Ahead of the opening of the K line later this year, Metro officially opened Expo/Crenshaw station in the Crenshaw district on Friday.U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez, U.S. Congressmen Maxine Waters and Karen Bass, California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Metro Board Chair and Board Member of Glendale Ara Najarian, LA Mayor and Metro Board Member Eric Garcetti, LA County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Holly Mitchell, Inglewood Mayor and Board Member James Butts, Metro Senior Vice Chairman Jacquelyn Dupont-Walter and Metro CEO Stephanie N. Wiggins joined local officials in recognizing community leaders, advocates and residents for their efforts to help the project to reach this point. Also in attendance were former Congresswoman Diane Watson, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Metro board members Pam O’Connor and John Fasana.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“This is a monumental achievement that many have called the most significant investment in the heart of the black community in Los Angeles in decades,” said US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “This is a good investment in good public transit that will bring new businesses, housing and economic development right here.
The Crenshaw/LAX line – which will be the K line as part of Metro’s rail system – is a $2 billion transportation investment from Metro’s federal, state and local partners that will serve the cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood and El Segunda. The rail line will provide a vital link for commuters in the Crenshaw and Inglewood Corridor and for those heading to various destinations including downtown Los Angeles and the Westside.
The project will run between the existing E (Expo) subway line in Crenshaw and Exposition Boulevards to the C (green) line in El Segundo. Line K will eventually have eight new stations, including stations serving Leimert Park, downtown Inglewood and a new station at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street which will be the transfer point between subway trains and buses and the LAX automated people mover that will serve airport terminals. .
The U.S. Department of Transportation provided $263.9 million in federal funding, which included funds from TIGER grants, the Congestion and Air Quality Mitigation Program, the Highway Infrastructure Program, and the block grant program for surface transportation.
“Public transit across our country has the ability to be the great equalizer, providing the same chance to work, learn and play for everyone who gets on board,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. . “In this hugely important part of Los Angeles, thousands of people will have a fast, safe and reliable way to connect with their community. When Metro Airport Connector is complete, it’s a short train ride to LAX, where they can connect with the world.The State of California has contributed $215 million in funds from Proposition 1B and the Regional Improvement Program.“Metro’s rail investment in our South Los Angeles communities isn’t just about expanding the transit system, it’s about creating greater mobility, jobs, access to opportunity and a better quality of life for the residents of this corridor,” said the member of Glendale City Council and the Metro Board. Ara Najarian chair. “As we approach the opening of this critical new line, we celebrate with the community as well as our local, state and federal partners who helped make this line a reality.”The project also received more than $1.6 billion in local funding directly from LA County voter-approved sales tax measures Prop A, Prop C, Measure R, and Measure M. Funds were also provided by contributions from local agencies and Metro’s general fund.“The K line is a long-awaited promise of transportation equity for South Los Angeles,” said Metro Board of Directors First Vice President Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker. “This line will be complemented by ongoing projects such as the K Line North Extension, the Airport Metro Connector and the C Line Extension, all of which will serve as a link to other transit lines. . In addition, passengers will benefit from improved first/last mile connections, which include buses, bicycles, Metro Micro and walking.The Crenshaw/LAX project has also offered many residents who live near the railroad to work on the project. Under the project labor agreement and Metro’s Construction Careers Policy, the project exceeded the following labor requirements:
- Metro’s goal of hiring 40% of targeted workers from an economically disadvantaged community was exceeded by 20%, reaching 60% of targeted workers on the project.
- Metro’s goal of hiring 20% apprentices actually reached 23.51%.
- Metro’s goal of recruiting and hiring 10% disadvantaged workers or socially disadvantaged people has reached 10.31%.
Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Rep Karen Bass discover one of the station’s artworks – there are artworks on every level of the station.
“The K Line is an integral part of LA’s transportation future – and this station grand opening shows just how close we are bringing world-class public transportation to South Los Angeles,” said Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles. and member of the board of directors of the metro. “When completed this fall, this new line will open doors of opportunity for cyclists in Los Angeles – and is a clear indication of our commitment to making Los Angeles a more accessible, sustainable and inclusive city.”
The station dedication ceremony also included a brief train ride from Martin L. King, Jr. station to Expo/Crenshaw station. The ceremony highlighted the regional significance of the transfer stations, station art, and nearby historic districts. Officials also recognized and introduced the project’s early champions, small businesses, local artists and Expo/Crenshaw Station Memorial Pin Contest winner, high school student Jada Harmon.
All Line K stations include artwork commissioned through the agency’s Metro Art program. The artists were selected through an open and competitive selection process, on the recommendation of a panel of community arts professionals. Artwork commissioned for Expo/Crenshaw Station includes mosaic murals of Rebecca Mendez, a glass pavilion by Erwin Redl and porcelain enamel panels by Jaime Scholnick.“As a former South Los Angeles resident, I’m excited to see how station-specific art uplifts our guests, marks each station as unique, and contributes to a sense of place in local communities,” said said the Mayor of Inglewood and a member of the Metro Board. James Butts. “On the K line, art is a defining element of the station that draws on the creative vitality and cultural richness of our communities in the Crenshaw area.”“My vision is for Metro to be Angelenos’ first choice for transportation. The K Line is a transformative and meaningful investment in helping residents of Crenshaw, Inglewood and South Los Angeles access jobs, opportunity, family and fun,” said Stephanie N. Wiggins, CEO of Subway. “Once other upgrades are complete, the K line will not only be the first choice of transportation in the area, it will be the best choice for Angelenos to get to the airport, SoFi Stadium, and destinations in Crenshaw and Inglewood. . I can’t wait to welcome the first passengers on board!For more information on the project, please visit https://kline.metro.net. For more information on Metro Art, visit metro.net/art.
Downloadable photos from Friday’s event are here. The B-roll video is here.
