by Garth Meyer
By a 6-4 count Monday, the South Bay Cities Council of Governments’ transportation committee chose to stay its neutral course regarding what route a proposed Metro light rail expansion should take.
The decision included a call for Metro to look at creating a Climate Resilient District for the South Bay – which would draw funding from property taxes to provide transit in the area.
In the Dec. 8 discussion, Mayor James Butts, Jr., of Inglewood, who is also on the Metro Board of Directors, which makes the decision on the potential expansion to Torrance, through Redondo Beach, said, “I am a person that studies,” and he believes that Metro should supply supplemental written responses to all of the issues raised by South Bay cities, especially Redondo Beach – before an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the project is certified.
Metro released its revised draft EIR this fall. In January, the Metro board will consider whether to issue a final Report and choose a route.
The three options are to run tracks down a railroad right-of-way between neighborhoods in North Redondo and Lawndale; to run the same route by hybrid (some underground stretches) or for the route to go on raised tracks down the median of Hawthorne Boulevard.
Zein Obagi, Jr. a Redondo Beach city councilman and its South Bay Cities Council of Governments’ (SBCCOG) delegate, made a point that residents live “far closer” to the proposed K-Line route on the right-of-way than the distance from businesses on Hawthorne Boulevard to the raised tracks.
He said that if the right-of-way is chosen, Redondo Beach will file a “meritorious lawsuit.” He said the city has appropriated money for litigation, if needed.
He maintained that Metro has not adequately explained how to deal with alleged toxic soil that would be dug up on the right-of-way during construction (toxins from jet fuel carried by existing daily freight trains and oil from pipes).
John Kaji, a Torrance city councilman who supports the Hawthorne Blvd. route, a minority voice on the Torrance Council, which has endorsed the right-of-way option – said he believes the best path is fully underground.
“The right thing to do is not always the least expensive,” he said.
Don Szerlip, chair of the Metro South Bay service council, a North Redondo Beach businessman and former Redondo city councilman, said that Metro will be “very quick to spend the money elsewhere if we reject what’s going on now, and we may never get the opportunity again.”
Only one stop would appear along the Hawthorne Blvd. route – across from the South Bay Galleria property – besides the end at Torrance Transit Station.
Questions were bandied about Dec. 8; should the committee stay neutral or should it take a position in favor of the right-of-way, along Hawthorne Blvd. or perhaps the no-build option.
A representative from Janice Hahn’s office said the L.A. County Supervisor is a strong supporter of the project, that she shares concerns about cost overruns, but it is not a reason to delay.
A delegate from Lomita, City Councilman Bill Uphoff, suggested the SBCCOG remain agnostic, as did the committee chair, El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel.
Obagi, Jr., noted that Lawndale has appropriated funds for a lawsuit of their own. He touted the Hawthorne option as the one with the highest potential ridership.
More directly, Obagi, Jr., said that he heard no one say they will file a lawsuit against the Hawthorne option, if chosen.
“If there’s going to be lawsuits, this body should stay neutral,” Uphoff said.
After three motions and several “abstain” votes, a motion to retain its neutral position passed. ER
26 Responses
Objections to the Metro proposal operating along the (ROW) including all effected
Neighboring properties located in Redondo Beach, Lawndale and Hawthorne
1. Loss of Quiet Enjoyment of our Property per California Real Estate Law, Civil Code 1927 The “Convenient of Quiet Enjoyment”, but not limited to: Excessive Sound Noise Nuisance, Vibrations, Air Pollution, Diesel fuel Fumes, trash, Transients, possible
Homeless encampments, Graffiti and bright Lighting and electrical EMF. 2. City Of Redondo Beach Noise Laws, Title 4, Public Welfare Chapter 24 Noise regulations: prohibit noise or and Nuisance noise prior to 7:00Am and after 10:00 Pm subject to all
other sound previsions per the Regulations Law. 3. Presents a clear Determent to the Health, Mental Health, Welfare and Safety of all
Residents including Children and their Quality of Life.
4. Loss of Property Values and Loss of Use. 5. Damage to Building Foundation and other structures due to increased weight and
ground pressure located in close proximity of Residential Property.
