CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS URGES LACMTA TO INCLUDE A WESTCHESTER STATION ON THE CRENSHAW/LAX TRANSIT CORRIDOR

Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35) sent a letter to Mr. Arthur T. Leahy, Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), urging him to include a light rail station in Westchester in the plans for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor and seek federal funding for its construction. The text of her letter follows:

"I write to thank you for applying for a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to construct a light rail station on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor in Leimert Park and to urge you to apply for an additional TIGER grant or other appropriate federal funding to construct a station to serve the people of Westchester.

"As you know, the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor will serve several communities in my congressional district. This light rail corridor will improve air quality and relieve traffic congestion in and around my district, and it will provide my constituents easier access to work, school, shopping, entertainment, and everything else Los Angeles has to offer. However, in order to maximize the benefits of the corridor, it is important that all communities along the corridor have access to it. That is why I support the inclusion of both a Leimert Park station and a Westchester station.

"A Westchester station on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor is very important to my constituents. Without a Westchester station, there will be no stop on this corridor between the Florence/La Brea station and the Aviation/Century station – a distance of almost three miles. Without a place to board between these two stations, Westchester residents will be highly dissuaded from using the line. The line would also be inconvenient for students who attend Loyola Marymount University and Westchester High School. Westchester residents are well aware of their contributions to transit projects throughout Los Angeles County through Measure R and deserve convenient pedestrian access to light rail in their own community.

"A Westchester station would also be important for the 700 military veterans who will be residents of the U.S. Vets facility now under construction at 733 S. Hindry Ave. in Inglewood. Most of these veterans will need to rely on public transportation, and it will be extremely difficult for them to walk all the way to Century Boulevard to board a train. This residential facility is important to our returning servicemen and women as they face challenges in their transition to civilian life, and it deserves as much support as the community can provide.

"I urge you to include a light rail station in Westchester in the plans for the Crenshaw/ LAX Transit Corridor and seek federal funding for its construction. I look forward to working with you to ensure that this corridor receives strong federal support and serves all of the communities in the Crenshaw/LAX area."