City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: June 17, 2025
From: Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Department: City Administration
Submitted by: Angela Kimmey, Deputy City Administrator
Subject
Metro Link Union Station (Link US) Project Update
Recommendation
Receive and file the Metro Link US Project Update.
Background
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), as the owner of the Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS), is proposing the Link Union Station (Link US) Project to address capacity constraints at LAUS and to prepare LAUS for future high-speed rail service. The Link US Project proposes the integration of new run-through tracks on an elevated rail yard to improve operational flexibility and expand capacity at LAUS.
While the focus of the Project is Union Station, the Project will have significant impacts within the City of Vernon due to proposed infrastructure changes designed to optimize Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway operations and expand rail car storage at the BNSF Malabar Rail Storage Yard, located in Vernon. Malabar Yard railroad modifications in the City of Vernon are intended to offset the loss of storage track capacity at the BNSF West Bank Yard that will be acquired by Metro in support of high-speed rail. The 49th Street Closure in Vernon is proposed to accommodate approximately 3,350 track feet of storage capacity at the BNSF Malabar Yard, and the 46th Street Connector would provide a dedicated connection for freight trains to travel between BNSF’s Malabar Yard and BNSF’s Los Angeles Junction.
On August 6, 2024, following a detailed review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIS/SEIR), the Vernon City Council formally opposed the project due to concerns about impacts to air quality from increased train traffic and idling vehicles, public safety response times, and operational and physical impacts to businesses (Attachment 2). The City expressed its opposition in written comment submitted during the Draft EIS/SEIR comment period that included a letter from the Mayor detailing the City’s concerns (Attachment 3) and a technical comment letter from staff (Attachment 4).
Since then, Metro Link US Project team engagement has included approximately 10 meetings with City staff, 12 meetings with Vernon property owners, one Open House community meeting (on March 26, 2025), and one meeting with members of the Vernon Chamber of Commerce.
These meetings have served as opportunities to further discuss the concerns raised by the City, property owners and business community and to identify potential mitigation measures. The Metro Link US Project team will provide a presentation to Council on June 17, 2025 to share updates on their stakeholder outreach, new data on train activity, and proposed mitigation measures.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. Metro Link US - Draft Presentation for Vernon City Council
2. August 6, 2024 Council Agenda Report - Metro Link US Opposition
3. Vernon Mayor Comment Letter Regarding Metro Link US EIR 6-6-2024
4. Vernon Technical Comment Letter Regarding Metro Link US EIR 6-6-2024