6. Inadequate surrounding infrastructures of surface roads. 7. Clear and potential Terrorist threat due to the close location of electric Trains traveling along side of freight Trains that are hauling tanker cars containing “Liquid Petroleum” If a fire occurred it would cause Catastrophic chain reaction explosion that could wipe out
entire Neighborhoods.
8. Invasion of privacy: (Penal Code 646)
9. Not Highest and Best Land use in a Residential neighborhood. We find that the Metro proposed location along the (ROW) running parallel and encroaching on to Residential neighborhoods unacceptable. In addition to the shocking length of Construction, the proposed scheduled frequency of electric Train traffic at 0400am to 0:100 hours of operation every 15 minutes. Ignoring Local City Noise abatement Laws and Californians Right to Quiet Enjoyment of Residential Property. FEIR warnings of the petroleum
gas and jet fuel lines beneath the ground surface along the ROW. Suffice to say, our tax dollars will be best spent by reason of forethought in design and highest and best use by considering “The Metro Green line extension alternative” running along Hawthorne Blvd. This location will benefit the Retail and Commercial districts for ease of access, safety, thriving commerce and to the betterment of all future development. The
Hawthorne Bld location will best link people to and from businesses and shopping. *A third alternative to consider will be Electric Busses and anonymous designs VS Trains
providing better and safer service coverage to all.
Respectfully, David Zappacosta- Resident owner at 2750 Artesia Blvd. Unit 261, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, Breakwater Village Senior Community, Redondo Beach, CA
NO on ROW!
Objections were basically moot on the fact every “affected” homeowners voluntarily bought homes next to an active railroad. The railroads were there long before any homes were built…circa 1910s. Residents who choose to live next to a railroad don’t get to end rail activities. Since you are fond of quoting laws…The Interstate Commerce Act, established in 1887, and then the Interstate Commission Termination Act (“ICCTA”) of 1995 grants the Surface Transportation Board (“STB”) authority over rail service, not local residents. It’s federal law that governs rails. You can’t legislate locally to override rail access and movement because that’s not your jurisdiction.
The City of Torrance and several Metro-sponsored/affiliated groups like SouthBay Fwd have been funding Metro’s PR (disguised as simply “information”) on the ROW project, even before Torrance was gifted their Transit Center which sits at the edge of a refinery abs adjacent to a storage faculty.
TORRANCE IS THE ONLY SOUTHBAY CITY THAT IS ON RECORD SUPPORTING THE ROW ALIGNMENT, and they have spent millions on propaganda and outreach. RB, HB, Lawndale, & Hawthorne city councils ALL SUPPORT THE HAWTHORNE Blvd alignment.
Meanwhile, the City of Lawndale and their residents are the most negatively impacted and are always having to beg Metro for even basic information. They have filed FOI requests that are delayed again and again—trying to figure out what is going on, and what Metro’s relationship is with “grassroots” groups they have been subsidizing to do “engagement.”
I have lived and worked in Torrance for over 25 years, and I hear what real people say about the off-putting location of the Torrance Transit Center… let’s just keep it short and polite: no one is enthusiastic about that location .
In case you are not familiar with the area:
The Torrance Transit Center at 465 Crenshaw Blvd sits about 2.3 miles from Del Amo Fashion Center Mall (3525 W Carson St.) Walking takes 36-45 minutes due to the distance and limited pedestrian paths along industrial Crenshaw Blvd!
The Transit Center is also roughly 4-5 miles from downtown Torrance—using Torrance City Hall at 3031 Torrance Blvd. as a reference.) Walking spans 60-90 minutes across highways and low-density areas, making it impractical. No direct bus exists; options like Line 1 or 4X with transfers take 45-70 minutes total, depending on traffic and schedules. Torrance Transit Line 6 provides direct service in about 20-30 minutes during peak weekday hours, though waits can exceed 40 minutes off-peak!
Sooo many environmental justice groups find this project absolutely repugnant! (See SouthBayEnviroJusticeAlliance on Instagram.)
This article fails to mention that rail tracks are toxic because the wood (ties) are treated with creosote, which is a carcinogenic tar-like substance, and the jagged rocks (called ballasts.) When this stuff is disturbed during demolition or construction, the wood spreads cancer-causing dust, and the rocks produce fine particles which embed deeply in lung tissue, impairs oxygen uptake and leads to conditions like silicosis.
