E Line (Los Angeles Metro)

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This article is about the light rail line in Los Angeles formerly known as the Expo Line. For other uses of the name, see Expo Line (disambiguation).

E Line
LACMTA Circle E Line.svg
Metro Expo Line Culver City Station 2012-10-24.JPG
Two P865/P2020 trains at Culver City station
Overview
Other name(s)Expo Line (2012–2019)
Owner Metro (LACMTA)
Line number806
TerminiDowntown Santa Monica
7th Street/Metro Center
Stations19
Service
TypeLight rail
SystemLos Angeles Metro Rail
Rolling stockKinki Sharyo P3010 running in 2–3 car consists
Daily ridership61,957 (October 2018; avg. weekday)[1]
History
OpenedApril 28, 2012; 9 years ago (2012-04-28)
CompletedMay 20, 2016; 5 years ago (2016-05-20)
Technical
Line length15.2 mi (24.5 km)[2]
Number of tracks2
CharacterMostly at-grade in private right-of-way, with some underground, street-running, elevated and trench sections
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC overhead catenary (overhead rigid rail in Flower tunnel)[3]
Operating speed55 mph (89 km/h)
Route map

Legend
Regional Connector
(2022)
Atlantic ↓(Current L Line  L Line)
East L.A. Civic Center
Maravilla
I-710
SR 60
 Indiana
Soto
I-5 / I-10
 Mariachi Plaza
US 101
 Pico/Aliso ↑(Current L Line  L Line)
Metrolink
Los Angeles River
Metrolink and Amtrak
A Line 
A Line
to APU/Citrus College
 Little Tokyo/Arts District
Historic Broadway
Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill
7th Street/Metro Center
A Line B Line D Line J Line 
 Pico
A Line J Line 
I-10
A Line 
A Line
to Downtown Long Beach
 LATTC/Ortho Institute
J Line 
I-110
 Jefferson/USC
Figueroa Tunnel
 Expo Park/USC
Expo/Vermont
Expo/Western
Expo/Crenshaw
K Line  (2022)
 Farmdale
Expo/La Brea
La Cienega/Jefferson
Ballona Creek
 Culver City
Palms
I-10
 Westwood/Rancho Park
Expo/Sepulveda
I-405
 Expo/Bundy
26th Street/Bergamot
17th Street/SMC
Downtown Santa Monica

Handicapped/disabled access all stations accessible
Detailed diagram
showing all crossings
Regional Connector
(2022)
7th Street/
Metro Center
A Line B Line D Line J Line 
A Line J Line 
 Pico
I-10
A Line 
A Line
to Downtown Long Beach
J Line LATTC/Ortho Institute
Flower Street
I-110
Jefferson/USC
Flower Street trench
Figueroa Tunnel
Exposition Boulevard trench
Expo Park/USC
Expo/Vermont
Exposition Boulevard
Expo/Western
Arlington Avenue
7th Avenue
11th Avenue/
Degnaue Boulevard
(2022)K Line Expo/Crenshaw
Buckingham Road
Farmdale
Farmdale Avenue
Expo/La Brea
Hauser Boulevard
La Cienega/Jefferson
Jefferson Boulevard
Los Angeles
Culver City
Ballona Creek
National Boulevard
Washington Boulevard
Culver City
SR 187 (Venice Boulevard)
Culver City
Los Angeles
Bagley Avenue
National Boulevard
Palms
Motor Avenue
I-10
Northvale trench
Overland Avenue
Westwood/Rancho Park
Westwood Boulevard
Military Avenue
Expo/Sepulveda
I-405
Sawtelle Boulevard
Pico Boulevard/
Gateway Boulevard
Barrington Avenue
Expo/Bundy
Los Angeles
Santa Monica
Centinela Avenue
Division 14 yard
Stewart Street
26th Street/Bergamot
26th Street
Cloverfield Boulevard
Olympic Boulevard
20th Street
19th Street
17th Street/
Santa Monica College
Colorado Avenue
Downtown Santa Monica
This diagram:
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The E Line (formerly the Expo Line from 2012–2019) is a 15.2 mi (24.5 km) light rail line that runs between Downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica. It is one of the six lines in the Metro Rail system, and is operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The line opened in 2012.

