Metro Riders Can Purchase Monthly Parking Permits On-Line

When the Metro Expo Line to Santa Monica opens on May 20 Metro riders will be able to enjoy low cost parking at three stations - Expo/Sepulveda, Expo/Bundy and 17th St/SMC - as part of a new parking fee program. The two-year pilot program will be evaluated every three month.

The fees will help regulate the expected high demand for parking spaces.

Monthly permit parking for 221 parking spaces at the three stations will go on sale Sunday, May 15 at http://www.lametroparking.net. Those with permit parking passes will be able to use the 221 monthly spaces on a first-come, first-served basis between the hours of 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., Monday through Friday. After 9 a.m. the spaces become available to all.

There will also be 239 parking spaces for a daily rate of $2 available for transit customers at the same stations. Parking attendants will be available and will be checking TAP cards to ensure customers are using transit. When a parking attendant is not available, patrons will be able to pay by phone or a smartphone app that will be available on May 20.

"Metro's transit parking program is an important first/last mile strategy and a key service to transit customers who rely on their car for a part of their daily commute," said Metro Chief Planning Officer Therese McMillan.

"Since Metro offers various parking facilities for its customers, we are working to maximize the availability and the quality of transit parking to improve the transit customer experience."

Expo Line to Santa Monica stations with parking:

• 17th St/SMC: 67 spaces of which 13 are reserved for monthly permits.

• Expo/Bundy: 217 spaces of which 131 are reserved for monthly permits.

• Expo/Sepulveda: 260 spaces of which 77 are reserved for monthly permits.

There will be pay kiosks installed at Expo parking facilities later this year. Metro is also installing equipment that will eventually allow customers to go online and see how many parking spaces are available.

With parking limited at the new Expo stations, Metro encourages customers to consider walking, biking or taking the bus to reach the train. All seven stations are served by buses operated either by Metro, Big Blue Bus or Culver CityBus. Big Blue Bus and Culver CityBus accept TAP cards.

To plan trips, customers should visit metro.net, http://www.bigbluebus.com/Routes-and-Schedules/ and http://www.culvercity.org/how-do-i-/find/culver-city-bus/bus-schedules

A new walk and bike path parallels most of the Expo Line extension to make it easier to reach stations by foot or bicycle. Bicyclists can bring their bikes on trains when traveling on the Metro system. There are also bike racks and lockers at the new Expo stations.

About Expo

The $1.5-billion, 6.6-mile light rail project from Culver City to Santa Monica has seven new stations: Palms, Westwood/Rancho Park, Expo/Sepulveda, Expo/Bundy, 26th Street/Bergamot, 17th Street/Santa Monica College and Downtown Santa Monica. Each station features original art. A new rail car maintenance facility in Santa Monica will operate around-the-clock.

The Expo Line extension was built by the Expo Construction Authority, an independent transportation planning and construction agency. The project was largely funded by Measure R, the half-cent sales tax increase approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2008. Construction of Phase 2 began in 2011 and the project was completed in early 2016 and handed over to Metro for operation.