Rail workers will have protective breathing equipment when doing this work, but there are STILL plenty of workman’s comp lawsuits… But the Lawndale families who literally live within a few yards of this activity will NOT HAVE ANY PROTECTION.
In fact, Metro sponsored SB 71, which extends and expands CEQA exemptions for transit projects within existing rights-of-way until 2040! This allows Metro to accelerate track work along lines like the K Line without full environmental reviews. Critics argue this bypasses scrutiny of localized air quality and health impacts in vulnerable neighborhoods!
This clearly should be underground, and if certified, it will be a (another) bad stain— not only LA Metro’s reputation—but the Metro board members who let this happen.
Let’s all hope they don’t have their sites set on higher offices.
SBEJA is just ONE group, not “so many”. Their only item is stopping the c-line extension. Note that SB71 does not exempt projects from AQMD requirements.
There was a huge turnout to make the South Bay cog stay the course and support this project over NIMBY objections. The toxic soil allegations are laughable; if the soil is so toxic then why do residents take walks and treat the row like a walking path?
No more delays. Build the train
Sure… the HUGE turnout was Torrance officials, Metro officials, and SouthBay Fwd and other Metro-sponsored CBOs. Congrats on spending PR resources well to squash a city for selfish reasons.
Metro doesn’t “sponsor” CBOs, they don’t pay them, don’t control who joins the organizations, doesn’t direct the organizations opinions. Metro seeks out local community based organizations for input into projects from local residents. Torrance chamber membership is LOCAL businesses that give input. SBBC is LOCAL bike advocates you can thank for bike lanes, League of Women Voters are LOCAL women. ANY organization can register as a CBO to give input and that input can shape projects.
Metro absolutely pays CBOs for expenses, time, etc. to promote projects. I was once part of a CBO that would invoice Metro thousands of dollars for time and materials to sit at bus stops and transit centers spreading Metro messaging for a project (not this one). South Bay Forward absolutely gets money from Metro.
Yes, the huge turnout at the COG meeting was not because people wanted a train, but actually because everyone who disagrees with you is getting paid thousands of dollars to shill for public transit. Either that, or they’re all secretly working for Torrance.
Do you hear yourself?
Ok Alex… I never even mentioned the COG meeting and you haven’t done anything to disprove my point. All I said was South Bay Forward absolutely gets funding from Metro as a CBO after you said Metro doesn’t pay them (which is false). They also get a list of talking points Metro wants to get out there (South Bay forward literally has a link to “CBO talking points” document in their online toolkit… this isn’t some conspiracy).
Correction – the vote was 6-2 with only Lawndale and Redondo Beach wanting to choose a preferred route. This is a great asset for the South Bay on either route and asCouncilmember Obagi said in the meeting a vote for general support is a vote for the RIGHT OF WAY. Im a North Redondo Beach Resident and am appalled that Obagi was trying to strong arm support from other cities by threatening litigation if Hawthorne is chosen. Is he really a RB councilman or Lawndale? The last thing Redondo needs is another lawsuit especially on a project that has been in planning stages for over 4 decades. Longer than most of the opponents to the project have been in the South Bay.
Chelsea Schreiber the person behind South Bay Environmental Justice Alliance is a journalist and social media marketing manager. She represents a small group of people that are being manipulated by fear. So many inaccuracies are spread that the data in the EIR does not support. This is a document and studies developed by independent professional experts in their fields, not an Instagrammer looking for sound bites.
What was left out of the article was how many local residents and community groups came to the SBCOG meeting in SUPPORT of the rail extension. This is the “silent majority” speaking out because the rail extension is SO IMPORTANT!!
Hawthorne Blvd isn’t better at all if you READ the FEIR documents. There is a storm water main (giant pipe) in the center of Hawthorne that would need to be moved. There are 11 businesses that lose their property with the Hawthorne Alignment. That also means permanent lost tax revenue for Lawndale and Torrance that takes money directly away from programming for the whole city.
The right of way doesn’t encroach on people’s homes, people have extended their back yard into public land.
Remediating contaminated soil is addressed in the EIR and is considered “less than significant”.
