Expo Light Rail to Begin Operation May 20
February 25, 2016 4:48 PM
SANTA MONICA – The Expo Light Rail (Expo) will begin operation on Friday, May 20 Metro announced at a press conference on Thursday, February 25 at 12:30 p.m. in downtown Los Angeles. Expo is a 15-mile light rail line connecting Downtown Santa Monica to Downtown Los Angeles and is the first extension of Metro rail to the west side.
“This is twenty years in the making and brings a huge community benefit to Santa Monica and Los Angeles,” said Mayor Tony Vazquez. “In just 50 minutes—even during rush hour—we will be able to travel to and from downtown L.A without a car.”
Expo in Santa Monica will consist of three stations at 26th Street/Bergamot, 17th Street/Santa Monica College, and Downtown Santa Monica (at 4th/Colorado). East of 17th Street, tracks will run in the existing Metro right-of-way located south of Colorado and crossing to the south side of Olympic Boulevard near 20th Street. West of 17th Street the tracks will run in the center of Colorado Avenue.
“Expo opening in Santa Monica is the most significant step forward for mobility in our community since the opening of the I-10 freeway,” said City Manager Rick Cole. “This system opens a new realm of choices for how residents, employees, students and visitors move around our city and the region.”
Through opening day, Metro will continue to test trains on the Expo Line as well as inside the maintenance facility Exposition Boulevard and Stewart Street. For more information about testing and Grand Opening Celebration details, visit metro.net or smgov.net.
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Media Contact
Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov