Friday, May 20, 2016 is a special day in Los Angeles history. For the first time in 60 years, Angelenos can take a take a train from points east right into lovely downtown Santa Monica. No traffic, no stress about finding and paying for parking, etc. And for the first couple days, free rides and parties!
“As part of the celebrations for the opening of the Expo Line to Santa Monica on Friday, May 20, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will offer free rides on Friday and Saturday and will hold station celebrations on Saturday, May 21.
“The free rides will be on the entire Expo Line, from 7th St/Metro Center to Downtown Santa Monica. On Friday, free rides will begin at noon and will continue until the close of service. On Saturday, May 21, the free rides will start at 4:42 a.m. in Downtown Santa Monica and at 4:45 a.m. at 7th/Metro Center and will last until the end of service around 2 a.m.
“‘We invite the public to join us on Friday and Saturday to celebrate the historic opening of the Metro Expo Line to Santa Monica,’ said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. ‘We encourage the community to enjoy this new light-rail line service and see for themselves how close to the beach Metro can get you.’
“The station celebrations will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following new stations: Downtown Santa Monica, 17th St/SMC, 26th St/Bergamot, Expo/Bundy and Palms. The Culver City Station that has been open since 2012 will be joining the celebrations. Entertainment, children’s activities, food trucks, bike valet and bike-pit stops and information booths are among the activities.”
The western-most Expo Line station at Colorado and Fourth is a leisurely ten-minute walk from our recently rebuilt Monica Film Center. This week we shot this time-lapse video of the walk, which ends with the smiling, welcoming faces of Monicas managers Caitlyn and Tom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVg1pCmsZ-I
Come catch a flick!
Also, Supervisor Sheila Kuhl posted this cute video extolling the Expo Line’s virtues: