Progress on the Expo Light Rail was seen Monday when city officials previewed a test train at the nearly finished Palms station.
Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti along with members of the Exposition Construction Authority Board of Directors shared a behind-the-scenes look at the new transit system that is part of the Expo Line extension from Culver City to Santa Monica.
As a train made its way toward the Expo station in Palms, Henry Escalante, a manager at a nearby butcher shop, eagerly awaited the completion of the light rail extension.
"Some days will be slow because they close the streets, construction and all that," he said.
He hoped business would pick up once the Expo expansion was completed. The 6.6 mile corridor includes 7 new stations, linking downtown to the Westside
"We're thinking of opening early too and adding a couple of healthy items for our customers," he said.
Residents in the area were also looking forward to the completion of the extension.
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"I'm really excited about it," Erica Negron said. She planned to use the light rail in Culver City near her home to get to her job in Santa Monica.
Completion of the second phase of the project is scheduled for early 2016, allowing for the first time in over 60 years, commuters to ride from downtown LA to Santa Monica and vise versa.
The much anticipated Phase I of the project was finished in 2012 after six years of construction, joining tracks from downtown LA to Culver City.
It's not the first time commuters will be able to enjoy a city to sea experience, a similar line was built in 1875 with passenger service ending in 1953.
