Vermont Transit Corridor

The Vermont Transit Line is a proposed 12.5-mile (20.1 km) bus rapid transit (BRT) or heavy rail subway line in the Metro Busway network in Los Angeles, California. It is planned to operate on a north to south route on Vermont Avenue between the B Line's Vermont/Sunset station and the C Line's Vermont/Athens station on the Metro Rail system. The project feasibility study was released in February 2019 with a proposed completion date of 2028 for BRT and after 2067 for rail.[1][2] It is part of Metro's Twenty-eight by '28 initiative and is partially funded by Measure M.[3] The route will have signal priority at traffic lights and will have a dedicated right of way. Metro reports the initial cost is $425 million.[3]

 Vermont Transit Corridor  
Overview
StatusPlanned
Service
TypeBus rapid transit
Heavy rail (future)
SystemMetro Busway
Route map
 
B Line
to North Hollywood
 Vermont/Sunset
 
 Vermont/Santa Monica
 
 Vermont/Melrose
US 101 / SR 2
 Vermont/Beverly
 
 Vermont/3rd
 Wilshire/Vermont
  
 Vermont/Pico
I-10
 Vermont/Adams
 Expo/Vermont
  
 Vermont/Vernon
 Vermont/Slauson
 Vermont/Florence
 Vermont/Manchester
 Vermont/Century
 Vermont/Athens
   I-105
 Vermont/120th St.

History
See also: Los Angeles Railway
Vermont between Wilshire and 6th, 2017

Until 1963, Vermont Avenue was served by several Los Angeles Railway Yellow Car streetcar lines: the F, R, S, U, and V. After streetcars ceased running under the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority, tracks were torn up and service replaced by buses.

As of 2020 Vermont is the second busiest bus corridor in ridership with 45,000 boarding per work day. Metro estimates this BRT will have 75,000 weekday boarding's once completed. For that reason, light rail and subway options are also being developed. Metro is looking for ways to accelerate the option. Rail-based options are not scheduled to receive Measure R funds until after 2067.[1][2]

Initial Alternative Analysis

Two alternative analyses were developed.

Bus rapid transit

Metro currently plans to construct bus rapid transit with various stations along its route, each spaced about one mile (1.6 km) apart. Metro will study three options for BRT:

  • "side running"
  • "side-center running"
  • A technical study will also look at an entirely "center-running" option.

These feasibility options were sent to formal environmental review status. Metro plans to commence the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) with the options by 2019. Metro's planned budget for BRT is $425 million.

Rail

For rail, concepts have been published in the feasibility study. Measure M funds for rail are expected to become available after 2067 for rail.[3]

The following concepts were published:

  • A light rail concept would cost $2.7 to 3.2 billion. Underground sections are required between Wilshire Boulevard and Slauson Avenue.
  • A heavy rail concept would cost &3.7 to 4.4 billion with five new underground stations. A new junction and platform under Wilshire/Vermont station would make the line a continuation of the B Line. This would feature a one seat underground ride from North Hollywood to South Los Angeles.

Route

The corridor includes Vermont Avenue between Hollywood Boulevard and 120th Street.[3] Destinations along the route include Exposition Park and its museums Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the Natural History Museum and the California Science Center. Also, local sports stadiums, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Banc of California Stadium. USC is along the route. It would also connect with E Line at Expo/Vermont station.[4]

The following table shows potential BRT metro stations, per feasibility study from north to south. Also listed are potential LRT and HRT stations.[4]

Station Options[2][5] Alt 1 BRT[4] Alt 2 LRT Alt 3 HRT Connecting
services[6]		 Community Notes
Vermont/Sunset station × - ×
  B Line
 Little Armenia, East Hollywood already built as HRT
Vermont/Santa Monica station × - ×
  B Line
 Thai Town already built as HRT
Vermont/Beverly station × - ×
  B Line
 Wilshire Center already built as HRT
Vermont/3rd St. station × - - Koreatown
Wilshire/Vermont station × × ×
  B Line
  D Line
 Koreatown already built as HRT
Vermont/Pico station × × × Pico Union
Expo/Vermont station × × ×
  E Line
 Expo Park, USC already built as LRT
Vermont/Vernon station × - -
Vermont/Slauson station × × × SoLA
Vermont/Florence station × × -
Vermont/Manchester station × × × Vermont Vista
Vermont/Century station × × -
Vermont/Athens station × × -
  C Line
 Athens already built as LRT
Vermont/120th St. station - × × Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles Southwest College

References
  1. Tinoco, Matt (7 May 2018). "A subway on Vermont? Metro is considering it". Curbed LA. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  2. Next stop: a new kind of bus ride on Vermont (PDF). Amazon Naws (Report). Metro. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  3. Carino, Meghan McCarty (10 May 2018). "A rail down Vermont would get high ridership. Why could it take 50 years?". 89.3 KPCC. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. Vermont Transit Corridor –Rail Conversion/Feasibility Study FINAL REPORT (PDF) (Report). Metro. February 2019.
  5. Hymon, Steve (26 April 2019). "Into the great wide open, Vermont BRT, bullet train: HWR, April 26". Metro. The Source. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  6. "Bus and Rail System Map" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
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