LA Metro completes southern Blue Line upgrades

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 5/30/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The end of work on the southern section of the Blue Line marks the halfway point of LA Metro’s $350 million New Blue line upgrade project.Photo – LA Metro

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) yesterday announced that the southern section of the Blue Line between the Compton and Downtown Long Beach stations will reopen on June 1. 

The opening follows the completion of upgrades to the line’s tracks, overhead power lines and train control, as well as the addition of switches. Upgrades also included the installation of new digital customer information screens and signage at stations. 

The end of the southern section work marks the halfway point of the $350 million New Blue project, which will bring LA Metro’s oldest light-rail line up to the specifications of the network's newer rail lines, according to an LA Metro press release.

When the southern section reopens, rail service on the Blue Line’s northern section will be suspended and work will begin. 

“The first half of the New Blue project has been completed on time and on budget and is a major milestone for [LA Metro’s] state-of-good-repair program,” said LA Metro Chief Executive Officer Phillip Washington.

LA Metro also announced that construction work at the junction of the Expo and Blue lines near Washington Boulevard and Grand Avenue will begin June 22 and continue for 60 days.