LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti today joined Metro and community stakeholders in Little Tokyo for the ceremonial naming and lowering of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will dig twin 1.1-mile underground rail tunnels under downtown Los Angeles for the Regional Connector Transit Project. Excavation work is expected to begin in January.
The $1.55 billion Regional Connector Transit Project is a 1.9-mile underground light-rail tunnel that will connect the Blue, Expo, and Gold lines in downtown Los Angeles and will include three new stations at 1st Street/Central Avenue, 2nd Street/Broadway and 2nd Place/Hope Street. The rail line is expected to save commuters up to 20 minutes by reducing the need to transfer when traveling to and through downtown L.A. Construction is expected to be completed in 2021. The TBM Harriet Tubman, lowered in February, is expected to reach the halfway point in the Crenshaw/LAX project this week. Once complete, the Crenshaw/LAX Line will connect the Green and Expo lines with eight new stations to serve the Crenshaw, Inglewood, and LAX-adjacent communities.
“Building out a 21st century transportation system means creating links so that people can get around L.A. County with ease,” said Mayor Garcetti. “As ‘Angeli’ digs through the heart of Downtown, she is creating seamless connections for Angelenos from Azusa to Santa Monica. And once ‘Harriet Tubman’ is finished clearing the way for the Crenshaw/LAX line, we will dramatically expand the possibilities of how Angelenos live, work, and play.”
TAP Cards were awarded to students who won contests to name the machine and create an illustration for its tail shield. The winning name, “Angeli” — which means “angels” in Latin — was submitted by 8th grade student Windsor McInerny, who previously attended Will Rogers Middle School. The winning illustration is by Alexander Li, a senior at Adolfo Camarillo High School in Ventura County. (Continue reading at LA Mayor)
