Metro today joined local, county and federal officials and community leaders in dedicating the Fairview Heights K Line K Station, which will provide the community of Inglewood with a new rail connection to affordable and supportive housing from the city, major entertainment venues and pedestrians 5.5 miles from the subway. and bike path under construction.
The event’s Facebook Live stream can be viewed here. Speakers at today’s event included Rep. Maxine Waters, Inglewood Mayor and Metro Board Member James Butts, and Metro Board Senior Vice-Chair, Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker.
Line K, also known as the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, is scheduled to open later this year. The station is located between the intersections of Redondo Boulevard and West Boulevard in the community of Fairview Heights in Inglewood. It will serve as a bridge between Inglewood and the greater Los Angeles area and is near Edward Vincent Jr. Park. This park contains the historic Centinela Springs, football fields, basketball courts, baseball diamonds and softball, picnic areas, an Olympic swimming pool and a veterans center.
Also nearby are several housing estates, local family businesses, and schools, including Centinela Elementary School and St. Mary’s Academy.
As additional station amenities, Metro will also open a 200-space park-and-ride lot adjacent to the station for ease of travel.
Metro is currently building a 5.5-mile bike and pedestrian path that will connect directly to Fairview Heights K Line station, Silver Line and A Line (Blue) Slauson station. The $143 million project, called the Rail to Rail Project, will be built along a former freight rail corridor and represents a substantial investment in local and state transportation for underserved communities in South Los Angeles. The project is expected to be completed in 2024.
Metro has also participated in the construction of new affordable housing near the Fairview Heights station. Directly opposite the train station are the Fairview Heights apartments. The building is a transit-oriented development jointly constructed by Metro and Los Angeles County. The 101-unit apartment complex offers 50 permanent, supportive housing units for people who were formerly homeless and 50 affordable units for low-income families.
The station will also provide a vital transportation link for commuters heading to other key destinations in downtown Inglewood as well as to Los Angeles and the Westside via connections to the E (Expo) line. Another nearby station, Aviation/Century is scheduled to open in fall 2023 and will provide access to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), hotels and is one stop away from the C (green) line.
The Metro Airport Metro Connector project, which will provide a connection to LAX, is scheduled to open in late 2024, giving members of the Fairview Heights community close train access to the airport for the first time.
The Fairview Heights station provides residents and passengers with faster, car-free access to Inglewood entertainment venues such as the Kia Forum and SoFi Stadium.
During the metro station’s inauguration ceremony today, the agency also celebrated the importance of station art. Officials recognized the winner of the Fairview Heights Station Memorial Pin Contest, high school student Isabella Gonzalez. All Line K stations include artwork commissioned through the agency’s Metro Art program. The artists were selected through an open and competitive selection process based on the recommendation of a panel of community arts professionals.
The artwork commissioned for the Fairview Heights station features murals by Kim Schoenstadt that depict hybrid structures based on existing and historic buildings in the surrounding neighborhood.
For more information on the project, please visit https://kline.metro.net/about-fairview-heights/
For more information on Metro Art, please visit metro.net/art.
QUOTATION
“With a park-and-ride facility and planned connections to a new Metro Active Transportation Corridor, Fairview Heights Station will play a key role in meeting Inglewood’s future multimodal transportation needs,” said Ara J. Najarian, Member of Glendale City Council and Chairman of the Metro Board. . “It will add tremendous convenience to residents and visitors who wish to avoid congested streets and highways by opting instead to walk, cycle, and take subways, buses, and trains.”
“These and other projects make getting around South Los Angeles much easier, especially for those who rely on walking, biking and public transit as their primary mode of transportation,” said Metro Board’s first chairperson. , Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker. “Metro is making a huge investment in better mobility for South Los Angeles communities, which will benefit future generations of residents.”
“Fairview Heights is rich in the energy of community organizing, from vital community-led projects like the Rail to River bike and pedestrian path and low-income Fairview Heights Apartments to decades-old organizations serving community needs. like Maranatha Community Church and Chuco Justice Center,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “As we usher in new opportunities through the opening of Fairview Heights Station along the K line, I know we can continue to build on that legacy with Metro as our partner.”
“The K Line will continue to be part of the incredible expansion and growth of Inglewood, Southern California’s new entertainment capital,” said Inglewood Mayor and Metro Board Member, James Butts. “This rail line will provide Inglewood residents and visitors from across our region with quick access to a revitalized downtown, not to mention our newly constructed SoFi Stadium and other sports and entertainment venues.”
“Fairview Heights Station is a clear example of how investing in transportation infrastructure can change lives, especially for residents who need access to reliable, cost-effective public transit,” said said Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Member Eric Garcetti. “This station will provide an array of opportunities for residents of this area, bringing them closer not only to employment centers, but also to parks, sports venues and our airport.”
“LA Metro’s Fairview Heights K Line station brings rail transportation to the doorstep of residents who will eventually enjoy a range of rail, bus, bike and walking connectivity never seen before in Inglewood,” said the CEO of Metro, Stephanie N. Wiggins. “I look forward to the immediate benefits this resort will bring to Inglewood, especially for those trying to improve their quality of life.”
You can find more information about today’s event and excerpts from some of the performances in this tweet stream:
Today we celebrated our station grand opening for the Fairview Heights K line station in the great city of Inglewood. The ribbon is officially cut! pic.twitter.com/97Wwdd1hS4
— LA Metro (@metrolosangeles) August 20, 2022
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