Sánchez calls for funding for West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA) sent a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, calling on the Department to recommend funding for the Los Angeles Metro's West Santa Ana Branch (WSAB) Transit Corridor Project.

The WSAB Transit Corridor project is a 19-mile light rail transit corridor LA Metro is developing that would connect southeast LA County to downtown Los Angeles and provide a one-seat ride between the City of Artesia and Union Station.

In the letter, Congresswoman Sánchez applauded the Department of Transportation's close collaboration with LA Metro on its efforts to successfully advance the WSAB Transit Corridor Project. The Congresswoman called for the inclusion of project development activity funding in the Annual Report on Funding Recommendations for the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program for Fiscal Year 2024. The letter also notes that funding for this project is critical as Southern California prepares to host several major global events in the coming years.

"Many working families in my district depend on public transit to get from point A to point B. Yet southeastern Los Angeles County has historically lacked access to high-quality, reliable public transportation," said Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez. "The West Santa Ana Branch project will help change that reality, providing a one-seat ride from Artesia to Union Station. I am proud to support this critical investment in our transportation infrastructure, and I will continue working together with LA Metro and the Department of Transportation to see it to completion."

Congresswoman Sánchez previously expressed public support for the project during a Los Angeles Metro Board Meeting in January when the Board approved the 14.8-mile Slauson/A Line to Pioneer route as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the project's initial segment between Artesia and Downtown Los Angeles.

In addition to Congresswoman Sánchez, the letter was co-signed by Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), and Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA).

The full text of the letter is available HERE and below. 

Dear Secretary Buttigieg,

We write to request that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) include a funding recommendation for project development activities for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (Metro) West Santa Ana Branch (WSAB) Transit Corridor Project in the Annual Report on Funding Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2024 - Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program and Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program.

The WSAB Transit Corridor Project, which will expand economic opportunity and equity for disadvantaged communities across southeastern Los Angeles County, is a model for the investments called for under President Biden's Justice40 initiative and Executive Order 14008. Thanks to its transformational potential, on April 22, 2021, Metro's Board of Directors established the WSAB Transit Corridor Project as the agency's number one candidate for the CIG Program. The WSAB Transit Corridor Project was granted approval to enter the Project Development phase of the CIG Program and was included in the Annual Report on Funding Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2023.

It is our understanding that Metro has moved aggressively to advance this vital project through key milestones while cities along the WSAB Transit Corridor continue to develop comprehensive Transit Oriented Communities plans, in some cases, with the full support of the FTA. These positive steps by Metro, coupled with growing support for the WSAB Transit Corridor Project from local, state, and federal officials, are developments that favorably position this project to move forward in the CIG Program.

As southern California prepares to host several major global events in the coming years – including the World Cup in 2026 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, we believe it is critical for the WSAB Transit Corridor Project to secure a funding recommendation of $50 million for project development activities in the upcoming CIG Report. This amount would cover a portion of the costs associated with preliminary engineering activities, environmental reviews, and other tasks required during the project development process.

We are grateful for the Department's close collaboration with Metro on its efforts to successfully advance the WSAB Transit Corridor Project though the FTA CIG process. Thank you for your commitment to enhancing equity and mobility across Los Angeles County and the United States.

Sincerely,

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