Press Release: South Bay On Board Coalition Urges Approval of C Line Extension to Torrance
South Bay On Board Coalition Urges Community to Tell Metro Board to Approve the C (now K) Line Extension to Torrance Project
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA – The South Bay Los Angeles community has awaited a rail connection and high-quality public transit infrastructure for over two decades. Metro first began studying extending rail into the South Bay in 2008 and with voter-approved Measure M dollars committed in 2016, an environmental review process was officially underway. Now, the Metro Board is expected to decide whether to approve the project and certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the C (now K) Line Extension to Torrance project at their January 22 Board meeting.
The South Bay continues to experience significant congestion and limited access to high-quality rapid transit, resulting in long and unreliable travel times for residents and workers alike. Regional forecasts project traffic congestion will worsen by approximately 30 percent by 2045, further constraining economic mobility and quality of life if new high-capacity alternatives are not delivered. Many communities in the South Bay lack frequent transit service, sharply limiting the number of jobs reachable without a car.
In May 2024, the Metro Board approved a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) known as the 170th/182nd Grade-Separated (Hybrid Alternative) after years of studies, public hearings, and taking into account concerns raised from community members. The Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) was released in September 2025 responding thoroughly and extensively to over 2,000 public comments with clarifications.
The C Line Extension to Torrance Hybrid LPA would travel along the existing Metro-owned right-of-way that was purchased in the 1990’s to connect to the already completed Redondo Beach Transit Center and Torrance Transit Center. This project would provide critical infrastructure for communities in the South Bay and throughout the county to get to jobs, school, healthcare, among many key destinations and around on the existing rail network.
“South Bay Cities have invested over $45 million in two regional transit centers, more than two-thirds voter approval of Measure M, and billions in local sales taxes, for this exact rail line promised for decades. It’s long overdue and we desperately need high-quality rail to solve congested local traffic and serve our communities. The Final EIR is comprehensive and thorough,” said Brianna Egan, Redondo Beach resident and Chair of South Bay Forward.
“Community concerns are thoughtfully addressed in the LPA with thorough refinements in the FEIR. We get under-crossings for safety, modern trackwork, noise reduction, engineering compatible with freight and homes, and zero residential displacements. Metro’s delivered similar configurations across the County, including most recently the A Line Extension from Irwindale to Pomona.”
This project provides a much-needed, once-in-a-generation rail connection for the South Bay. It will attract millions of new riders, reduce travel times, and provide a one-seat ride between Torrance, Redondo Beach, LAX, and Inglewood. New stations in Redondo Beach and Torrance will support local economic activity, attract investment, and provide access to jobs, housing, and education for people of all ages and abilities. The project is expected to generate over 15,000 local construction jobs and $16.3 billion in local economic investment.
The alignment is fully grade-separated at key crossings, reducing conflicts with vehicles and pedestrians while minimizing noise and vibration impacts. The project delivers direct multimodal connections at the Redondo Beach and Torrance Transit Centers, enhances walking and biking through new shared-use paths, and includes corridor safety upgrades such as modernized freight trackwork, sound walls, and quiet-zone–ready technology. Construction will be largely contained within the existing Metro right-of-way, minimizing property acquisition and avoiding displacement of residential homes.
A 2023 survey of local South Bay residents showed 67% approval for the project. Numerous residents and organizations including labor groups, businesses, and community organizations support this project and the Hybrid LPA as part of the South Bay On Board Coalition and recently urged the South Bay Cities Council of Government in December to maintain support for the project instead of pausing or delaying.
The Hybrid LPA includes planned walk-bike paths in the neighborhoods of Lawndale and Redondo Beach to continue to provide neighborhood access and green space to the right-of-way corridor. These paths will connect directly with future and planned bike lanes in local cities which cities are advancing with funding from Measure M like the Redondo Beach Blvd Metro Active Transportation Project.
