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Video: Take a Partial Tour of the Expo Line's Route between Culver City & Santa Monica
Since last week, this fun video featuring a portion of the right-of-way for the Expo Line's second phase has been making the rounds. "A lot of people are very excited about having a rail line come to West L.A. The video captured places people don't have access to," explained Bart Reed of The Transit Coalition, which produced the steady-cam stop motion video, complete with music by California's rock star classical composer, John Adams. "It's sort of a treat for everybody to see the first two miles" of Phase 2.
So far, the video has been viewed close to 11,000 times.
Approved earlier this year and expected to open in 2015, the second phase of the light rail route goes seven miles between Culver City and Santa Monica. The first phase, which could open next year, travels 8.6 miles between downtown L.A. and Culver City. The total cost? $2.4 billion.
Reed said the Coalition produced the video to help people visualize what it would be like to take a ride on the train. Red cars used to service the corridor, but they went out of service in the 1950s.
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But what it looks like today may change in future years. Developers have their eye on the line with hopes to bring mixed-use projects along it. One such proposal from Casden Properties would replace a cement plant at Sepulveda Boulevard with four eight-story residential buildings, enough for 538 residences, and 266,800 square feet of retail space, including a Target store, according to the New York Times, which earlier this month described a number of project ideas along the route.
Some of the Expo Line opposition has been concerned with added density to the already traffic-jammed Westside. Developer Alan I. Casden told the Times new projects are inevitable. “Los Angeles is going to go vertical,” he said. “That’s the only way you can go. There’s no more land.”
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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