Los Angeles – The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today released the draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Antelope Valley Line Capacity and Service Improvements Program to evaluate potential benefits and impacts of building infrastructure to support increased rail service between Los Angeles and the Antelope Valley.

A 45-day review period of the DEIR begins on Wednesday, July 28, and concludes on Friday, September 10, 2021. During this period, two virtual public meetings will be held on Wednesday, August 18, and Saturday, August 21, where residents, communities, businesses, cities, stakeholders and the general public can learn about the project, the environmental review process and provide comments on the DEIR.

The Antelope Valley Line (AVL) Capacity and Service Improvements Program is a proposed project that aims to improve service frequency and reliability along the 76.6-mile AVL passenger rail corridor between Lancaster and downtown Los Angeles. The AVL corridor plays a critical role in connecting communities in north Los Angeles County to LA Union Station (LAUS) and the cities in between.

The AVL corridor is anticipated to experience strong population and employment growth over the next 20 years and solutions to realize the full potential of the AVL will be crucial to support this growth. Around 66 percent of the AVL rail corridor is single track, meaning that only one track is provided to operate trains in both directions. This limits the ability to run more frequent services and keep trains on a regular schedule.

The virtual public hearing will be held on the following days and times:

Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 6–7:30 p.m.

Meeting Link: bit.ly/35qFkcC

Call-in Number: (213) 338-8477

Meeting ID: 948 3461 0205

Por teléfono en español: (646) 749-3335

Contraseña: 754 052 309

Armenian Call-In Number: (646)749-3335

Access Code: 509 148 549

Saturday, August 21, 2021, 11am-12:30pm

Meeting Link: bit.ly/3wD1Sms

Call-In Number: (213) 338-8477

Meeting ID: 998 8162 7606

Por teléfono en español: (646) 749-3335

Contraseña: 248 035 021

Armenian Phone Line: (646) 749-3335

Access Code: 320 266 021

The information presented at each meeting will be the same and will consist of a live presentation followed by a live public comment session. Spanish and Armenian language interpretation will be available at both public hearings. Other ADA accommodations and translations are available by calling (213) 922-4844 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting.

AVL line improvements are part of the $10 billion Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program. SCORE is a capital program improving infrastructure to enable bidirectional Metrolink service every 30 minutes prior to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The three capital improvements under study include the Balboa Double Track Extension located in the City of Los Angeles, the Canyon Siding Extension located in the City of Santa Clarita and the Lancaster Terminal Improvements located in the City of Lancaster.

Comments on the DEIR may be submitted in writing to Brian Balderrama, Senior Director, Metro, One Gateway Plaza, Mail stop: 99-17-02, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Written comments can also be sent to Metro any time during the formal public review period from July 28, 2021, through September 10, 2021, at the postal address above or at [email protected] or submitted via an online comment form found on the project website at metro.net/projects/avl. You may also call the AVL Capacity and Service Improvements Program hotline number at (213) 922-4844 and leave a message.

About Metro

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is currently providing lifeline service for essential trips and frontline workers. Metro continues building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan.

Metro has proudly pledged to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Health and Safety Commitment Program to help ensure the safe return of transit riders as the U.S. recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, twitter.com/metrolosangeles and twitter.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.

ABOUT METROLINK (metrolinktrains.com)

Metrolink is Southern California's regional passenger rail service enabling people to connect to their jobs and explore all that the region has to offer. Prior to the pandemic, Metrolink has nearly 12 million annual boardings from people who choose to ride the train to avoid gridlock, removing an estimated 9.3 million vehicles from the roads and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 130,000 metric tons each year. Metrolink is the largest passenger rail agency in California and the third largest in the United States operating seven lines along a 538-mile network that travels across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.