Westside residents flocked to the opening of the Expo Light Rail Line extension in Santa Monica and Culver City over the weekend. Though official statistics on how many commuters boarded the train have yet to be released, riders reported long lines over the weekend.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority offered free rides from noon on Friday through the end of service Saturday. It remains to be seen how popular the train will be once the initial excitement wears off.
The last time Angelenos could access public transit between Santa Monica and downtown LA, the Dodgers were still in Brooklyn.
The $1.5-billion project added a total of seven new stations, with three in Santa Monica. The closest to the Palisades is at 4th Street and Colorado Avenue, while the 17th Street and Santa Monica College station includes a park-and-ride facility with 70 spaces.
–ERIKA MARTIN
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