Link Union Station
(Link US) Project
City of Vernon
City Council Presentation
June 17, 2025
Meeting Agenda
1. Introductions
2. Meeting Purpose
3. Project Overview
4. What Will Happen in Vernon
5. Additional Community Mitigation
5. Questions & Next Steps
Nine Months of Collaboration with Vernon
Working to Support the City's Long-term Vision
JUNE 2024
Draft EIS/SEIR published
29 Mitigation Measures
Required by Draft EIS/SEIR
SEPTEMBER 2024
– FEBRUARY 2025
Collaboration with Vernon
9 Workshops
with City of Vernon
12 Vernon Property
Owner Meetings
90 comments and 8 key
areas of concern
identified / addressed
AUGUST 2024
Vernon Mayor and Director
of Public Works submit
comment letters
104 Additional
Community Mitigation
Measures
over $100k per resident & over $13k per business
$24,564,000 worth of improvements to the City Of Vernon Total Additional Community Mitigation Measures
FEBRUARY 2025
Metro Offers 22 Additional
Community Mitigation
Vernon requests 82 more
Additional Community
Mitigation Measures
Meeting Purpose:
Provide an update on the Link US Project and how it
would improve citywide circulation and support
Vernon’s goals for economic vitality and future growth
Project Improves Citywide Circulation
3.5 fewer
Fewer Daily
Train Movements
30-minute
improvement
Reduced Train
Blockage
5-minute
improvement
Faster Emergency
Response
Additional Community Mitigation
A. Train Detection Cameras
B. Quiet Zone Infrastructure
(Overhead Cantilevered
Signals)
C. Quiet Zone Infrastructure
(Detectable Warning Strips)
D. Mid-block Crosswalk
(with Cool Pavement)
E. Bus Shelter
F. PTZ Smart Camera
G. Mobile Emergency
Operations Center
Project Overview
Project Location & Major Components
N. Main St. safety
improvements
6 new lead tracks
New Vignes St. & Cesar
Chavez Ave. Bridges
a
Elevated rail yard with new
platforms & canopies
Expanded passageway
Up to 10 new run-through tracks
Common rail infrastructure
(LAUS to First St.)
Permanent removal of 5,500 ft. of
storage track capacity
Dedicated lead tracks for BNSF
freight trains & Amtrak trains
46th St. Connector
49th St. Closure
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
North of LAUS
At LAUS
LEGEND
South of LAUS
Vernon
BNSF WEST BANK YARD BNSF MALABAR YARD
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
Mitigation Sites Considered
Malabar Yard is the only site that meets operational requirements to support national goods movement and has sufficient space SIX Mitigation Sites Evaluated:
Hobart Yard
Commerce Yard
Malabar Yard
Los Angeles Junction
Pico Rivera Yard
Eastern BNSF Facilities
1 2
3 4
5 6
Link US Project
BNSF Malabar Yard Improvements in Vernon
46TH STREET CONNECTOR
1,000 ft. track between Pacific Blvd. &
Seville Ave., connecting Malabar Yard
and Los Angeles Junction
49TH STREET CLOSURE
Closure of at-grade railroad crossing,
resulting in an additional 3,350 ft. of
storage track capacity at Malabar Yard
Improved Citywide Circulation
Train Redistribution Reduces Train Movements
Current Daily Trains
Length of trains in existing & proposed condition would be up to 3,000 feet long Train Redistribution Reduces Train Movements
Fewer Daily Trains
Length of trains in existing & proposed condition would be up to 3,000 feet long
MALABAR YARD
Used for storage of
empty train chassis
Ex:
LAJ YARD
Used for all train
building for Vernon
customers
Reduces intersection
blockage
Train Observations in Response to Community Concerns
Vernon Train Observations
Background:
Cameras recorded 24/7 train activity (April 19-25, 2025) Objectives:
Identify current daily train counts and times in the City of Vernon Determine intersection blockages due to current daily train activity Report intersection blockages that would result from the proposed Malabar Yard modifications
“Through Train” – Serves East Vernon Businesses
LAJ/Downey Road - Existing
“Through Train” at Pacific Blvd. – Serves West Vernon Businesses Malabar Yard - Existing
“Yard Train” at Pacific Blvd. – Train Building Process
MALABAR YARD - EXISTING
NOW
101
minutes of
blockage daily
Existing Intersection Blockages without Project
Train Observation Results
Minutes: 0-5 5-10 10-15 15-20 20+
NOW
101
minutes
blocked daily
WITH LINK US
Future Intersection Blockages with Project
Train Observation Results
Minutes: 0-5 5-10 10-15 15-20 20+
Daily Blockage
Reduced by
30 minutes
Intersection Blockages
Potential Intersection Blockages – Camera Observations
Intersection Blockages (Daily Total)
