Los Angeles Metro’s board has voted to advance the underground K Line Northern Extension along the San Vincente-Fairfax alignment.
The 16.1km-long route will extend the K Line from Crenshaw/Expo to Hollywood. It will have 10 stations and connect Metro rail lines B, C, D, E, and K.
The selected route will serve major destinations such as Mid-City, Museum Row, Miracle Mile, The Grove, Original Farmers Market, Television City, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Rainbow District, Beverly Center, Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood’s Santa Monica Bl corridor and the Hollywood Bowl.
At a meeting last week, the board chose the alignment as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). It is now contingent on the formation of an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District by the City of West Hollywood in co-ordination with Los Angeles County to provide additional local funding to help build the project under the Early Project Delivery Strategy.
The board says the project will help transform the existing system from a spoke-and-wheel to a grid, allowing passengers to transfer between lines without going to downtown Los Angeles.
LA mayor Karen Bass said the decision was a “great day for Los Angeles”.
“We are moving full steam ahead with what will be the highest ridership light rail line in the nation. The K Line extension will not only enhance mobility, it will create union jobs, shorter commutes, less smog, and improve access to housing, education, and opportunity,” she said.
“As we advance the project, we are also taking steps to make sure the voices of Mid-City residents are heard. These are communities that have suffered historic injustice, like the carving out of the 10 freeway. Our motion ensures that we respect the community without any delay to the project, which was unanimously approved by the board.”
Construction of the original K Line – then called the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Project – began in 2014 and the line opened in 2022. In 2016, voters approved funding for the northern extension. Metro anticipates that construction will commence in 2041 and the extension will open between 2047-2049.
