Design and Architecture
Riding the Expo Line
The last time Los Angeles residents were able to take a train to the beach, it was the Red Car in 1953. But on May 20, Angelenos will be able to board an Expo Line train in downtown LA and take it to downtown Santa Monica, just blocks from the pier. The extension was delayed for decades over safety, environmental and funding concerns.
By Frances Anderton • • 1 min readThe last time Los Angeles residents were able to take a train to the beach, it was the Red Car in 1953. But on May 20, Angelenos will be able to board an Expo Line train in downtown LA and take it to downtown Santa Monica, just blocks from the pier. The extension was delayed for decades over safety, environmental and funding concerns. But now Metro, the train's operator, is hailing this and other subway extensions as a "transit renaissance" for the region. Is LA moving toward a less car-dependent future?
LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, train operator William Smith, and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti
Photo: Rob LaFond
Frances Anderton
architecture critic and author
Frances Anderton
architecture critic and author
Avishay Artsy
Producer, DnA: Design and Architecture
Eric Garcetti
Mayor of Los Angeles
Mike Bonin
member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 11th district
Rick Thorpe
Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (former)