Construction work for Metro’s Regional Connector Transit Project will require closing a section of the Metro Gold Line, including the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station, from Friday, Nov. 20, at 9 p.m. through Monday, Nov. 23, at 5 a.m.
Commuters traveling to or from East Los Angeles and Union Station will board a free bus shuttle at Union Station and the Pico/Aliso Station to continue their trips.
Delays are expected through the affected area and Metro encourages travelers to give themselves extra time to reach their destinations. Gold Line service will operate normally between the Pico/Aliso Station and the Gold Line Atlantic Station in East Los Angeles. In addition, Metro will continue to operate regular service on the Gold Line between Union Station and the Sierra Madre Villa Station in Pasadena.
The weekend work is preparatory for Gold Line track relocation that will necessitate closing the same section of the rail line for three months beginning Dec. 4. Workers will relocate the existing Metro Gold Line tracks approximately 40 feet to the north of First Street at Alameda Street and reconfigure the southern station entrance of the existing Little Tokyo/Arts District station to make way for tunneling operations for the Metro Regional Connector.
During the extended closure, Metro will offer a free bus shuttle between Union Station and the Pico/Aliso Station of the Gold Line. Once completed in late February 2016, Gold Line service will return to normal with a modified south entrance to the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station.
Traffic impacts for Dec. 4 closure:
Through traffic will be maintained on Alameda Street between Temple Street and Second Street with one lane open in each direction.
Westbound First Street will be closed between Alameda Street and Vignes Street 24 hours a day from Dec. 4 through February 2016.
One through lane on eastbound First Street will be maintained between Alameda Street and Vignes Street.
Full closure of First Street between Central Avenue and Alameda Street will also take place intermittently.
Detours for Dec. 4 closure:
Westbound First Street traffic will be detoured right on Vignes Street, left on Temple Street, left on Judge John Aiso Street, back to First Street.
Eastbound First Street traffic will be detoured right on Central Avenue, left on Second Street, left on Alameda Street back to First Street.
The Regional Connector Transit Project completes a 1.9-mile segment between the Metro Blue and Expo Lines and the Metro Gold Line by providing a direct connection with three new stations planned for First Street/Central Avenue, Second Street/Broadway and Second Place/Hope Street in downtown Los Angeles.
The rail line, expected to be completed in 2020, will attract nearly 17,000 new daily riders and provide access to more than 88,000 passengers saving commuters up to 20 minutes off their daily commutes. It will provide a one-seat, one fare ride for commuters from Azusa to Long Beach and from East Los Angeles to Santa Monica without the need to transfer between rail lines for major east-west and north-south trips.
The new Metro Rail extension will offer an alternative transportation option to congested roadways, provide significant environmental benefits and spur economic development throughout the county. Through improved connectivity, riders will be better able to use the entire Metro Rail system, municipal bus lines and other regional transportation services.
For more information about the Regional Connector Transit Project and for construction updates, visit http://metro.net/regionalconnector. Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, www.facebook.com/metroregionalconnector, twitter.com@metroconnector and http://twitter.com/metroLAalerts and http://instagram.com/metrolosangeles.