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the tracks will be removed once the
project gets underway.
“Metro owns a significant amount
of rail right-of-way,” says Eric Bruins,
former planning and policy director
for the Los Angeles County Bicycle
Coalition. “This corridor was one of
them, and there were complaints
about blight. With South L.A.’s de-
mographics, you have overcrowded
residential next to industrial areas,
so Metro was wanting to be a good
neighbor and turn these abandoned
train tracks into an asset instead of
a liability.”
True to its name, a subsequent
phase, which is not yet funded, will
take the trail farther east to the Los
Angeles River. When finished, the
trail will total 8.3 miles.
“Rail to River will connect our
public transit riders to the L.A. River
and other destinations, creating
economic development, cultural and
social benefits,” wrote Los Angeles
County Supervisor Mark Ridley-
Thomas in a statement provided
to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. “We
anticipate the improvements to be
nothing short of catalytic for the
community and the region.”
•
For more information about the project,
visit
metro.net.
PHOTO:
Rail
to River will
eventually create
a connection
to the L.A.
River, which is
paralleled from
north to south by
the Los Angeles
River Trail
(shown here).
“RAIL TO RIVER
WILL CONNECT
OUR PUBLIC
TRANSIT RIDERS
TO THE L.A. RIVER
AND OTHER
DESTINATIONS,
CREATING
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT,
CULTURAL
AND SOCIAL
BENEFITS.”
LOS ANGELES
COUNTY
SUPERVISOR
MARK
RIDLEY-THOMAS
OPPOSITE PAGE: COURTESY LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. THIS PAGE: COURTESY TRAILLINK.COM/VIKEMAZE
E M E R G I N G R A I L - T R A I L S
FALL 2016 RAILS TO TRAILS
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