The South Broadway Line

The South Broadway light-rail line would follow South Grand Street along the eastern edge of the Harbor Freeway between downtown LA and the Harbor Freeway Green Line Station. Stations on this line would be anchors for new transit-oriented development, stitching together the very urban fabric the freeway previously severed. Penetrating deep into the expansive gray zones of South Central, such development would also be the focal point for further revitalization to the east and west along Vernon, Slauson, Florence, Manchester, and Century Boulevards.

The major north-south streets running through South Central LA between Figueroa and Alameda create a corridor that radiates from downtown LA to Long Beach and the ports and encompasses the suburban cities of Compton and Carson. The Blue Line currently serves the eastern edge of this corridor, though its route largely bypasses major commercial strips such as Central Avenue and Pacific Avenue. Meanwhile, the Harbor Busway is supposed to provide rapid transit service for the western edge of this corridor, but with only 4 stops in the six miles between I-105 and 37th Street, the Busway serves a primarily regional/commuter function rather than a local function. It also lacks substantial connectivity with the surrounding transit network. The stations themselves, located in the center of the freeway, are noisy, unpleasant, and removed from the surrounding streetscape. The confusing schedule and premium fare are the final nails in the Busway's coffin.

The South Broadway line would bolster the South Central rapid transit network while mitigating the disruptive effects of the Harbor Freeway and anchoring redevelopment efforts in South Central. The Harbor Busway would continue providing regional service to and from areas south of I-105, connect to the South Broadway Line at the I-105, Manchester Ave, Slauson Ave, and 37th Street. The South Broadway could either terminate at I-105 or continue westward to El Segundo, sharing tracks with the Green Line. If it did continue to El Segundo, it could spur further development around the Green Line Stations at Vermont, Crenshaw, and Hawthorne.

Eleven stations serving three districts:

Between Jefferson and the 105, the new line would serve 11 stations. These stations would cluster together in three distinct districts: Inner Broadway/West Newton, Mid-Broadway, and Outer-Broadway.

Inner Broadway/West Newton

Since development west of the Harbor Freeway is constrained by the USC campus and Exposition Park, the blocks to the east (bounded by the freeway Jefferson, Main, and MLK) could be converted from their current warehouse/industrial use into a mid-rise, high-density residential district with close proximity to:

1) Near-downtown institutions like USC, Exposition Park, LA Trade Tech College, Mt Saint Mary's College, Hebrew Union College, and Orthopaedic Hospital
2) Downtown's South Park and Fashion District
3) A newly designated Central Avenue historic district to the east - heart of LA's early 20th century jazz scene anchored by the Dunbar Hotel and Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building and the location of the annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival.

Stations
Harbor Transitway/37th Street
38th Street/Broadway
40th Place/Broadway
Vernon/Grand

Mid-Broadway

Mid-Broadway is a radial district of downtown with extensive crosstown connections to Huntington Park to the east and Inglewood and LAX to the west. Manchester Avenue forms an informal boundary between inner residential districts of LA and outer districts and satellite cities like Watts and South Gate.

Stations
Slauson/Grand
Florence/Broadway
Manchester/Grand

Outer Broadway

This portion of Broadway could be lined with grand, high-quality apartment buildings with direct connections to downtown LA at their doorsteps, with additional access to El Segundo and Norwalk a single transfer away.

Stations
Century Blvd (at Broadway) (117)
108th Street (at Broadway)
Imperial (at Athens) (120)
Harbor Freeway Green Line

Six Segments:

Segment 1: Exposition/Flower to 41st Drive/Grand Ave


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Branching off from the Expo Line and continuing south on Flower, the line would turn east on vacant land just north of 37th Street and run underneath the Harbor Freeway to connect with the 37th Street Harbor Busway Station. Crossing 37th and Hope, it would turn south on Grand Ave, east on 38th, and south on Broadway Place before winding east on 40th Place and to the entrance of the Segment 2 tunnel on Grand Ave.

Street Impacts:
Intersection of 37th & Hope
Grand Ave. between 37th & 38th
38th between Grand & Broadway Place, Intersecting Broadway and Hill
Broadway pl/40th pl/Grand btwn 38th and 41st Dr.

Segment 2: 41st Drive to 54th Street


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The tunnel would run under Grand Ave between 41st drive and 46th Street. Between 46th and 54th Streets, train would run in the Harbor Freeway trench on free land next to the freeway, exploiting the freeway's right of way to avoid crossing surface streets at-grade.

Street Impacts:
Grand Ave. between 41st Pl & 42nd Street
Northbounth Vernon Ave exit ramp
Northbounth 51st Street entrance ramp
38th between Grand & Broadway Place, Intersecting Broadway and Hill
Broadway pl/40th pl/Grand between 38th and 41st Dr.

Segment 3: 54th to 67th


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Emerging from underneath Grand Avenue south of 54th, the line would continue on elevated tracks above Grand Avenue to 67th.

Street Impacts:
Grand Avenue between
- 54th & 58th (exit from tunnel, aerial pillars)
- 59th Pl & 67th (aerial pillars)

Segment 4: 67th to 77th


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The line would descend below Grand Avenue south of 67th Street. Along the way, the tunnel would turn east for a station at Broadway and Florence before resuming course underneath to Grand to 76th Street.

Street Impacts:
Grand Avenue between
- 67th & 71st (ramp, entrance to tunnel)
- 76th & 77th (exit from tunnel)
Northbound 76th Street exit ramp (realigned slightly west)

Segment 5: 77th to 90th


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The line would run at-grade between 77th to 81st, then run on elevated tracks above Grand Ave from 81st to 90th.

Street Impacts:
Grand Avenue between
- 77th & 81st (devoted to light-rail line)
- 81st & 90th (aerial pillars)
79th Street (at grade train crossing)

Segment 6: 90th/Grand to I-105 Green Line/Harbor Busway Station


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The line would run at-grade along Grand Ave from 90th to 95th Street, then at-grade along Broadway from 95th to Imperial Highway. South of Imperial, it would either terminate at the Harbor Freeway Green Line station or continue westward to El Segundo.

Street Impacts:
Grand Avenue between
- 90th & 95th Street (running at grade along street)
Broadway between
- 95th and Imperial Hwy (at grade along street with numerous at-grade crossings)