The Exposition Construction Authority has awarded a $542 million contract for the design and construction of phase 2 of the Expo Corridor light rail to the joint venture of Skanska/Rados. Parsons Brinckerhoff will design the project on behalf of the Skanska/Rados design-build team. The first phase of the Expo Line, which extends 8.5 miles from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City, includes 10 stations. Phase I is about 90 percent complete and expected to begin operation in 2012.
Phase 2 will extend the line 6.6 miles from Culver City to Santa Monica and is expected to open in 2015. The extension will include seven stations, terminating at 4th Street/Colorado in Santa Monica, near the beach. Pre-construction work and utility work for phase 2 is expected to begin later this year.
Completion of the 14-mile Expo Line will enable travel from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica in approximately 46 minutes, even in rush hour, and will provide access to destinations such as the University of Southern California, Exposition Park, the Crenshaw District, and West Los Angeles. By 2030, an estimated 64,000 passengers are expected to ride the line each day, which would make it one of the most heavily used light rail lines in the country. The Expo Line will bring more transportation options to Westside communities traditionally underserved by public transit, which now experience some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation.
Travelers will be able to transfer to other Metro rail lines at the 7th Street/Metro Center station, where the Expo Line will connect to the Blue, Red and Purple lines. Transfers to Metro buses will be possible at all stations.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is providing funding for the $1.5 billion project, which is being designed and built by the Exposition Construction Authority. Metro will own and operate the line once it is complete.
