Cerritos Considering Possible Return to Metro Light Rail System, Albeit Indirectly and partially.
In the heart of southeastern Los Angeles County, the city of Cerritos is exploring the potential for a Metro rail station, as part of the ongoing Southeast Gateway Line (SEGL) project. Originally known as the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor, the SEGL is a long-planned light rail line connecting Downtown Los Angeles to cities such as Artesia, with an estimated total cost of $8.5 billion.
The SEGL, now officially named the Artesia to Union Light Rail, has made significant strides in recent years. In January 2024, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced the new name, and by April of the same year, the final environmental impact report (EIR) was certified by the LA Metro board, paving the way for construction. An RFP for pre-construction "Advanced Works" was issued immediately following EIR certification, and in October 2024, Metro received a $231 million construction grant from the California State Transportation Agency. Advance utility relocation work began on October 31, 2024, marking the start of physical groundwork.
However, as of 2025, there is no direct mention of a station in Cerritos being constructed or opening by this year. The ongoing early construction and projected final completion around 2035 suggest that a Metro rail station in Cerritos is not currently planned or feasible based on the 2025 project timeline.
Despite this, the Cerritos City Council, led by Mayor Frank Yokoyama and Mayor pro tem Lynda Johnson, is actively pursuing the possibility of a station that could serve the city's needs, particularly the Los Cerritos Center. The previous councilmen, Barrows and Vo, were against any station in Cerritos, but with their departure, the city will reopen the process.
In April 2025, the City Council asked staff to start talking to Metro again about potential station sites. In the past, Metro considered two potential station sites in Cerritos: one at 183rd and Gridley, the other at Bloomfield and Del Amo. Now, the City will hire a consultant to study these sites and explore other options that could best serve Cerritos's transit-oriented development goals.
On May 2, 2025, a letter of intent was issued, stating the City's desire to conduct a study of possible station sites with Metro's help. On May 22, 2025, the City Council will review an informational report about the Southeast Gateway Line (SEGL). As the project moves forward, Cerritos residents and businesses eagerly await the potential arrival of a Metro rail station, which could significantly improve transportation options and bolster the city's growth.
[1] Southeast Gateway Line (SEGL) Project, Metro.net, accessed May 2025, .
- The Cerritos City Council, led by Mayor Frank Yokoyama and Mayor pro tem Lynda Johnson, is actively pursuing the possibility of a Metro rail station in Cerritos, focusing on serving the city's needs, such as the Los Cerritos Center.
- In light of the potential benefits a Metro rail station could bring, Cerritos residents and businesses are eagerly awaiting its potential arrival, as it could significantly improve transportation options and bolster the city's growth.
- The City of Cerritos will hire a consultant to study potential station sites in the city, including the previously considered locations at 183rd and Gridley, and at Bloomfield and Del Amo, in order to explore options that best serve Cerritos's transit-oriented development goals.
- As part of the ongoing efforts to bring a Metro rail station to the city, the Cerritos City Council has issued a letter of intent to conduct a study of possible station sites with the assistance of Metro, as the project moves forward.
