the Colburn School, engineers had to build the track without vibrations or noise that would detract from the concert-goer’s experience. On Broadway, engineers had to build stations so that they could withstand the weight of the skyscrapers overhead. And Bunker Hill presented a unique set of challenges. The Grand Avenue station had to be built over 100 feet underground and could only be reached by six elevators and stairs. Officials say it’s the only stop deep on the West Coast.
Little Tokyo Station was once an above-ground Gold Line station, but has been newly constructed underground. This connector allows the A and L lines to be combined north-south for 79.5 miles from Azusa to Long Beach (soon to become one long A line) and the E-line to be extended from East Los Angeles to Santa for 35.5 miles. will be Monica. Transportation officials say the new Line A will be the longest light rail line in the country.
“This is our new red car. Only yellow,” said Hilda Solis, a Los Angeles County superintendent and subway officer. “This will have a lasting impact and will help revitalize not just downtown, but iconic cultural sites such as Little Tokyo, Bunker Hill and The Grand.” [Avenue]”
Over the summer, Metro is planning a series of community events around each station to showcase LA’s newest trains.
Art inside Little Tokyo Station depicts the historic struggles that have shaped the city, from the plight of the people of Skid Row to the Gabrielino Tongva tribe.
Metro Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Wiggins, Metro executives, board members and elected officials will “secretly” ride the new Regional Connector on Monday.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
The historic Broadway stop spans what was once the city’s shopping center and is a 148-foot-long glass abstraction that pays homage to the red carriages, the long-defunct trams that ran through the area. It features a unique mosaic. The Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill exit deck leads to the picturesque footbridge behind Disney Hall, Broad Museum, and within sight of the Music Center. The towering walls of the elevator descending into the station are lined with dramatic abstract murals 61 feet high.
