Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) was joined by elected officials and community stakeholders in Little Tokyo to celebrate the naming and lowering of a segment of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) for excavating twin 1.1-mile underground rail tunnels for the Regional Connector project. The work on the tunnels under downtown Los Angeles will begin in January.
The $1.55-billion Regional Connector Transit Project is a 1.9-mile underground light-rail tunnel that will connect the Blue, Expo and Gold Lines in downtown Los Angeles. It will include three new stations and is expected to serve 88,000 riders daily. Regional Connector Constructors, a joint venture between Skanska USA Civil West California District, Inc., and Traylor Brothers, Inc., is designing and building the Regional Connector Transit Project. Construction is expected to be complete in 2021.
“This is a major milestone toward the completion of a vital project that truly connects the region by providing a one-seat ride to downtown Los Angeles for users of the Blue, Gold and Expo lines,” said Metro Board Chair and Duarte City Council Member John Fasana. “The Regional Connector will reduce travel times for many Metro Rail riders and make our system much more convenient and attractive to those who want a transit alternative to driving.”
The TBM, which weighs approximately 1,000 tons, is 450 feet long and is 21.5 feet in diameter, was manufactured in Germany by Herrenknecht AG. It will advance about 60 feet per day once digging begins and will take 16 to 18 months to excavate the twin 1.1-mile tunnels.
At the event, Fasana awarded TAP Cards to students who won contests to name the TBM and create an illustration for its tail shield. The winning name, Angeli, was submitted by 8th grade student Windsor McInerny, and the winning illustration was submitted by Alexander Li, a senior at Adolfo Camarillo High School in Ventura County. Naming of the TBM is a mining tradition that dates back to the 14th century.
“The regional connector is a huge step toward our overarching transportation goal for Los Angeles County,” remarked Fasana. “By tying together all of our lines to create a truly interconnected system, residents and tourists alike can easily and quickly get from Claremont to LAX, Torrance to Chatsworth, and everywhere in between. Angeli’s work in Downtown will ease congestion and streamline trips for commuters across the region.”
Angeli will begin boring from the northeast corner of 1st and Alameda Streets for the northbound tracks until it reaches 4th and Flower Streets. The TBM will then be retrieved from underground and returned to Little Tokyo, where it will be re-launched to excavate the southbound tunnel.
Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington said, “The Regional Connector is a game changer for the entire region by connecting three light rail lines that already have more than 170,000 weekday boardings. Measure R played a pivotal role in funding this project and helped us secure a federal grant and loan to build the infrastructure that will be enjoyed by generations to come.”