Officials and the public got a look Tuesday at what the two possible routes for a proposed light rail extension into eastern Los Angeles County might look like when it’s built — which could take another two decades.

The Washington Boulevard route, which would go through Montebello and Pico Rivera, ending in Whittier, would be 9 1/2 miles long, carry an average of 19,900 passengers a day, with a travel time of 17 to 22 minutes from East Los Angeles.

The other proposed option that parallels the 60 Freeway, would be 6.9 miles long, carry an average of 16,700 passengers a day, with a travel time of 13 minutes.

“We wanted to give the community an update on where we are” in the project development process, said Metro Project Manager Laura Cornejo.

Cornejo was in Whittier and Pico Rivera on Tuesday to give presentations to the city councils and the public.

Metro had information booths outside Whittier City Hall prior to the City Council meeting, coincidentally at the same time as the city’s “Heart of Whittier” program, which attracted about 200 people.

In addition to the update, Cornejo said Metro wanted to inform residents that a draft of the environmental impact report for the project will be made public this summer. Metro is seeking public input on the draft, the proposed plans to mitigate certain effects, and on the routes.

After the report is released, there will be a 60-day public comment period and four public hearings: in Montebello, Pico Rivera, South El Monte and Whittier.

Comments can be emailed to: eastsidephase2@metro.net.

The project is expected to be operational in 2035, Cornejo said. It was started in 2007.

However, it’s possible the operation date could be moved up to the late 2020s if funding is accelerated, Cornejo said in a telephone interview Wednesday. Funding could come from Congress in the form of a loan, she said, or a ballot measure.

Both proposed routes are extensions of the Gold Line segment, which runs from Union Station in Los Angeles to Atlantic and Pomona boulevards in East Los Angeles, the end of the current Gold Line.

“This goes to the heart and soul of this community,” said Whittier Councilman Joe Vinatieri, noting that the Washington Boulevard route ends near PIH Health Hospital-Whittier Campus, which is considering plans to develop a world-class cancer treatment center. It’s also near planned housing in the former Nelles Youth Correctional Facility. It also would serve neighborhoods in Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Commerce and Montebello.

The pricetag for Washington Boulevard route was estimated at $1.4 billion to $1.7 billion. It would have six stops.

The estimated cost of the 60 Freeway route was $1.2 to $1.3 billion. It would have four stops.

“The spirit of light rail is Washington Boulevard because it connects all these communities,” said Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Dutra.

“The bottom line is it’s a political process,” he said, encouraging residents to get involved.

Pico Rivera City Manager Ron Bates said the Metro board is expected to make a decision sometime between November and February. He said the cities will know which way the Metro staff is leaning after the EIR is released.

“I think that will give a strong indication of all the environmental issues associated with both alternates,” he said Wednesday. “Based on that we’ll have a pretty good idea of what the staff recommendation will be.”

“Obviously, we think for the benefit of the public and especially our local residents, that Whittier Boulevard makes so much more sense, because of the number of riders who will have access,” he said.

The Washington Boulevard route also opens the door to linking with Orange County’s transit, he said.

It would for the first time give eastside residents access to the light rail transit system, “especially for daily commuters,” said Bates.

“It gives our residents access to the entire light rail system throughout Southern California,” he said.

In other action, the Whittier City Council delayed a vote on $134,516 in city funding for social services, including the Whittier Area First Day Coalition, The Whole Child, and the Women’s and Children’s Crisis Shelter. The city’s Social Services Commission has recommended that funding to the three agencies’ housing programs be cut in half from 2013-14 levels, according to a staff report. Councilman Vinatieri expressed concern that funding for other city budget items has not been finalized.

Council approved $48,250 in federal Community Development Block Grants for social services.