Los Angeles Metro Agrees to Explore Alternative Build Option in Little Tokyo

By Nalea J. Ko, Reporter
Pacific Citizen
Published November 20, 2009

Reposted under an exchange agreement with Pacific Citizen

Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo stakeholders pressed officials to explore an alternative option in their bid to expand the light rail transit system.

About 40 people gathered at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Little Tokyo Nov. 12 for one of numerous community-update meetings. The topic of discussion: the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) plans to connect the Blue Line and Gold Line transit systems.

The nearly two-mile-long Regional Connector Transit Corridor project’s scope would include Little Tokyo as well as Bunker Hill, the Civic Center, the Toy District, the Historic Core, the Arts District and the Jewelry District, among others.

The Nov. 12 meeting followed the Little Tokyo Community Council’s (LTCC) Nov. 10 decision to urge the MTA to explore an alternative build option. LTCC represents over 90 businesses and organizations in the area.

LTCC sent a letter on Nov. 9 to the MTA, asking officials to pursue the underground emphasis option, which would run below ground at Second Street. They also emphasized protecting the Nishi Hongwanji Temple’s property. Other options encroached on the temple’s property. Community leaders expressed concern about the impact of construction that would likely take three to four years.

“What will it do to us as an institution that’s mission is to tell the story of the history of the Japanese here?” said Chris Komai, JANM public relations officer. “If you know anything about the history of the Japanese, you know that Little Tokyo has been constantly pushed around. And you know what, we’re getting tired of it.”

JANM sees about 100,000 visitors annually, Komai said. He said museum officials are concerned about how the construction phase would impact visitor rates, including school tour programs.

There are currently four MTA options on the table: a no-build alternative, a transportation system management alternative, an at-grade light rail transit alternative and an underground light rail transit alternative. Project Manager Dolores Roybal Saltarelli said MTA would explore a fifth option and continue to work with stakeholders.

Taking a unified stance, Little Tokyo business leaders said they oppose “the two build options.” They welcome further talk with the MTA.

 “At this time, subject to the approval of the Nishi board itself, we’re open to listening to Metro’s options — below grade option as long as it does not encroach on the Nishi Buddhist temple’s property,” said Eric Kurimura, spokesperson for the Nishi Hongwanji Temple. He was not alone in expressing his apprehension.

“We have real concerns about the effects with construction and long-term disruption it would cause to this area. This part of Little Tokyo is very key to us,” explained Kevin Tamaki, with the Go For Broke National Education Center.

MTA officials said there is a need to increase the connectivity of the transit system to meet the needs of the growing population.

They estimate that by 2035, the population in Los Angeles. would grow to nearly 2 million people. According to the Southern California Association of Governments the population in Los Angeles has grown by 12.81 percent since 1990.

Without the regional connector there is a gap in the transit system. MTA officials said the connector would benefit all of Los Angeles not just downtown. It would provide a “continuous trip between the Pasadena Metro Gold Line and Metro Blue Line, and between the Metro Eastside Gold Line and Metro Expo line.”

Riders who have to transfer at Union Station because of the gap are delayed about 20 minutes and have to pay additional fees. Further reasons why MTA officials said expanding the transit system would be necessary.

The cost of each option varies. The capital cost for the transportation system management alternative would be about $63 million. That alternative would provide a shuttle service from 7th Street to Union Station. With the at-grade light rail transit alternative the price tag would be about $796 million. Its route would head westbound on Main Street and north on Temple Street. The underground light rail alternative would run along Second Street and go into Little Tokyo. The estimated cost: $910 million.

Most in Little Tokyo are in favor of expanding the transit system. But they want the MTA to implement appropriate mitigation efforts during construction as well as iron out a fifth build option.
David Yoda, who lives in Little Tokyo, said he would probably take advantage of the regional connector if it were convenient.

“I haven’t heard anything good or bad about it. I just — from time to time I read about it,” Yoda said while surveying posted MTA diagrams at the meeting. “The new Gold Line would be convenient if I wanted to go down to the eastside.”

Construction has not begun. MTA is conducting an 18-month environmental impact statement/environmental impact report. That EIS/EIR is expected to be complete in the summer of 2010.

In the interim Little Tokyo stakeholders are cautious to support the fifth option without first seeing it.

“Of course the point is though too, ‘exploration’ of the fifth option. We’re not in favor of choosing the fifth option because a lot of people have said, ‘What if the fifth option is just as bad as the other two,’” said Craig Ishii, JACL PSW regional director. “So, we want to see what it will look like, what mitigations are going to be coming along with it.”

Ishii said he hopes any disruption that occurs to the community is within a reasonable degree.