With the Rams back in Los Angeles, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to make sure fans can catch a ride to the games, as well as to the various entertainment, dining and retail centers expected to pop up around the stadiums.

“The bottom line is the return of the National Football League will bring tremendous economic opportunity and civic pride to the entire region,” Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas told the Metro Board of Directors, which he chairs. “Facilitating the transport of thousands of spectators for games and other events will require significant synergy within our growing transportation system.”

The Rams are building an 80,000-seat stadium in Inglewood, not far from Metro’s Crenshaw/LAX Line, which should have trains running by 2019. Stadium, slated for completion in 2019, will be the centerpiece of the City of Champions Revitalization Project, which includes a performance venue, hotel, restaurants, shops, parks, and thousands of residential units.

Until then, the Rams and USC Trojans will share the Coliseum near Metro’s Expo Line. There is an option for either the Charger or Raiders to join them. In 2018, they will be neighbors with Los Angeles Football Club, which is building a soccer stadium at the former Sports Arena.

To look at strategies for connecting commuters to the stadiums, the Metro Board approved a Ridley-Thomas motion to create a “Metro Line to Goal Line” task force.

Coauthored by Inglewood Mayor James Butts, Supervisor Michael Antonovich and Duarte Councilman John Fasana, the motion also called for ensuring Metro can accommodate a possible surge in ridership. It also called for promoting public transit to events, and expediting development projects in surrounding neighborhoods.

The Metro Board approved a separate motion to consider building a new north-south light rail line, potentially along Prairie Avenue. This would link both the Crenshaw/LAX Line and the Green Line to the City of Champions Revitalization Project, and extend into the South Bay.

“Creating ‘transit oriented communities’ means making sure our transportation system serves emerging communities and job centers,” Supervisor and Metro Board Chairman Ridley-Thomas said.

Inglewood Mayor and Metro Director Butts was the lead author of the motion, with Ridley Thomas, Antonovich, Fasana, and Supervisors Don Knabe and Sheila Kuehl as co-authors.