Metro Holding Public Hearings on Planned E Line Extension to Whittier
LA Metro is holding public hearings this month on a planned rail extension that would eventually bring the E Line to Whittier — making the city the final stop on the line. Here's what the project involves and how to weigh in.
LA Metro is holding a series of public hearings this month on a planned rail extension that would eventually bring the E Line to Whittier — making the city the final stop on the line.
What the project is
The Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 project would extend the E Line nearly nine miles east — from Atlantic Boulevard in East Los Angeles to a new Lambert Station in Whittier. The corridor is home to roughly 722,000 residents and 274,000 employees, a population projected to grow 11% and gain 25% more jobs by 2042.
Once complete, the line would add six new stations, linking the cities of Commerce, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier, along with the unincorporated communities of East Los Angeles and West Whittier-Los Nietos. Riders would be able to travel directly to Downtown Los Angeles, USC, and Santa Monica without transferring.
What it means to be the end of the line
Being a terminus station is significant. As the final stop, Lambert Station in Whittier would be where all E Line service ends each night — every rider must exit the train at the last stop before cars are taken out of service for cleaning and storage.
The extension to Whittier has been in planning for years, with the Metro Board officially selecting Lambert Station as the eastern terminus in December 2022.
How it gets built
Because of funding constraints, Metro is building the project in two phases:
- The first segment to be built, Phase 2A, would extend the E Line 4.7 miles from Atlantic/Pomona in East Los Angeles to Greenwood Avenue in Montebello, with three new stations: Atlantic/Whittier and Commerce/Citadel (both underground) and Greenwood (street level).
- Phase 2B would continue through Pico Rivera and Santa Fe Springs before concluding at Lambert Station in Whittier.
Measure M, approved by voters in 2016, allocates $3 billion for the project, with construction on Phase 2A targeted to begin in 2029. Metro is also seeking additional federal and state grants to supplement Measure M funding.
Where things stand
Metro completed state environmental review (CEQA) in 2024 and is now conducting federal environmental review under NEPA — a required step to unlock federal funding for Phase 2A. The June hearings are part of that process. Community members can hear key findings from the federal Environmental Assessment and submit oral or written comments that become part of the official public record. All project materials are available in English and Spanish.
Why Whittier residents should pay attention
Whittier is the project's ultimate destination, but Lambert Station depends on Phase 2A getting funded and built first. Public comments submitted during this period become part of the official federal record for the project.
Hearing schedule
All hearings cover the same information. Attend whichever is most convenient:
- East Los Angeles (In-Person) — Saturday, June 6, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | East Los Angeles Library, 4837 E 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90022 | Metro E Line accessible
- Virtual — Monday, June 8, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Zoom: tinyurl.com/EastsideHearings | Meeting ID: 854 3383 6093 | Call-in: 213-338-8477
- Commerce (In-Person) — Wednesday, June 10, 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Commerce Senior Citizens Center, 2555 Commerce Way, Commerce, CA 90040
- Montebello (In-Person) — Saturday, June 13, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Chet Holifield Park Community Center, 1060 S Greenwood Avenue, Montebello, CA 90640
For more information or to submit written comments, visit metro.net/eastsidephase2 or contact the project team at 213-922-3012 or eastsidephase2@metro.net.
