Expo Line Phase II Approved (Santa Monica, Culver City: employment, transfer to, construction)

[Island_OnThe_Land]

So the MTA (Metro Transit Agency) approved the Phase II of the Expo Light Rail line on Feb. 4th. This route will finally link downtown L.A. to Santa Monica.

The official line is to begin work later this year on Phase II of the Expo Line, a nearly seven-mile link from downtown Culver City to the corner of 4th and Colorado in Santa Monica’s main business district.

Phase One of Expo Line is already under construction from downtown L.A. to Culver City.

Extending the line to Santa Monica would be an important milestone in L.A.’s ambitious rail-building campaign.

Granted, the subway to the sea which will tunnel a subway under wilshire from Wilshire & Western all the way to Santa Monica is what we really need but that is YEARS away.

So what do people think...will the Expo Line be a positive development for LA's mass transit? Will it live up to the hype?

[BRinSM]

i hope so

[pbergen]

this is great news, but like you said, the subway to the sea is really the most critical mass transit proposal for the region. not only would an extension of the purple line make east-west travel easier for city dwellers, but it would also enable suburban commuters from places like orange county, santa clarita, and the san gabriel valley/inland empire to access the westside's employment centers via rail (metrolink to union station then a transfer to the purple line to places like century city), rather than clogging up the 10, 405, and other freeways.

to answer your question, while i think the expo line will be a very positive first step toward providing residents along the line with alternate transit options, the main benefit is going to be the transit-oriented development and revitalization that will eventually sprout up near the stations.

i don't think its impact on traffic will be nearly as great as the subway to the sea or the proposed crenshaw line, though.

[Bruin5]

I wish this was already up and running when I was in Mid-City. The Expo Line is definitely a step in the right direction. A stop at Westwood Blvd. would have a nice link up for taking the Blue Bus (8 or 12) up to UCLA.