Supporting the South Bay C Line Extension

SIGN PETITION
BUS TO METRO MEETING

Metro has plans to connect more of the South Bay by extending the C Line (Green) from the Redondo Beach station to the new Torrance Transit Center.

But this project faces significant opposition — even though almost 70% of the residents of those cities support the project. We need mobility advocates to voice their support for the project, especially those who live and work in the South Bay.

Upcoming Meetings:

Wed, Jan 14 - Metro Planning & Programming Committee @ 11 am (Phone or at Metro HQ) Info
Thurs, Jan 22nd - Metro Board Meeting @ 10 am - Bus from Torrance @ 7:30 am Signup

Metro has released the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the C Line Extension to Torrance Project, which would extend the existing light rail line from Redondo Beach to Torrance and operate as a southern extension of the K Line. At an upcoming meeting, the Metro Board will consider certifying the Final EIR and approving the project, to improve regional connectivity and provide more transit options in the South Bay.

Torrance Transit is offering FREE bus rides from Torrance Transit Center to LA Metro HQ at Union Station. Let's fill these buses to support the C (K) Line Extension to Torrance project and the Hybrid LPA. Join community members, organizations, and businesses around the South Bay to ask the Metro Board to certify and approve this historic and transformational project. We support the promise of Measure M to bring high-quality light rail further into the South Bay. We'll have FREE t-shirts, stickers, and refreshments for attendees.

Save your seat on the bus to advocate for the project. Arrive at 7:15 AM, buses will depart Torrance Transit Center at 7:30 AM. Sign up here.

You can sign up to receive notifications even if you are unsure you can attend or if you will be attending via alternate transportation (Torrance 4X, Metro J Line, other Metro bus and light rail reach Union Station).

South Bay On Board Coalition

South Bay On Board

The Transit Coalition

Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce

LA-OC Building Trades

Torrance Transit

Downtown Torrance Association

Torrance Democrats

BikeLA

MoveLA

Car-Lite Long Beach

Indivisible South Bay LA

League of Women Voters

Streets For All

Abundant Housing LA

Streets Are For Everyone

South Bay Bicycle Coalition Plus

South Bay On Board Coalition is composed of diverse nonprofit, community, labor, business, and advocacy organizations in the South Bay and LA County. We are united in support of the C Line Extension to Torrance, the Hybrid LPA, and FEIR certification and approval.

Other Supporters Include:

  • Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (AD-66)

  • Senator Ben Allen (SD-24)

  • Metro South Bay Service Council

  • Metro Community Advisory Council

  • Bruins For Better Transit

  • Rail Passengers Association of California

To join the coalition, send your organization's name and logo to: southbayforward@gmail.com

Or register your organization on this Coalition Form.

We support the extension and Hybrid LPA for the following reasons:

  1. High-Quality Transit: The South Bay is a major jobs center but lacks high-quality transit. Transit is the best way to solve traffic issues as the region adds more jobs and housing. As part of the K Line, the extension to Torrance will connect the South Bay with a one-seat ride to LAX, Inglewood, and the Expo Line with travel time savings compared to driving. The train will provide a viable alternative to the congested Sepulveda Blvd and 405.

  2. Local Investments & Regional Connections: The extension will create thousands of good, union jobs during construction and will reinvest hundreds of millions of dollars in regional taxpayer funds from Measure R and M back into the South Bay community. South Bay employment centers will be connected across Torrance, El Segundo, and LAX, bringing workers to jobs and visitors to the South Bay. Future connections on the K Line to Mid-City and Hollywood will further link to jobs and destinations.

  3. Cost-Effective & Timely: We embrace the options that will be the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars (Hybrid Alignment on the right-of-way is at least $700 million less expensive than the Hawthorne option) and will be completed the soonest. Hybrid was selected as the Locally-Preferred Alternative by the LA Metro Board in May 2024. Metro already owns the freight ROW, making it easier to construct, and will not need to acquire any homes. It offers a sure path to construction, and brings jobs sooner.

  4. Direct Connections to Transit Centers: Metro ROW makes the best use of local transit investments by connecting directly to the $15 million Redondo Beach Transit Center and $26 million Torrance Transit Center. Metro ROW options will link directly with these transit centers and local bus lines, bike trails, pedestrian trails, and parking for first-last mile connections and convenience. The station at RBTC will also be easier to manage from a security standpoint than a median station on Hawthorne Blvd.

