LA Metro completes final environmental report for C-Line rail extension project

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) yesterday released the final environmental impact report for the C-Line rail extension to Torrance, California, which will expand rail service deeper into the region's South Bay.

The project is designed to expand passenger-rail service 4.5 miles from L.A. Metro K Line’s Redondo Beach (Marine) station to the planned Torrance Transit Center station. When completed, the line will provide faster and more reliable connections while giving riders a 19-minute trip from Torrance to Los Angeles International Airport, L.A. Metro officials said in a press release.

The final environmental impact report reflects input from more than 2,000 public comments and includes design refinements, clarifications and corrections. L.A. Metro also released updated cost estimates and a report about the real estate acquisitions that would be required to complete the project. 

In May 2024, L.A. Metro's board approved the proposed route, the hybrid alternative, also known as the locally preferred alternative, to follow the existing Harbor Subdivision right of way. It combines elevated, at-grade and trench (below street level) sections. At key crossings, such as 170th Street and 182nd Street, the tracks will be placed below roadways in trenches to improve safety, reduce noise and avoid traffic delays for pedestrians and motorists, L.A. Metro officials said.

Agency officials also have proposed improvements to an existing freight line to create a safer, quieter rail corridor. By making use of L.A. Metro-owned right of way, the route minimizes the impact to local property while balancing cost efficiency and community concerns, they said.

Construction on the C-Line extension could start as early as 2027, and the extension is estimated to open in 2036.