In 2020, Metro officially dropped consideration of an extension of the Eastside branch of the L (Gold) Line in the wake of rising construction costs, potential operational headaches, and other feasibility issues. Now, with an extra $2.7 billion to spend, the agency is working with officials in the San Gabriel Valley to identify new projects that the unallocated money could go toward.
A recent presentation to the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments' Technical Advisory Committee details 15 potential projects which could serve the region's long-term transit goals. The options in the table include north-south and east-west new bus, rail, and fixed-guideway lines running east-west and north south, potentially connecting to existing services such as the L Line, Metrolink, and bus services. Additionally, improvements to existing transit lines are also being considered, with the potential for the addition of new stops and higher-frequency service.
They include:
Concept 1: DTLA to Downtown Pomona via Valley Boulevard - Rapid Bus/BRTSGVCOG/ Metro
A new rapid bus or bus rapid transit line on Valley Boulevard between Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Pomona, traveling 34.5 miles with 31 stops over 107 minutes
Concept 2: Atlantic STation to Downtown Pomona via SR-60 - Express Bus/Rapid Bus/BRTSGVCOG/ Metro
A new express bus, rapid bus, or bus rapid transit line along the SR-60 corridor between Atlantic Station and Downtown Pomona, traveling 27.9 miles with 18 stops over 89 minutes
Concept 3: Atlantic Station to Pomona North Metrolink via I-10 LRT/Rapid Bus/BRTSGVCOG/ Metro
A new light rail, rapid bus, or bus rapid transit line on the I-10 corridor between Atlantic Station and the Pomona North Metrolink Station, traveling 32.3 miles with 14 stops over 97 minutes
Concept 4: Atlantic Station to Monrovia Station via Garvey & Peck - LRT/Rapid Bus/BRTSGVCOG/ Metro
A new light rail, rapid bus, or bus rapid transit line along Garvey and Peck between Atlantic Station and Monrovia Station, traveling 14.3 miles with 15 stops over 43 minutes
Concept 5: Atlantic Station to Downtown Pomona via Valley Boulevard & Colima/Golden Springs - Rapid Bus/BRTSGVCOG/ Metro
A new rapid bus or bus rapid transit line along Valley, Colima, and Golden Springs between Atlantic Station and Downtown Pomona, traveling 31.9 miles with 23 stops over 95 minutes
Concept 6: Atlantic Station to Downtown Pomona via Garvey & Amar - LRT/Express Bus/Rapid BusSGVCOG/ Metro
A new light rail, express bus, or rapid bus line on Garvey and Amar between Atlantic Station and Downtown Pomona, traveling 26.8 miles with 24 stops over 80 minutes
Concept 7: Maravilla Station to Del Mar Station via CSLA - Express Bus/Rapid BusSGVCOG/ Metro
A new express bus or rapid bus line connecting Maravilla Station to Del Mar Station via Cal State L.A., traveling 9.1 miles with 9 stops over 27 minutes
Concept 8: East LA Civic Center Station to Memorial Park Station via Monterey Pass - Rapid BusSGVCOG/ Metro
A new rapid bus line on Monterey Pass between the East L.A. Civic Center Station and Memorial Park Station, traveling 8.8 miles with 9 stops over 26 minutes
Concept 9: Sierra Madre Villa Station to Downtown Long Beach via Atlantic - Rapid BusSGVCOG/ Metro
A new rapid bus line on Atlantic Boulevard between Atlantic Station and Sierra Madre Villa Station, with a potential southward extension to Long Beach, traveling 30.2 miles with 13 stops over 91 minutes
Concept 10: Sierra Madre Villa Station to CSLB via Rosemead Blvd & Lakewood Blvd - Express Bus/Rapid Bus/BRTSGVCOG/ Metro
A new express bus, rapid bus, or bus rapid transit line on Rosemead Boulevard between Sierra Madre Villa Station and Beverly Boulevard, with a potential extension to Long Beach, traveling 28.1 miles with 9 stops over 84 minutes
Concept 11: Monrovia Station to Whittier via Peck & Beverly - Rapid BusSGVCOG/ Metro
A new rapid bus line on Peck and Beverly between Whittier and Monrovia Station, traveling 15 miles with 11 stops over 45 minutes
Concept 12: Azusa Downtown Station to Newport Beach via Azusa Ave & Harbor Blvd - Rapid Bus/BRTSGVCOG/ Metro
A new rapid bus or bus rapid transit line along Azusa Avenue from Downtown Azusa Station, traveling as far south as Newport Beach with participation from OCTA. Traveling 36.9 miles with 18 stops over 111 minutes.
Concept 13: APU/Citrus College Station to Anaheim via Citrus & Grand - Rapid Bus/BRTSGVCOG/ Metro
A new rapid bus or bus rapid transit line on Citrus and Grand from APU/Citrus college Station, potentially running to Anaheim with participation from OCTA. Traveling 21.2 miles with 11 stops over 63 minutes.
Concept 14: Riverside Line Local Service to Downtown Pomona Metrolink - Commuter RailSGVCOG/ Metro
Upgrades to Metrolink's Riversides to permit local service, with the construction of five infill stops. Total trip would run 34 miles with 11 stops over 58 minutes.
Concept 15: Riverside Line/SR-60 Express Bus Service - Express Bus/Rapid Bus/BRTSGVCOG/ Metro
A new express bus, rapid bus, or bus rapid transit line parallel to the Riverside Line along the SR-60 corridor, traveling 34.5 miles with 16 stops over 104 minutes
Comparison of the 15 alternativesSGVCOG/ Metro
The L Line's SR-60 extension isn't the only canceled transit project that has opened up new funding for transit and active transportation projects in Los Angeles County. In the City of Los Angeles, officials are now considering new using money once intended for the 710 extension to fund new bus rapid transit lines on Valley Boulevard and Huntington Drive - two corridors which could overlap or intersect with projects now being studied in the San Gabriel Valley.
For more information on the new projects that could be built in the San Gabriel Valley, head to the study's official website.
