Metro

A rendering of the Regional Connector's underground alternative, showing a station site at 2nd & Los Angeles.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The Regional Connector is set to take a major step forward tomorrow, when the project's Alternatives Analysis is presented to the Metro Board of Directors for approval. The Board is also asked to fund $11 million in engineering and outreach costs.

Designed to integrate Metro's existing light rail network, the Regional Connector would provide tracks from Blue Line terminus at the 7th / Metro station to the Gold Line Eastside Extension's new Little Tokyo / Arts District station. Metro envisions the connection allowing it to run north-south and east-west service, with trains running from Long Beach to Pasadena and Culver City to East L.A.

The Alternatives Analysis presents two build alternatives, one primarily above-ground and one operating almost entirely as a subway. Costs for the two options run from $709 - $910 million.

The item, number 7 on tomorrow's Board agenda, appears on the meeting's consent calendar. That means that unless a board member asks for it to be pulled from the calendar, the item would be approved without discussion. Also on the agenda and appearing in the consent calendar is $18 million in funds to move forward with the subway's Westside Extension.