The L.A. Metro 'Megaproject' Connecting Downtown and Southeast L.A. County

The West Santa Ana Branch light rail would offer new infrastructure and economic activity to a transit-dependent part of the county.

1 minute read

October 2, 2017, 10:00 AM PDT

By Elana Eden


Metro Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority / West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor

Named for an old Pacific Electric line, the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor would take one of four possible routes spanning about 20 miles from Artesia to Downtown L.A.'s Union Station. With a projected ridership of at least 80,000, it would be one of the busiest light rail lines in the country.

Twelve cities, plus the Hollywood-Burbank Airport, are managing the project through a JPA called Eco-Rapid Transit, headed by transportation planner Michael Kodama. In The Planning Report, Kodama explains the JPA's holistic view of the rail line as a mechanism to bolster economic development and connectivity along the length of the corridor, noting the opportunity to fill other infrastructure gaps in the project area.

"This project serves an area of Los Angeles County that is, frankly, underserved," he says. "It goes through the industrial and manufacturing heart of the county, where a lot of folks don’t have high incomes and have big transit needs."

Metro's Office of Extraordinary Innovation recently greenlit an unsolicited proposal for a public-private partnership that could condense the entire project into one phase. It would be the first P3 of its kind in L.A., Kodama says. He speaks more about funding, equity, and the economic impacts of the project in TPR.

Thursday, September 21, 2017 in The Planning Report

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today