Weeks before the highly anticipated opening of Metro’s extended Expo Line, slated to run from downtown Santa Monica to Culver City, many commuters are already giving their stamp of approval.
The $1.5 billion, 6.6-mile extension of the light-rail line is expected to ease traffic on the congested Westside by giving drivers the option of parking their cars for public transportation, Metro officials said.
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and other city leaders hopped on board Monday morning for a VIP tour of the train service that includes seven new stations.
The trains, which will run every 12 minutes each day, won’t be fully operational until next week. In the mean time, Metro workers have been conducting test runs to ensure there are no glitches.
This marks the first time passenger trains have run from downtown L.A. to the Pacific Ocean in six decades, Metro officials said.
The line officially opens to the public on May 20.