Opening to Santa Monica!
5/20/16 — The first train of officials and invited guests arrived in downtown Santa Monica Friday morning (Metro photo), followed with speeches by Metro board members (L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, below) and other elected officials. Board members Mike Bonin and John Fasana (on left) specifically acknowledged the role of Friends 4 Expo and Light Rail for Cheviot (preview tour photo below) in bringing the Expo Line to reconnect with the Westside.
Free public rides begain at noon Friday and continued through Saturday, with events at stations from Culver City (above) to downtown Santa Monica (below).
Links:
- Friends 4 Expo press release and Story of Friends4Expo history narrative (pdfs)
- New History page illustrates 26 years of citizen advocacy to get here
- Metro's The Source — Let’s make some history: LIVE updates of today’s opening of the Expo Line extension; More pics: Expo Line grand opening; Free rides and station parties: coverage of Expo Line days II & III; Expo Line ridership numbers from Monday’s commute
- LA Times — Trains are packed as Metro's Expo Line extension to Santa Monica opens
- CBS News — How L.A. is trying to avoid being "eaten alive by congestion"
- Supervisor Sheila Kuehl (great video!) — To the Beach and Back. So Kuehl!