To create an efficient, equitable, and sustainable mass transit option for Angelenos, Los Angeles Metro developed the Regional Connector, a new, 1.9-mile underground LRT extension that provides riders with a convenient and seamless journey to the business, education, and cultural hubs that help LA thrive.
To make this historic sustainable public transportation project a reality, Los Angeles Metro selected Arcadis to manage the construction of the tunnel and the light rail’s new home beneath the downtown area, safely and without disturbing existing buildings or disrupting the city’s bustling business district.
The ten-year construction program included the excavation of over 6,000 feet of two 21-foot-diameter tunnels and three 350-foot-long underground stations—the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station, Historic Broadway Station, and Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill Station—which comprise the Regional Connector.
Throughout this project, Arcadis collaborated with many stakeholders and community-based organizations to understand community needs and develop an approach that worked for all. As the team assessed underground conditions for the tunnels and stations, they also evaluated construction impacts in surrounding neighborhoods—for example, reducing noise and vibration near the Walt Disney Concert Hall or maintaining restaurant and shopping access near Little Tokyo.
Los Angeles Metro expects the system to support up to 17,000 additional daily trips, taking thousands of cars off the road, reducing emissions, and contributing meaningfully to a more sustainable mass transit future for the region.
With the Regional Connector's opening, more people and communities across the region will have a faster, easier Metro ride, all while Metro continues its work to make the experience safer, cleaner, and more welcoming for today’s and future riders.
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