Los Angeles is moving closer to a new light rail line connecting Southeast LA County to downtown. The Metro Board of Directors was scheduled this month to select a route for the initial segment of the West Santa Ana Branch (WSAB) project, running from Artesia to the A Line's Slauson Station.
According to the Los Cerritos News, Metro staff is also recommending further study of a Slauson-to-Union Station segment to refine a cost-effective route and accelerate delivery. The full board was set to take up the item after the Planning and Programming Committee reviewed it on January 19, 2022.
Who should care
Southeast LA cities:** Being in the initial segment means construction money and station-area development are locked in. Cities excluded from this phase face long odds for future inclusion.
Cerritos:** Officials pushed for a station between Gridley Road and Studebaker under Alternative One, Design Option Two. Their concern: missing this phase could lock the city out permanently.
Downtown and Little Tokyo advocates:** Alternative One, Design Option Two would add a Little Tokyo stop, improving regional connectivity but raising costs.
Commuters:** The initial segment includes nine WSAB stations plus a new C Line (Green) station at I-105. Riders transfer to the A Line (Blue) at Slauson to reach downtown.
At a glance
- Nine WSAB stations planned for the initial Artesia-to-Slauson segment
- New C Line (Green) transfer point at I-105
- A Line (Blue) connection at Slauson Station for downtown access
- Metro studying Slauson-to-Union Station extension for second phase
- Cerritos pushing for station between Gridley Road and Studebaker
Why the route matters
The WSAB line is meant to close a transit gap that has left Southeast LA County dependent on buses while other parts of LA built rail. But the alignment debate is not just about tracks and stations. It is about which cities secure a permanent place in the region's transit network and which ones face being passed over.
Cerritos made its case in a letter to the Metro Board. Even though Councilman Bruce Barrows had rejected a station years ago, city officials now warn that exclusion from the initial segment could end any future chance. Their preferred alignment, Alt. 1-2, would add a Little Tokyo stop, raising costs but improving regional connectivity from Pioneer Station to Union Station.
Our analysis
This is a classic build-now-versus-build-later fight. Cities included in the initial segment lock in construction funding, station-area development and long-term property value uplift. Cities on the outside must bet that a future extension survives budget constraints, political turnover and competing priorities.
What to watch next: whether the board selects a Cerritos-friendly alignment, how the Slauson-to-Union study shapes the second segment, and whether Little Tokyo becomes a fixed stop or a casualty of cost discipline.
Bottom line
The WSAB alignment decision is modest in transit terms but consequential for the cities involved. Metro's choice will determine winners and losers for the next generation. Watch the January 27 board vote closely.
Key takeaways
- The Metro Board was set to pick the initial WSAB segment running from Artesia to Slauson Station.
- The initial segment would include nine WSAB stations plus a new C Line station at I-105.
- Metro staff is also studying a Slauson-to-Union Station extension to accelerate delivery.
- Cerritos pushed for a station between Gridley Road and Studebaker under Alt. 1-2 to avoid permanent exclusion.
- Cities in the initial segment lock in construction money and development potential; those left out face long odds for future extensions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the West Santa Ana Branch project?
The WSAB is a planned Metro light rail line intended to connect Southeast LA County to downtown Los Angeles, starting with an initial segment from Artesia to the A Line's Slauson Station.
Why did Cerritos push for a station?
City officials warned that missing the initial segment could permanently lock Cerritos out of a station, so they advocated for a stop between Gridley Road and Studebaker under Alternative One, Design Option Two.
What happens after the initial segment?
Metro staff is also recommending further study of a Slauson-to-Union Station segment to refine a cost-effective route and accelerate delivery of the full line.