Culver Officials Join The Celebration
Confetti, banners, and a “life-sized” dinosaur greeted civic officials on the morning of Friday, April 27 as they rode on an Expo Line train that kicked off the opening weekend celebration for the newest Metro light rail line.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragosa rode in the first car of the train, along with such officials as Los Angeles County Supervisors and Metro Board members Zev Yaroslavsky and Mark Ridley-Thomas, LA City Council members Jan Perry and Bernard Parks, State Senator Curren Price, Santa Monica City Council members Pam O’Connor (also a Metro Board member) and Richard Bloom.
Also on board were Culver City Council members Mehaul O’ Leary, Jim Clarke, and Meghan Sahli-Wells, and Culver City Transit Director Art Ida.
Everyone cheered and applauded as the train departed the Metro Rail 7th Street Metro Center Station where the Expo Line begins, sharing tracks and one station (Pico) with the Blue Line until it diverges to continue down Figueroa Street to the Exposition right-of-way, Exposition Park and the USC campus.
The train passed the 23rd Street and Jefferson stations, where students waved pom-poms and the riders waved back. Eventually the train
arrived at the Expo Park station where it broke through a banner and was scattered with confetti.
The dinosaur that roared in greeting to the officials was an homage to the nearby Museum of Natural History, one of a number of destinations that will be served by the new 8.6 mile line.
Following the train ride, the USC Trojan Marching Band performed as a color guard brought the flag up to the front of the stage where officials greeted guests and spoke in celebration of the long-awaited rail line.
“Today we celebrate the opening of Expo Line Phase I, a critical step towards creating the multi-faceted transit network that Angelenos deserve,” said Mayor Villaraigosa.
“When Angelenos rallied together to pass Measure R, voters sent the message loud and clear that we want transit options beyond the single-passenger automobile. Los Angeles continues to lead as we improve and expand our infrastructure and support jobs.”
O’ Leary spoke as a representative for Culver City as well as being a member of the Expo Authority Board.
“What a great day it is in Los Angeles when the past meets the future,” said O ‘Leary. “I see the future of Culver City out there.” He thanked the Expo Board for clearing up the “glitches” (signal problems that had delayed the opening by a few weeks).
Civic officials were later taken on the Expo Line train to the current terminus of the line at La Cienega and Jefferson station. The actual Phase I terminus at Culver City Station will be opening in early summer (late June or July).
The Expo Line (represented by the color aqua on Metro maps) has been under construction since 2006. The Phase II expansion, on which construction has begun, will connect the line another 6.6 miles to Santa Monica.
When complete, the Expo Line, in combination with Metro’s other lines, will crisscross the region making connections with the Eastside, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Norwalk, Hollywood, North Hollywood, Pasadena, and the San Fernando Valley.
There will be bike parking at all stations, with Phase II featuring a parallel bike path to Santa Monica. Parking lots will be provided at all the stations.
Friday’s ceremonies continued through the weekend as the public began enjoying free rides on the Expo Line starting at 5:30 a.m. Entertainment at the stations included karaoke, Double Gee NineNet, a Latino jazz band, the Brian Schwartz Quartet, and the African jazz band Derk Reklaw Cuzmo.
Starting April 30, regular fare ($1.50 for a one-way ride) applies for all Expo Line trains.
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