Oh yes everyone at the COG really enjoyed all the mass submitted form letters by “community groups” all verbatim copied and pasted from South Bay Forward— which is paid by metro to spin positive PR for this project. Even the other organizations who submitted letters of support literally copied and pasted what South Bay Forward sent them. There’s at least 5 identical letters from “community organizations” in the public comments which were all South Bay Forward’s form letter with a different letterhead slapped on it. Opposition to the ROW is not just a few people. Its entire city councils including Lawndale, Redondo, Hermosa and Hawthorne. Its state representatives for the area too. Obagi isn’t threatening a lawsuit by himself. The Redondo City Council has authorized money for a lawsuit as has the Lawndale City Council.
NIMBYs were clearly outnumbered by people who want better transit for the future. Obagi seems more eager to spend money on a lawsuit which the city doesn’t have for a detailed study to find out the perceived environmental “damages” he’s alleging. Without a study, he’s only speculating about the environmental damages… a study which he has not funded. Cart before the horse situation. This lawsuit is a paper tiger threat when actual damages have not been established. It’s like alleging some kind of toxic Love canal situation simply because you don’t want electric trains to actually use Metro’s Right of Way. if that area is such a toxic cesspool, why aren’t you suing BNSF? Why aren’t people evacuating the area? Why is the city not doing anything about a clean up? Weird.
The person you mentioned is NOT “behind” SouthBay Environmental Justice Alliance, no more than you are “behind” McDonalds because you are on the fry station.
Best comment of the day! I had no idea the commented manned a fry station at Macs! Excellent!
“North Redondo” huh…?
More like North SouthBay Fwd…
I know you would love to think that the opposition is from one person or even just a small group of people. But you know deep down that’s not correct! After all, the City Councils of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale, and Hawthorne have ALL come out AGAINST using the ROW, and to use Hawthorne Blvd instead. But, I’m sure you will say that all of them are NIMBY’s too, huh?
At the meeting, there were dozens of people online who complained after the fact that they were not called on. (Not everyone has Metro supporting their advocacy.)
And there were dozens MORE people calling in to support the train. Stay mad.
You mean like how NIMBYS have been spamming the metro board with email templates for years?
This makes me really sad… The fact that there are people who are willing to overlook the valid concerns of an entire community for their own perceived “convenience.” Ignoring the fact that the same convenience can happen on Hawthorne Boulevard. Either way many of these Torrance politicians will be too old to enjoy any alignment!
I think the bike people assume that the new “walking path” on the ROW will allow them to walk from the OLD RB station to Torrance .
NOPE.
Look at the FEIR; you will see that there is absolutely no room to continue a bike path or any other kind of path south of 170th St!
The multiple choke points means that they will still be hitting Hawthorne Boulevard or even Crenshaw Boulevard.
Let’s remember that the City Councils of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale ALL DON’T WANT THIS ALIGNMENT! yet all of them want better connection to the rest of Los Angeles – down Hawthorne Boulevard or some other way that doesn’t hurt Southbay families…
But hey, everybody is a NIMBY, right????
It’s equally sad that a small selection of unreasonable people are single handedly blocking more public transit for everyone in Los Angeles. Also very sad that most public comments in the hermosa beach town hall were for the row to be used, but redondo beach politicians called in a favor over the will of the people
Nah… I watched that whole Hermosa meeting. There were a couple people speaking for the ROW but the majority of public comment was against the ROW. Majority of the council also had some scathing comments about how bad the ROW is. It’s pretty clear there isn’t the political will to get behind the ROW except if you are in Torrance or a Torrance Transit official.
You clearly never watched the meeting hermosa was pro row until this year when redondo called in a favor. Most of the people speaking for the Hawthorne alignment were from Lawndale.
It’s interesting (disgusting actually) how California agencies are allowed to do the Environmental Analysis of their OWN PROJECTS. No matter how damaging, they have the option of IGNORNING their environmental, health, and financial impacts on those who are ultimately assaulted by those impacts. This is a classic example. The health and property values of the ROW corridor will be severely damaged, yet Metro ignores ALL PROPERTY VALUE IMPACTS and PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS IN THE LOCAL PROJECT AREA.
Agencies & developers don’t do their own analysis, they hire subject matter experts to do years of studies. Professionally licensed engineers, surveyors, soils engineers etc are not going to jeopardize their own livelihood to slant real data. Have you ever tried to get on Metro’s contractor list. It’s very rigorous.