“Approving this project isn’t rocket science. As resident of Lawndale, a bicyclist, transit rider, and a rocket scientist. The Locally Preferred Alternative is the best option as it gives a safe connection for riders and cyclists and improves the quality of the right- of-way by adding walking paths that will connect with multiple localities’ multi-modal transit projects that are currently underway,” said Andrew Blackney, Lawndale resident and member of South Bay Bicycle Coalition Plus. “The Hawthorne Option requires a more dangerous connection in the middle of an 8-lane highway. As a survivor of traffic violence I don’t wish that for any Metro rider. We urge the Metro Board to certify and approve the LPA.”
The Locally Preferred Alternative represents the most cost-effective and deliverable approach for the corridor. It achieves a lower cost per new rider than previously studied alternatives and is approximately $730 million less expensive than the Hawthorne Boulevard option, allowing Metro to maximize ridership benefits while maintaining fiscal discipline and schedule certainty. More than $1.4 billion is already secured from Measure R, Measure M, TIRCP, and SB 1, positioning the project competitively for future state transportation grants following FEIR certification and enabling delivery without reliance on federal funding.
Numerous local business organizations, including the Torrance Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Torrance Association are in strong support of the staff recommendation and Hybrid Locally Preferred Alternative.
“Our quaint little business district of Downtown Torrance is excited for this project and can’t wait for it to come down to Torrance. Our businesses are united in support of this project and we’ve been waiting to be reconnected with the rail network since the days of the Red Car. We host thousands of visitors regularly with our Annual Scaredown in Torrance and Holiday Stroll and can only imagine what a gamechanger this will be for us with the station in Torrance,” said Adam Schwartz, of the Downtown Torrance Association. “We urge Board approval of the Final EIR. It’s been studied since before I was born and now I’m here with grey in my hair asking for it to be built. Let’s get this done.”
“The promise of Measure M and Measure R was to provide high-quality transit to all regions of Los Angeles County, including the South Bay. This project delivers on that promise to South Bay communities,” says Eli Lipmen, Executive Director of MoveLA. “We fully support staff recommendations on this project and for the Locally Preferred Alternative. There is a massive crisis in the South Bay with too many cars driving too fast and traffic fatalities. There are many South Bay residents that have no other option and don’t drive. It really harms these residents to not prioritize this and I urge Board Members to move forward with approval.”
The South Bay On Board Coalition encourages residents from South Bay Cities to take buses offered by Torrance Transit to attend the Metro Board Meeting on January 22nd to support Final EIR certification and approval for the long-studied and well-defined Hybrid Locally Preferred Alternative and staff recommendation. A Yes vote moves the project forward. After decades of study and years of refinement, this project is the South Bay’s best chance at securing light rail. Further delays or selection of an alternative route, despite extensive refinements and mitigations included in the completed Final Environmental Impact Report for the Locally Preferred Alternative, could risk losing a critical rail transit connection to the South Bay.
Torrance Transit, together with South Bay Forward and the South Bay On Board Coalition, is offering FREE bus rides leaving Torrance Transit Center (465 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503 US) to the LA Metro Board at Union Station to give public comment to the Metro Board, on Thursday, Jan 22, 2026 leaving between 7 am to 7:30 am. Expect to return by 3 pm.
Join fellow community members, organizations, and businesses around the South Bay to ask the Metro Board to certify and approve this historic and transformational project. Registration is encouraged: southbayforward.org/bus2metro
South Bay On Board Coalition is composed of diverse nonprofit, business, community, and labor organizations in the South Bay and LA County in support of the C Line Extension to Torrance, the Hybrid LPA, and project FEIR certification and approval.
South Bay On Board Coalition members include LA-OC Building Trades, Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, MoveLA, Streets For All, Downtown Torrance Association, Abundant Housing LA, League of Women Voters, The Transit Coalition, Car-Lite Long Beach, Torrance Democrats, Indivisible South Bay LA, South Bay Bicycle Coalition, Streets Are For Everyone, BikeLA, and more.
List of organizations can be found here: https://www.southbayforward.org/clet
South Bay Forward is a local grassroots organization with over 600 members focused on expanding access to housing, transit, and mobility in the South Bay of LA. South Bay Forward has been in strong support of the C Line Extension to Torrance project since 2023.
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