L.A. Metro Board selects San Vicente–Fairfax alignment as locally preferred alternative for K Line Northern Extension
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) Board has selected the San Vicente–Fairfax alignment as the locally preferred alternative (LPA) for the K Line Northern Extension, a 10-mile underground rail line that will extend the K Line from Crenshaw/Expo to Hollywood, primarily along San Vicente Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, with 10 new stations and an end-to-end travel time of about 19 minutes between the L.A. Metro E Line and the L.A. Metro B Line in Hollywood.
According to the agency, the LPA is contingent on the formation of an enhanced infrastructure financing district by the city of West Hollywood, Calif., in coordination with Los Angeles County to provide additional local funding to help build the project under the early project delivery strategy.
The rail line will serve major destinations such as Mid-City, Museum Row, Miracle Mile, The Grove, Original Farmers Market, Television City, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Rainbow District, Beverly Center, Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood’s Santa Monica Blvd. corridor and terminating at the Hollywood Bowl. When complete, L.A. Metro notes it will connect rail lines B, C, D, E and K into a high- frequency, high-capacity network and provide convenient transfers to several of the busiest bus corridors in Los Angeles County.
“Today is a great day for Los Angeles: we are moving full steam ahead with what will be the highest ridership light-rail line in the nation,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in a statement. “The K Line extension will not only enhance mobility, it will create union jobs, shorter commutes, less smog and improve access to housing, education and opportunity.
Bass notes that as the project advances, the city is “also taking steps to make sure the voices of Mid-City residents are heard. These are communities that have suffered historic injustice, like the carving out of the 10 freeway. Our motion ensures that we respect the community without any delay to the project, which was unanimously approved by the board.”