The city is currently in the middle of a wave of large-scale transit and infrastructure plans, with multiple rail and mobility projects reshaping how the city will move over the next decades. Among the most closely watched proposals are the ongoing efforts to extend Metro’s rail network deeper into underserved neighborhoods, easing congestion and cutting long commute times.
One of the biggest updates comes from a new environmental report regarding the eastern extension of the E Line. As Urbanize L.A. reports, the document evaluates a revised, shorter version of the long-planned Eastside Transit Corridor project.
Instead of the originally proposed nine-mile extension to Whittier, the current analysis focuses on an initial 4.7-mile segment stretching toward Montebello. The plan includes a mix of underground, at-grade, and elevated track, with stations serving East L.A., Commerce, and Montebello, and a projected opening window between 2035 and 2037.
Total estimated cost for the full build-out sits at $7.9 billion, with roughly half of the funding already identified through local and state sources.
$7.9B E Line extension plan details
The revised plan would extend the E Line east from Atlantic Station, with a mix of underground, elevated, and surface-running track. The alignment would transition underground after East L.A., continue beneath major corridors like Whittier Boulevard, and eventually rise to elevated sections before ending near Greenwood Avenue. Stations are expected at key nodes including Whittier Boulevard and Commerce Citadel.
The project is designed to serve an estimated 7,550 weekday riders by 2050 and would cut end-to-end travel time on the new segment to about eight minutes. While environmental review is still underway, the extension remains contingent on final funding decisions and design approvals.
