South Bay electeds rally for Crenshaw Line

Tomorrow is the big MTA meeting at which the twin fates of the Crenshaw Line and the South Bay extension of the Green Line will be decided.

It seems at this point almost a foregone conclusion that the MTA board will vote to move ahead with environmental work on both projects, but South Bay leaders are heading downtown just to be sure.

Among those expected to attend are El Segundo Mayor Kelly McDowell, Rolling Hills Estates Mayor Judy Mitchell, Palos Verdes Estates Mayor Ellen Perkins, Redondo Beach Councilman Steve Diels and Torrance Councilwoman Susan Rhilinger. In other words, the full-court press.

South Bay leaders are allied in this effort with activists from South L.A., who see the Crenshaw Line as a major jobs generator. From the South Bay perspective, it's important that the Crenshaw Line be built as a light-rail line -- as opposed to a dedicated busway -- because that will facilitate expansion of the Green Line into Torrance.

Electeds will be gathering at 8 a.m. at the Marine Station where they will board the Green Line, which goes to Watts, where they will transfer to the Blue Line, which will take them downtown where they will transfer to the Red Line subway, which they will take to Union Station, where the MTA headquarters are located a chartered bus. (That's a little transit humor for you.)