A proposed east-west bike path through South Los Angeles now has an opening date.

According to a post on Metro's blog the Source, the Rail-to-Rail/River Project is scheduled to open in 2019, shortly before the anticipated completion date of the Crenshaw/LAX light rail line.  The project, which has been spearheaded by the office of County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, would convert a portion of the Harbor Subdivision right-of-way into an active transportation corridor capable of accommodating cyclists and pedestrians.

The first phase of the project would focus on an approximately 6.4-mile stretch of Slauson and Florence Avenues, connecting the Blue and Crenshaw/LAX light rail lines, as well as a Silver Line bus station in the median of the Harbor Freeway.  A future extension would push further east to the Los Angeles River, using potential alignments through the cities of Vernon, Huntington Park, Bell and Maywood.

The path is being designed so as not to preclude the Harbor Subdivision from eventually accommodating fixed-guideway transit operations.  However, Metro has no active plan to operate rail or bus service along the right-of-way.

A significant portion of the Harbor Subdivision is already being returned to active use through the Crenshaw/LAX Line, with additional service planned under the Green Line's South Bay extension.