Press Release - Torrance Transit System Celebrates Grand Opening of the Mary K. Giordano Regional Transit Center

Torrance Transit, a municipally operated transit system in the heart of the South Bay celebrated the grand opening of the Mary K. Giordano Regional Transit Center today. Torrance Transit hosted a private ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the launch of the opening with special guests including local elected officials, county, state and federal representatives.

Named in honor of the late Mary K. Giordano, Assistant City Manager for the City of Torrance, this state-of-the-art multimodal facility will serve as a transportation hub for Torrance and the South Bay. The five-acre facility will also serve as the future terminus of the Metro C-Line light rail, allowing for greater access to public transportation service throughout Los Angeles County.

Initiated in 2004, this project was realized through a combination of several grant awards from the federal, state, and local levels. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the South Bay Cities Council of Governments awarded $25.7 million in Measure R South Bay Highway Program Funds to be used for facility construction. The California Department of Transportation and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services also contributed $2.5 million and $115,470 towards construction and security measures such as electronic door locks and security cameras. Thanks to former House of Representative member Jane Harman $333,334 was earmarked for the installation of a bus training simulator; the State of California's Low Carbon Transit Operations Program provided $29,743 for bike lockers to promote multi-modal travel; and the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Mobile Source Air Quality Management Program awarded $64,000 towards the construction of eight Level II Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. And thanks to Congresswoman Maxine Waters, representing California's 43rd Congressional District, Torrance Transit was awarded $6.28 million in Federal Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Funds to purchase all-electric buses that will operate from the new facility as part of Torrance Transit's new "Torrance to Florence" service enhancement.

Transit Director Kim Turner said, "Torrance Transit is proud to have completed this incredible project. Thanks to the support of current and past elected officials, agencies and our allies at the local, state, and federal level who understand the importance of public transportation service in our region, we're finally seeing this vision come to life. We're thrilled to complete this project to continue serving those who live, work, and do business in Torrance and the South Bay region."

The public is invited to an Open House on Saturday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Regional Transit Center is located at 465 Crenshaw Boulevard. For more information go to Transit.TorranceCA.Gov.