By Scott Bridges
A groundbreaking ceremony will officially mark the beginning of construction on Phase 2 of the Expo Line project – the extension of light rail from Culver City to Santa Monica.
The event will be held Monday, Sept. 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the Phase 2 Terminus Station site, on the southeast corner of Colorado Boulevard and Fourth Street in Santa Monica (RSVP for parking and access information).
The light rail extension is scheduled to open in 2015 and will bring greater mobility to the region by connecting the Westside to the existing rail network. The $1.5 billion project will include seven new stations at important destinations along the corridor. The completed Expo Line is expected to provide a faster and more reliable way to travel from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica.
On hand will be Expo Construction Authority Board members and local elected officials, including Culver City Mayor and Expo Board Member Mayor Micheál O’Leary, Santa Monica City Councilmember and Expo Construction Authority Board Vice Chair Pam O’Connor, Expo Construction Authority Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Expo Board Member and County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and Los Angeles City Councilmember Herb Wesson.