Metro Meetings on Crenshaw Line Northern Extension Reveal Strong Preference for Fairfax/San Vicente (Hybrid) Alignment

Last week, Metro released the results of its three public scoping meetings prior to beginning an Environmental Impact Report for its proposed Crenshaw Line Northern Extension light rail line.  The new line would connect the current Crenshaw Line from its current northern terminus at Exposition Blvd. to the Mid-City area, Miracle Mile, Fairfax, West Hollywood, and Hollywood, where it would also connect to the Metro Red Line subway. (Metro is also considering adding a futher station at the Hollywood Bowl.)

Over the last couple of years, Metro has whittled down potential routes (or “alignments”) for this line from five to three (as shown in the map above), and this most recent round of meetings collected comments on the three remaining candidates prior to starting work on the required EIR.

According to Metro’s recent press release, a total of 217 comments were collected at the three meetings in April and May…and another 423 comments were collected via e-mail and/or Metro’s phone hotline for the project.  And among comments expressing a preference for one of the three potential alignments during this process, the results were pretty clearly in favor of the proposed Fairfax/San Vincente (hybrid) route (green dotted line in the map above):

Support for the Fairfax/San Vicente (Hybrid) alignment – 201
Opposition to the Fairfax/San Vicente (Hybrid) alignment – 3
Support for the Fairfax alignment (yellow dotted line on the map) – 11
Support for the Fairfax or Fairfax/San Vicente (Hybrid) alignment – 5
Support for the La Brea alignment (dark blue dotted line) – 29
Alternative suggestions which did not fall under any of the previous alignments – 88
La Brea alignment with a Santa Monica spur – 18

As Metro has noted in past reviews of the proposals, the La Brea route would be the shortest and most direct, with the fastest travel time from beginning to end. It would also be the least expensive. On the other hand, however, it passes through the least dense neighborhoods, with the fewest number of jobs along the route, and few other “destination” locations.

The Fairfax route would include more residents and job-rich areas, but it would be slower and more expensive.

And the La Cienega route would pass through the densest, and most job-rich areas, but it would take even longer to travel its route, and would be significantly more expensive to build (although the City of West Hollywood has expressed interest in helping with funding for that option).

Meanwhile, in addition to the route preference comments from the spring 2021 scoping meetings, Metro reported comments on several other themes as well:

Project Acceleration – Many members of the public want the project to be built sooner than the Measure M date. They feel that this project is long overdue, and Metro should do everything possible to expedite the process.
Environment – Most people think this project will benefit the environment. Very few felt that it would impact the environment negatively.
Traffic Impacts – Some people think construction will cause a lot of traffic considering the number of years it will take to complete. Few think the train itself will cause traffic. Most think the project will alleviate current traffic problems once it’s built.
Grade Separations – People want the project to be built underground, especially if the alignment chosen ends up being the Fairfax/San Vicente (Hybrid) option. Reasons mentioned were lack of consideration of area residents, the idea of an above-ground alignment destroying the community greenspace in the median, and devaluation of property.
Cost/Funding – Many highlighted the importance of benefit-to-cost ratio and how that needs to be factored into the decision-making process. Several comments mentioned being opposed to the Fairfax/San Vicente (Hybrid) alignment because of higher costs. People also made it known that the project would require additional funding beyond funding identified in Measure M.
Travel Time – Most people who supported the La Brea alignment noted that it would allow for faster, more efficient travel between the Metro E (Expo) Line and the Metro B (Red) Line at Hollywood/Highland. Some people said the Fairfax/San Vicente (Hybrid) alignment was long and some might choose other modes of travel.
Access to Jobs – People addressed the importance of job accessibility, noting the higher number of jobs served by the longer alignments including the Fairfax/San Vicente (Hybrid) alignment. Some would like to see an increase in job opportunities upon completion of the project.

According to Metro, however, the information gathering and study process is still ongoing.  “Metro continues to refine the alternatives based on the input heard during scoping, as well as additional technical analysis,” the press release said. “The project team is now working on the conceptual design drawings for the station locations and entrances. We look forward to hosting public workshops in 2022 to share information and gather more input on the project.”

So comments are still welcome by contacting [email protected], visiting metro.net/crenshawnorth or via phone at (213) 418-3093.

More information is also available at the project website.

Finally, Metro says the project is still scheduled to begin construction in 2041 and to open in 2047…but “exploratory efforts are underway to make funding available sooner, which could accelerate this schedule.”

So stay tuned for more news in 2022…