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Metro will be conducting a final round of community update meetings for the alignment phase of the Regional Connector Transit Corridor Study tomorrow and October 21.

The goal of this transit project is better connect Metro rails lines serving Downtown by linking the 7th Street/Metro Center Station hub to the future Metro Gold Line Little Tokyo/Arts District Station via a 2-mile connector route.

Currently, two final alignments remain on the table — one under-ground and one above ground — both extending north from 7th and Figueroa to provide service to the northwest sector of the Financial District before heading east towards Little Tokyo.

The upcoming meetings are intended to introduce the two routes choices to the public and elicit feedback from constituents. Angelenic will be attending the meeting at the Central Library tomorrow afternoon and will follow up afterwards with a report.

The following information has been taken from a press release issued by Metro on October 10, 2008.

The public is encouraged to review the agency’s recommendations and receive a status report on the study and potential schedule for future steps at the following meetings:

Thursday, October 16 | 12:00pm-1:30pm
Los Angeles Central Library
630 W 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Tuesday, October 21 | 6:30pm-8:00pm
Japanese American National Museum
369 E 1st Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

The content presented at these meetings will be identical, so those attending a session should seek a time and location most convenient for them:

Open House: Noon–12:30pm and 6:30pm–7:00pm
Presentation: 12:30–1:00pm and 7:00pm–7:30pm
Question and Answer Session: 1:00pm–1:30pm and 7:30pm – 8:00pm

Metro will provide an update to the public of its analysis to date, including draft recommendations. It is expected that Metro staff will present the Alternatives Analysis Report and its recommendations to the Board at its November/December meeting, which may then authorize a full environmental review.

Metro has completed two rounds of community meetings in November 2007 and February 2008. Based on the analysis and public input received at these meetings, Metro has identified the alternatives to be recommended for further study through and Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement.

Metro is now studying this project corridor in efforts to better accommodate expected ridership increases when the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension opens in 2009 and the Expo Line opens in 2010, and to support the resurgence of Downtown as a business, cultural and residential hub.

For additional information or questions, please visit the Regional Connector Transit Corridor Study website at metro.net or contact the project information line at 213-922-7277.