Discussion

The City proposes to construct the Del Amo Boulevard Extension project over the Harbor Branch Line tracks jointly owned at this location by the BNSF and LACMTA. The BNSF operates an average of 17 freight trains daily on the Harbor Branch Line. LACMTA does not currently operate any type of light rail service on the Harbor Branch Line. Del Amo Boulevard functions as a major east/west roadway that extends from Crenshaw Boulevard to the west and Prairie Avenue to the east.

The Del Amo Boulevard Extension project is an integral part of the master plan of development in the City of Torrance. Public interest, safety, and necessity require a grade separation of Del Amo Boulevard over the Harbor Branch Line tracks. This grade separation project also is essential to provide continuous access and to reduce conflicts for public safety and emergency vehicles south and north of the project.

The eastern segment of Del Amo Boulevard currently terminates just west of Crenshaw Boulevard near the entrance to the Dow Chemical manufacturing plant; the western segment terminates at Maple Avenue. The project entails a 0.7-mile extension of Del Amo Boulevard between Crenshaw Boulevard and Maple Avenue on an elevated bridge structure to provide a continuous road through an industrial right-of-way.

The proposed bridge structure will vary from approximately 59 feet, 6 inches to 76 feet, 8 inches in width. The structure will maintain a minimum vertical clearance of 24 feet from top of rail to the lowest part of the bridge structure. Del Amo Boulevard will carry four vehicular through lanes, two shoulders, and a median with a barrier on the proposed overhead grade separation structure. The CPUC crossing number for the proposed grade separation will be CPUC Crossing No. 002H-20.16-A.