Community Corner

Free Expo Line Rides This Weekend Plus Festivities at Four Stations

To celebrate the opening of the Phase 1 of the Expo Line from Downtown to La Cienega/Jefferson station, ridership will be free between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, and there will be celebrations, too.

Traveling across Los Angeles will become markedly easier this weekend, as Metro will open Phase 1 of the Expo Line, connecting Downtown Los Angeles to the La Cienega/Jefferson station.

This weekend--Sat. April 28 and Sun. April 29--Metro is offering free rides in honor of the line's opening.

The line will operate between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. However, the free rides are only for this line. Patrons using other Metro operated trains (Red/Purple, Gold, Green & Blue lines) and Metro buses will pay regular fares.

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In addition, Metro will celebrate the opening family events at four Metro Expo Line rail stations on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The following events will take place at these stations:
 

7th St/Metro Center Station – 7th street between Figueroa  and Hope
Entertainment by Double Gee NineNet, a Latino jazz band presented by Make Music L.A., as well as other bands and performers. Booths will include those by IRIS from Cirque du Soleil, the Music Center, AQMD, L.A. Kings, L.A. Downtown News, Coca-Cola, Downtown Center Business Improvement District, Snap Yourself! photobooth and the Colburn School of Music.

Expo Park/USC Station – Pardee Plaza at USC
Entertainment by the Brian Schwartz Quartet presented by Make Music L.A. and other performers. Booths will include those by the California Science Center, the California African American Museum, the Natural History Musem, USC Atheletics and the Metro/LADOT Bicycle Program.
 

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Expo/Crenshaw Station – West Angeles Church Parking Lot
Entertainment at this station will include karaoke open to the public. Booths will include those by City Lites Network Inc., Leimert Park Book Fair and the Louisiana to Los Angeles Organizing Committee Inc.

La Cienega/Jefferson Station – Expo Station Parking Structure
Entertainment at this station will include Derk Reklaw Cuzmo, an African jazz band presented by Make Music L.A., Fantastic Fig, a magician with a cat, karaoke and other performers. Booths will include those by Expo Construction Authority, Watts Village Theatre and KLOS/KABC radio.

 
In addition, a mime from 24th Street Theatre will be traveling along the line and performing at the 7th/Metro Center Station, the Expo Park/USC Station and the La Cienega/Jefferson Station.Portable restrooms also will be available at the four stations.

Visitors are encouraged to use public transit to get to the various events, as parking will be very limited during opening weekend.

Fares for the new Metro Expo Line following the free weekend rides will be the same as all Metro-operated bus and trains: $1.50 one-way (cash) or by purchasing a Metro Day Pass for $5. Regular Metro monthly passes also are available for $75 good for unlimited travel on all Metro buses and trains.

The Expo line will eventually continue to Culver City later this summer at a date yet to be determined, and then on to Santa Monica in 2015.


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