‘Rail to River’ to bridge transportation gap along Slauson Avenue

VERMONT HARBOR –- Bike and pedestrian lanes will replace an underused freight rail corridor along a bustling and dangerous section of Slauson Avenue as soon as 2019.

The Rail to River project is Metro’s latest attempt at a "progressive, integrated" transit alternative, connecting communities along the Los Angeles river to South L.A. and further on to Crenshaw. Metro says they’re currently in the process of collecting community input, but plan to break ground in late 2017, and open the first segment before the launch of Metro’s Crenshaw/LAX line.

"We really see this as a mobility project," said Robert Machuca, the project manager for L.A. County Metro. "Connecting rail to rail and embracing alternative forms of transportation will be really good for Los Angeles."

When Metro breaks ground on the first segment of the project, they’ll bring new life to a 6.4 mile stretch of Slauson Avenue that’s been tainted by years of neglect. Mounds of trash and excessive graffiti are common sights along the warehouse-lined corridor.

"The tracks in their current state are an eyesore," said Sandra McNeil, Executive Director of T.R.U.S.T. South LA, a nonprofit group that’s worked with Metro to solicit community input. "It’s a blighted corridor that Metro hasn’t cared for."

Murals, trees, or drought-efficient landscaping would surround the 15 foot wide pavement stretch that includes directional bike lanes and a pedestrian zone. Representatives for Metro insist that the project "is not a recreational or beautification project," though.

Beyond design and aesthetics, the project will bring important safety upgrades to a dangerous corridor.

Courtesy of L.A. County Metro

Metro estimates that 360 bikers and 584 pedestrians are involved in collisions along Slauson Avenue between Western Avenue and the 1-10 freeway each year, according to a 2014 feasibility study. In its current state, Slauson Avenue lacks a sidewalk along much of its westbound lane.

"Slauson Avenue is unbikeable," said Tafari Brown, a former community organizer who now works with LA’s robust transport program CicLaVia. "Traffic fatalities are plaguing this community where biking is the primary means of transport."

The project will add landscaping to the dirt-covered land and create long blocks for uninterrupted walking or biking. Residents will be able to access the path from neighborhood streets. Metro also says access points will coincide with transit stops, creating a more holistic transportation system.

"It's not about making every street a bike street, it's about creating a grid that serves everybody," said Brown. "We've had a car-focused development emphasis for decades, so this is the opportunity for us to invest in other modes so we can create a holistic system."

Courtesy of L.A. County Metro

Metro estimates that the ‘active transportation system’ will be used by 1,395,000 bikers each year in the central portion of the corridor. Similarly it estimates that 1,266,000 pedestrians will use the pathway, primarily to transfer between the eight north-south bus lines that will intersect it.

Officials at Metro say the project is a source of pride, not just because it’s a "progressive reinvention of mobility," but because of its inherent cost-effectiveness. Metro estimates that the project will cost $20,000,000 to build. A portion of that will be offset by grants from CalTrans and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

"We were very fortunate to be successful and receive a TIGER and ATP grant," said Robert Calix, a spokesperson for Metro. "They are recognizing how important this project is."

The existing tracks have pushed a few community members to fight for light-rail, but they are a clear minority. Community organizers, Metro, and Metro watchdogs agree that light-rail is not the best option on the corridor, at least for now.

"The analysis that was taken into consideration identified the current project as the best way to move forward. It could be upgraded at a later date," said Machuca.

He pointed to past studies that have extensively evaluated transit alternatives along the corridor since 2006, nothing that light-rail has never appeared to be the most feasible option.

A 2012 study on the corridor concluded: "The right-of-way along the single track is constrained in many sections, eliminating the ability of light rail and the ATC to coexist."

Hans Laetz, a self-proclaimed "transit enthusiast" and regular attendee of Metro Board of Supervisors meetings, agreed.

"I take umbrage at train buffs urging rail for rails sake," he said via Facebook.

In the meantime, Metro is working to acquire the right-of-way for the tracks from BNSF, who sold Metro the land in 1992 with the condition that freight trains could still be operated as needed. Metro says they are currently "negotiating to gain the right of way use easement from BNSF."

A representative from BNFS did not return a request for comment about the negotiations.