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    Back to Design and Architecture

    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.

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    By Frances Anderton • May 10, 2016 • 1 min read

    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. 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

    The full episode

    1 of 2
    Riding the Expo Line, High Rise Horrors
    1. 0:30Riding the Expo LineYou’re reading this
    2. 14:54High Rise Horrors
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Avishay Artsy

      Producer, DnA: Design and Architecture

    • KCRW placeholder

      Eric Garcetti

      Mayor of Los Angeles

    • KCRW placeholder

      Mike Bonin

      Executive Director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs

    • KCRW placeholder

      Rick Thorpe

      Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (former)

      Culture

    The full episode

    1 of 2
    Riding the Expo Line, High Rise Horrors
    1. 0:30Riding the Expo LineYou’re reading this
    2. 14:54High Rise Horrors
    Back to Design and Architecture