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Turner Street / Alameda Street / Temple Street / Street Vacation

Council File 18-0195

Under review — Metro's third attempt to close Turner Street in downtown LA is moving through the Public Works Committee, which will decide whether to approve the vacation. Metro must complete detailed conditions—including new sidewalks, utility relocations, and a dedicated right-of-way strip—within two years if approved.

Introduced
2018-03-09
Last changed
2026-09-04
Status
open
Expires
2028-09-04
Committee
Public Works Committee
Mover
YSABEL JURADO
Second
ADRIN NAZARIAN
Initiated by
Bureau of Engineering
References
Vacation: VAC-E1401333

Brief

The Bureau of Engineering initiated a street vacation request for Turner Street from Alameda Street to Temple Street (VAC-E1401333). Councilmember Ysabel Jurado moved the motion, seconded by Adrin Nazarian. The matter was adopted by Council on September 3, 2025, by a 13-0-2 vote. A new Bureau of Engineering report was submitted July 29, 2026, and referred to the Public Works Committee on July 31, 2026, where it currently remains pending.

Full summary

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is seeking to formally close and take ownership of Turner Street between Alameda Street and Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles — a 50-foot-wide local street that is effectively a dead end. The Gold Line Little Tokyo Station, built as part of Metro's Gold Line Eastside Extension completed around 2009, severed through-access to Turner Street, leaving one portion occupied by Gold Line tracks and another used as a parking area. Metro wants to gain title to the vacation area to maintain the landscape and streetscape as part of its broader Regional Connector Transit Project and the related Eastside Access and Esplanade Project (EAIP). The Department of City Planning has found the vacation consistent with the General Plan, noting it will create space for pedestrian gathering, improve linkage between an existing bus stop and the Regional Connector, and encourage transit ridership. No objections were submitted by neighboring property owners, and both the Fire Department and the Department of Transportation raised no opposition. This is the third time vacation proceedings have been initiated for this stretch of Turner Street. The first attempt dates to 2006, when the City Council conditionally approved a vacation under a different council file; Metro failed to complete the required conditions within the time limit and the approval expired. Proceedings were re-initiated in 2018 under this file, and the Council conditionally approved the vacation again in September 2020, but Metro again could not satisfy all conditions before that approval expired. Councilmember Jurado moved in August 2025 to re-initiate proceedings a third time, directing the Bureau of Engineering to process the request under the same work order and apply the conditions established in the 2020 Council action. The Council adopted that motion 13-0-2 on September 3, 2025. The Bureau of Engineering submitted a new formal report on July 29, 2026, recommending that the Public Works Committee approve vacation of the Turner Street right-of-way (shown in blue on the attached exhibit) while denying vacation of adjacent areas still needed for public street purposes. The report recommends the Council find the vacation exempt from CEQA, consistent with the General Plan, and unnecessary for vehicular or non-motorized transportation use. Metro is required to satisfy a detailed set of conditions before the vacation can be recorded, including dedicating a 27-foot right-of-way strip on the east side of Alameda Street, constructing new sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and ADA-compliant pedestrian improvements, relocating storm drain and sewer facilities, and clearing arrangements with utilities including AT&T and Level 3 Communications, which have confirmed they maintain facilities in the area. Vacation proceedings will terminate automatically if all conditions are not completed within two years of Council action on the engineer's report. The file is currently awaiting action by the Public Works Committee and remains open through July 2028.

Activity (21)

  • 2026-09-04 Public Works Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 8, 2026.
  • 2026-07-31 Bureau of Engineering document(s) referred to Public Works Committee.
  • 2026-07-29 Document submitted by Bureau of Engineering, dated July 29, 2026.
  • 2025-09-05 Council action final.
  • 2025-09-03 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2025-08-29 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on September 3, 2025.
  • 2025-08-27 Motion referred to Council.
  • 2020-09-22 Council action final.
  • 2020-09-22 Council adopted item forthwith.
  • 2020-09-18 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on September 22, 2020.
  • 2020-08-19 Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2020-08-14 Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on August 19, 2020.
  • 2020-08-11 Bureau of Engineering document(s) referred to Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee.
  • 2020-08-11 Document(s) submitted by Bureau of Engineering, as follows:Bureau of Engineering report, dated August 5, 2020, relative to a vacation request for Turner Street, from Alameda Street to Temple Street; VAC-E1401333.
  • 2018-09-25 Council action final.
  • 2018-09-21 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2018-09-14 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on September 21, 2018.
  • 2018-09-05 Public Safety Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2018-08-31 Public Safety Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 5, 2018.
  • 2018-04-13 Bureau of Engineering document(s) referred to Public Safety Committee.
  • 2018-03-09 Document(s) submitted by Bureau of Engineering, as follows:Bureau of Engineering report, dated March 9, 2018, relative to initiating vacation proceedings for Turner Street from Alameda Street to Temple Street - VAC-E1401333.

Documents (23)

Council votes (1)

  • 2025-09-03 Vote — 13-0-2 · Regular

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