A light rail line along Crenshaw Boulevard to Los Angeles International Airport – and the jobs it might deliver – are up for discussion at a meeting Thursday in South Los Angeles. The private meeting will be open to 70 local leaders who can recommend candidates for jobs.
The former pastor of First AME Church, Rev. Cecil Murray, has invited transportation and public works officials along with political leaders. People behind the light rail project say they hope to consider at least 1,000 applicants for jobs that’ll pay from $35,000 to $75,000 a year.
They’re particularly looking for people who’ve had a tough time finding work after they completed a construction apprenticeship the city of LA operated a few years ago. Planners want participants who may have failed to finish that training to get back in the mix.
In a few months, the transportation agency plans to award a construction contract for the 8.5 mile route.
The planned Crenshaw light rail line would connect Inglewood, Hawthorne and El Segundo with the newly built Expo Line and the region’s busiest airport.
The project includes at least six stations. Los Angeles County Metro crews could break ground on the $1 billion project as soon as this summer. Metro expects to finish construction in about five years.