February 3, 2014
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - When it
comes to making mass transit infrastructure decisions, two criteria
tend to matter the most: cost, and how the project will impact current
and future congestion.
With those factors in mind, it makes
all the sense in the world to consider building one or two Red or Purple
Line stations in the Arts District. Los Angeles Downtown News recently
reported on the proposal, which was initiated by Metro CEO Art Leahy.
Speaking at a meeting of the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum,
Leahy said he has directed Metro staff to study building stops at First
and Sixth streets near existing Metro tracks. His reasoning is logical:
The Arts District is changing, with hundreds of millions of dollars in
investment pouring into the community, and this is a chance to respond
to the transformation. “We ought to be innovative and be willing to
experiment,” he told Downtown News after the event.
The proposal would
appear to be feasible from a cost standpoint. As mentioned above, Metro
tracks already come out of Union Station and run through the Arts
District. That is why City Councilman Tom LaBonge proffered a variation on the idea
four years ago. LaBonge noted that an aboveground platform that reaches
the height of a railcar door could be poured. Sure, there would be some
expense, but compared to securing rights of way, conducting extensive
traffic studies and laying track, as occurs with new rail projects, the
Arts District expenditure is relatively low.
More important, as Leahy and others mentioned, is the present and future activity in the Arts District.
The neighborhood has become one of the hottest communities in Los Angeles and is seeing a blitz of development. The 438-apartment One Santa Fe is rising
east of the Southern California Institute of Architecture, and
Legendary Development is preparing to break ground this year on a nearby
472-unit rental complex. Other housing projects already exist
throughout the area, including three buildings developed by the firm
Linear City in the southern portion of the district. Being able to get
these people from their homes to the center of Downtown, or other
neighborhoods throughout the region, without climbing into a car has
obvious benefits.
Then there is the
biggest project coming to the area: In 2015, work will start on a $401
million replacement of the Sixth Street Viaduct. The project will
improve connections between the Arts District and Boyle Heights, and
include recreation areas on the banks of the Los Angeles River.
All of this activity
means that the district could wind up in a traffic crush. That is a
serious concern, considering that stakeholders have already experienced
the first pangs of congestion and parking shortages. Wouldn’t it be
refreshing to be in front of a problem rather than play catch-up later?
This is why the Arts
District rail station idea should be seriously considered. We’re pleased
Leahy has broached the idea and we look forward to hearing the Metro
staff’s report. We hope Leahy will remain a champion of the proposal.