RIDLEY-THOMAS, MTA CHIEF TO BRIEF MEDIA ON $1.7 BILLION CRENSHAW TRANSIT CORRIDOR PROJECT

 

 

NEWS

                                                           Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas

                                                                                                  L.A. County Board of Supervisors, 2^nd District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

August 26, 2009                                                                                                                                  Contact:      Aurelio Rojas 213-280-6579

                                                                                                                                                                                     James Bolden 213-200-5314

                                                                                               

                                                                                                 

SUPERVISOR RIDLEY-THOMAS, MTA CHIEF ART LEAHY TO BRIEF MEDIA

ON $1.7 BILLION CRENSHAW TRANSIT CORRIDOR PROJECT

 

LOS ANGELES – Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas will host a media luncheon Thursday, Aug. 27, to provide an update of the $1.7 billion Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Crenshaw Transit Corridor project.

 

The Supervisor will be joined by MTA Chief Executive Officer Art Leahy, who will assist in outlining the two alternative design options for the Crenshaw line to the South Bay, a massive public works project that would link South Los Angeles with Los Angeles International Airport.

 

In late October, the MTA Board will vote on whether to implement a Bus Rapid Transit option with bus in special traffic lanes, or a potentially underground Light Rail Transit line option, which would operate on electricity from overhead wires.

 

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas called the traffic-relief project, funded mostly by last year’s Measure R, “long overdue.”  The MTA will hold public hearings in late September and early October before voting on which of the two options to build.

 

The Supervisor said involving the community in the decision making process will build a sense of trust and transparency of the project.

 

Topics that will be addressed at the media briefing include environmental and safety issues, economic opportunities and quality of life issues associated with the project.

 

MTA representatives will be on hand to present information on the general overview of the project, including its timeline and a tentative public hearing schedule.

 

WHEN:                      Thursday, August 27 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

LOCATION:             Muses Room located in the Wallis Annenberg Building, 700 Exposition Park Drive Los Angeles, CA 90037.   

 

BACKGROUND:  The goal of the project is to improve public transit service and mobility in the Crenshaw Corridor between Wilshire and El Segundo Boulevards by connecting with existing lines such as the Metro Green Line or the Exposition Light Rail Transit currently under construction. The project is also designed to relieve congestion of the 405 freeway.

 

The Crenshaw Corridor encompasses 10 square miles and includes the cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood, Hawthorne, El Segundo, as well as portions of unincorporated County of Los Angeles.  The corridor study area is generally defined as the area extending north to Wilshire Boulevard, east to Arlington Avenue, south to El Segundo Boulevard, and west to Sepulveda and La Tijera Boulevards. 

 

 

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