  5. Equity and Disability Access: The extension will enhance mobility for disadvantaged communities in the South Bay. Two of Metro’s bus lines that serve the South Bay—the 125 from Norwalk through Gardena, Hawthorne and Manhattan Beach, and the 211/215 from Inglewood through Lennox, Hawthorne, and Lawndale and terminating at the Redondo Beach Transit Center—have the highest levels of cash paying riders in the entire Metro system. The station at RBTC is quiet and ADA-accessible with restrooms, parking, bike parking, and bus access. It is also walking distance to the Friendship Campus, which will serve disabled adults and families.

  6. Infrastructure Modernization & Neighborhood Safety: For the safety of neighbors in Lawndale and Redondo Beach, Metro ROW options will modernize the old freight route with upgraded freight trackwork, new bridges, pipelines, grade separations, pedestrian gates, sound walls, multi-use trails, and quiet-zone technology. Metro has constructed similar rail corridors in neighborhoods in South Pasadena, West LA, and the San Gabriel Valley. Metro will not make these needed safety upgrades to the freight corridor in the Hawthorne option.

FAQ

  • Let’s dive into alignment and cost comparisons for the Metro C/K Line Extension to Torrance.

    🔎 Which alignments were studied? The Draft EIR studied multiple alignments: Elevated/At-Grade Alignment, Trench Option, Hawthorne Option, 170th/182nd Grade-Separated Alternative (Hybrid Alternative), High-Frequency Bus, No Project.

    📍What are the differences between the Hybrid and the Hawthorne Options? The projects differ on station location, cost, timeline, approvals, real estate needs, station connections, noise mitigations, and traffic impacts. With Hybrid, the station located at the Redondo Beach Transit Center provides direct access to bike and walk paths, bus center, restrooms, and parking. With the Hawthorne Option, the station is on an elevated platform accessed by walking across 4 lanes of traffic on a high-injury corridor with 70,000 vehicles per day. Both alignments merge south of 190th St into Torrance with a station at the Torrance Transit Center.

    In May 2024, the Metro Board selected the Hybrid Option as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and completed additional studies released with the Final EIR in September 2025.

  • Hybrid/LPA preserves trees, recreational uses, and will not require acquisition of homes. Engineering and safety improvements will: upgrade trackwork for freight to modern standards, fully mitigate noise impacts with sound walls and rail engineering, improve pedestrian safety with full grade separations for light rail and new crossings, and provide zero-emissions electric light rail and quiet-zone upgrades to reduce freight horn sounding. Metro plans to preserve trees wherever possible and has a 2:1 tree replacement policy. New bike/walk trails enable recreational use and are found on similar projects like the Expo line.

  • Costs and timeline have risen due to inflation, tariffs, and delays in decision-making. Current estimates place Hybrid/LPA at $2.7B and Hawthorne at $3.4B with over $1.34B secured for funding.

    Overall benefits? The project responds to concerns & provides numerous mobility, environmental and jobs benefits. #clet #southbayonboard

  • Metro light rail trains are significantly quieter and shorter than the current freight trains that run through the existing rail right-of-way (ROW) through Lawndale, Redondo Beach, and Torrance.

    How do the noise levels compare?

    🚂 Freight Train (Heavy Rail): ~ 30 cars @ 96-110 db
    🚃 Metro Train (Light Rail): 2 cars @ 67.3 db outside & 10-20 db interior before mitigation
    🔈 Existing Noise: 57-71 db in neighborhood
    🔇 Mitigated Noise: 43-69 db

    The neighborhood will be quieter WITH the Metro Extension to Torrance than it is now because the design includes noise mitigation measures like soundwalls, low impact frogs, ballast mats, resilient fasteners, and wheel squeal monitoring for freight and light rail. Furthermore, the Hybrid LPA is fully grade-separated with underground crossings at 170th & 182nd St and bridges at Artesia & Grant, eliminating any potential conflicts or stops at intersections.

    Metro trains are much shorter and faster than freight trains. At only two cars in length and average speeds of 35 mph, they pass by in 6-10 seconds. See video. Based on the K Line schedule, this means residents and businesses will only hear Metro trains passing through:

    ⏳ 6-10 secs per train
    🚉 3-5 trains/hour northbound & southbound
    🗓️ 87 trains/direction/day on weekdays (NOT 200-300 trains per day)
    TOTAL TIME Heard in Neighborhoods: ~ 1 minute/hour

    With the modernization and safety improvements planned for both light rail and freight trains, each city can pass their own quiet zone ordinances to reduce freight horn noises to meet the needs of residents.

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