The new Expo Line connecting Santa Monica to Downtown Los Angeles has created a 70% influx in the number of people commuting via metro. Now, commuters can avoid traffic and get from LA to Santa Monica in a little over 45 minutes. The 6.6-mile extension opened this past May and has 19 stops including Farmdale, Palms and Culver City.

There is parking at some of the new stops such as Expo/Sepulveda (260 spaces), Expo/Bundy (217 spaces) and 17th St/SMC (67 spaces), and daily parking is just $2. Unfortunately acquiring the space to make more than those 3 small parking lots is costly, so there is very little parking compared to the sheer number of people using the line. But, on the bright side, there’s a new bike path along the tracks that connects with existing bike lanes. And, each station is served by buses run by either the Metro, Big Blue Bus or Culver CityBus. The walking environment around most of the stations is accessible as well.

And commuters aren’t the only ones riding the train. Rams fans are taking advantage of the new transit system and riding it to the Coliseum, saving themselves $100 in parking.  Los Angeles Daily News estimates 10,000 football fans ride the rails per game.

 

In addition to providing transportation to thousands of commuters and football fans a like, the new line is also creating a boost in infrastructure surrounding the Metro stops. One example is the new Ivy Station project that is taking place in Culver City. The highly anticipated development is located at the intersections of Venice, Washington and National Boulevards.  It will be just adjacent to the Metro Expo Line of Culver City, and is expected to become an energetic center of life for residents and visitors alike. 

Ivy Station was envisioned as 500,000 square feet of high quality, state-of-the-art office, with apartments, a hotel, stores and restaurants within a landmark, destination-oriented environment. The station will also include the following:

  • More than two acres of open space
  • A widened National Boulevard to accommodate new bike lanes in both northbound and southbound directions.
  • A bike hub
  • More than 200 bike spaces
  • A central plaza and "great lawn" will serve as venues for events and programs.
  • Half of all employees of tenants in office spaces with more than 20,000 square feet will get free TAP cards for one year.