Metro releases draft EIR for Los Angeles River path project

Metro has released the draft environmental impact report for the LA River Path project - the increasingly expensive effort to close the gap in the L.A. River bike path through Downtown Los Angeles and Vernon.

The report evaluates seven different options for a multi-use path along roughly 10 miles of the river channel from Riverside Drive to Atlantic Avenue, passing through the Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, Chinatown, Downtown, Boyle Heights, Vernon, and Maywood communities. Metro is reviewing seven alternatives for the project, five of which would fully close the gap in the L.A. River path between Elysian Valley and Maywood, thus creating a continuous 32-mile trail between the San Fernando Valley and Long Beach.

The primary option under consideration is described in the report as the "Proposed Project," and would meander between the east and west banks of the river along the 10-mile corridor, providing between 9 and 11 new access points. The key variations between the Proposed Project and two variations - Options 1 and 2 - are the points at which the path would transition from bank to bank, as well as where the path would travel along elevated structures or be carved into the side of the channel.

Metro is also looking at alternatives which would focus more on either the east or west banks of the river, as well as shortened options which would see the construction of either a 3.2-mile path between Riverside Drive and 6th Street, or a 5-miel path between 1st Street and Atlantic Avenue. The latter shortened options would not result on the contiguous 32-mile path hoped for when the project was announced.

Local funding for the L.A. River Path is to come from the countywide sales tax approved by voters in 2016 through Measure M. The cost of the five alternatives that would close the full gap range between $1 billion and $1.2 billion, while shortened alternatives range between $595 million and $690 million. As Measure M provides $433 million in funding, Metro will be required to seek either state or federal funding to complete any of the seven alternatives. Phasing of construction and value engineering are also on the table, according to a post from The Source.

Public comment on the L.A. River Path is open through February 2, 2026. Additional information and a web-based portal for public comment can be found at metro.net/lariverpath. You can also e-mail Metro at lariverpath@metro.net (with the subject line “LA River Path – Draft EIR”) or call (213) 922-4004.

Check out Metro's storymap for the project, as well.

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