Location Existing Routes
(Camera-Observed Trains)
Proposed Routes
(Redistributed Trains)
Change in
Minutes Per
Day
West Vernon (-45 minutes)
26th Street 4 min 1 min -3 min
37th Street and 38th Street 21 min 13 min -8 min
Vernon Avenue 30 min 14 min -16 min
Pacific Boulevard North 36 min 14 min -22 min
Pacific Blvd East 2 min 6 min +4 min
East Vernon (+6 minutes)
Downey Road 3 min 9 min +6 min
Central Vernon (+8 minutes)
Seville Street 2 min 4 min +2 min
46th Street 2 min 6 min +4 min
Soto Street 1 min 3 min +2 min
Total
Peak Period 9 min 15 min +6 min
Non-Peak Period 92 min 56 min -36 min
30-Minute Improvement
Intersection Blockages
Potential Intersection Blockages – 3,000 ft. Trains
Intersection Blockages (Daily Total)
Location Existing Route Proposed Route Estimated Change in Minutes Per Day
West Vernon (-222 minutes)
26th Street 18 min 2 min -16 min
37th Street and 38th Street 45 min 30 min -15 min
Vernon Avenue 112 min 30 min -82 min
Pacific Boulevard North 112 min 30 min -82 min
Pacific Blvd East 45 min 18 min -27 min
East Vernon (85 min minutes)
Downey Road 9 min 94 min 85 min
Central Vernon (54 minutes)
Seville Street 9 min 27 min 18 min
46th Street 9 min 27 min 18 min
Soto Street 9 min 27 min 18 min
Total
Peak Period 9 min 9 min 0 min
Non-Peak Period 359 min 276 min -83 min
83-Minute Improvement
Additional Community Mitigation
Vernon Benefits & Additional Mitigation
Optimized
emergency response
time & routing
4 locations
with train detection cameras
for at-grade crossings
Upgraded
communications &
radio-systems
New
mobile Emergency
Operations Center
Expanded Emergency
Response System
High visibility crosswalk
at Vernon Elementary
7 crosswalks
improved for visibility
25 new
bus shelters
Quiet Zone support
near planned development
Grant support
for Metro Transit
Oriented Communities
Enhanced Community
Features
Fewer
daily trains
Decreased
local emissions
Minimized
traffic delays
Reduced
Train Impacts
Road restriping
to maintain traffic flow
AI-based
traffic control system
5 locations
with pan-tilt-zoom
smart cameras,
software & screens
Improved
Traffic Control
Additional Community Mitigation Measures
Train Detection Cameras – 4 locations
1. 37th Street
2. 38th Street
3. Pacific Boulevard
4. Vernon Avenue *
Mobile Emergency Operations Center (EOC) *
Mobile EOC to be used during emergencies or if
central EOC is shut down
Communications & Radio-Systems Upgrade *
New cameras, dispatch, radios & antennae
enables ability for all departments to
communicate (PD, PUD, PW LA County Fire)
AI-Based Traffic Control System (Traffic Upgrades) *
47 transportation controllers
(locations specified by City)
PTZ Smart Cameras, Software & Screens – 5 locations
1. Downey Road at Bandini Boulevard *
2. 25th Street at Santa Fe Avenue *
3. Fruitland Avenue at Malabar Street *
4. Vernon Avenue at Santa Fe Avenue *
5. Pacific Boulevard at Santa Fe Avenue *
Bus Shelters – 25 locations
1. 5 locations
2. 20 additional locations *
High Visibility Crosswalk – 1 location
1. Santa Fe Avenue (Vernon City School)
Cool Street Paving *
Crosswalk Improvements (Restriping) – 7 locations
1. Santa Fe Avenue/37th Street
2. Santa Fe Avenue/38th Street
3. Santa Fe Avenue/Vernon Avenue
4. Santa Fe Avenue/Pacific Boulevard
5. Santa Fe Avenue/Fruitland Avenue
6. 46th Street/Pacific Boulevard
7. 46th Street/Seville Avenue
Cool Street Paving (7 locations) *
Quiet Zone Infrastructure – 5 locations
1. 37th Street
2. 38th Street
3. Vernon Avenue
4. Pacific Boulevard
5. 49th Street
MOU to support regulatory process *
Metro Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Program Support
1. Technical Assistance
2. Grant Writing Assistance
* Additional Community Mitigation Measures requested by City of Vernon Additional Community Mitigation Measures
Questions & Next Steps
Project Schedule
Final EIS/SEIR
Ongoing Stakeholder Engagement within each Project Development Phase Final Design
Right-of-Way
Construction
Final EIS/SEIR
(September 2025)
We are here
12 Property Owner/
Tenant Meetings
(December 2024 –
February 2025)
10 City of Vernon
Workshops
(September 2024 –
March 2025)
Draft EIS/SEIR
Public Comment
Period
(June 21, 2024 –
August 9, 2024)
Link US Contact Information
Questions
213.922.2524
[email protected]
www.metro.net/linkus
facebook.com/losangelesmetro
Scott McConnell, P.E., Metro Project Manager
Carlos J. Montez, Metro Environmental Lead
Danielle Valentino, Metro Community Relations Manager
Thank You
Questions/Comments?