The E Line largely follows the right-of-way of the former Pacific Electric Santa Monica Air Line. Passenger service ended in 1953; freight-only service ended by March 1988. Several E Line stations are built in the same location as Air Line stations, although no original station structures have been reused.[4]

Originally named the Expo Line after Exposition Boulevard, along which it runs for most of its route,[5][6] the line was renamed the E Line in late 2019, while retaining the aqua-colored line and icons used to designate it on maps.[7] When the Regional Connector is complete in 2022, the current E Line will be joined with the Eastside portion of the L (formerly Gold) Line to create an extended E Line, which will become colored yellow on maps.[8]

Route and stations of the E Line, relative to other Metro lines. Under construction or planned segment are shown as dashed lines.

Service description[]

Hours of operation[]

The E Line operates from 3:27 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.[9]

Headways[]

As of December 2020, trains run every 12 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes during the evening.[9]

Speed[]

Maximum speed on the route is 55 mph (89 km/h): speeds within Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Santa Monica are reduced.[10] The E Line takes 46 minutes[9] to travel its 15.2 mi (24.5 km) length,[2] at an average speed of 19.8 mph (31.9 km/h) over its length.

Station listing[]

The following is the complete list of stations, from west to east:

Station Date opened City/Neighborhood Major Connections and Notes[11][12]
Downtown Santa Monica May 20, 2016 Santa Monica
17th Street/Santa Monica College Park and ride: 65 spaces
26th Street/Bergamot
Expo/Bundy West Los Angeles Park and ride: 217 spaces
Expo/Sepulveda Park and ride: 260 spaces
Westwood/Rancho Park Rancho Park
Palms Palms
Culver City June 20, 2012 Culver City
La Cienega/Jefferson April 28, 2012 West Adams Park and ride: 494 spaces
Expo/La Brea
Farmdale June 20, 2012
Expo/Crenshaw April 28, 2012 Jefferson Park Park and ride: 450 spaces
K Line (2022)
Expo/Western Exposition Park
Expo/Vermont
Expo Park/USC University Park
Jefferson/USC
LATTC/Ortho Institute North University Park J Line 
Pico July 14, 1990 Downtown Los Angeles A Line J Line 
7th Street/Metro Center February 15, 1991 A Line B Line D Line J Line 

Ridership[]

Annual ridership
Year Ridership %±
2012 4,141,440  —
2013 8,659,229 109.1%
2014 9,818,027 13.4%
2015 9,834,541 0.2%
2016 13,376,428 36%
2017 19,030,229 42.3%
2018 19,413,884 2%
2019 18,269,068 -5.9%
2020 8,308,144 -54.5%
2021 7,939,241 -4.4%
Source: Metro[13]

History[]

Main articles: History of Los Angeles Metro Rail and Busway, Los Angeles and Independence Railroad, and Santa Monica Air Line
Steam train and horsecar in Santa Monica, 1894
Dash sign for Pacific Electric trains, c. 1911–1953

The E Line largely follows right of way used by the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad steam railroad, built in 1875,[14] which was converted by Pacific Electric to electric traction and operated as the Santa Monica Air Line by 1920,[15] providing both freight and passenger service between Los Angeles and Santa Monica. Passenger service ended in 1953, and freight service stopped in 1988.[16]

Local advocacy groups including Friends 4 Expo Transit[17] supported the successful passage of Proposition C in 1990, which allowed the purchase of the entire right-of-way from Southern Pacific by Metro. In 2000, an urban art group known as Heavy Trash placed signs advertising a fictional "Aqua Line". The signs, with the text "Coming Soon", showed a subway route extending along Wilshire to the ocean, with 10 station stops. Although the campaign was a hoax, it demonstrated newfound support and revealed the frustrations surrounding the lack of rail service connecting Santa Monica and the Westside with Downtown Los Angeles.[18][non-primary source needed] Metro released a Major Investment Study in 2000 which compared bus rapid transit and light rail transit options along what was now known as the "Mid-City/Exposition Corridor".[19]

Construction[]

An independent agency, the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority, was given the authority to plan, design and construct the line by state law in 2003. After construction of the second phase was completed, the line was handed over on January 15, 2016, to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.[20]

The line was built in two phases; the first phase comprised the 8.6-mile (13.8 km)[2][21] section between Downtown Los Angeles and Culver City. Construction began in early 2006 and most stations opened to the public on April 28, 2012.[21][22] The Culver City and Farmdale stations opened on June 20, 2012.[21][23]

Design and construction on the 6.6-mile (10.6 km)[2] portion between Culver City and Santa Monica started in September 2011. Testing along the phase 2 segment began on April 6, 2015,[24] and the segment opened on May 20, 2016.[25]

Proposed developments[]

Regional Connector Transit Project[]

Main article: Regional Connector

The Regional Connector is an under-construction light-rail subway corridor through Downtown Los Angeles that is to connect the current A and E Lines to the current L Line, and to allow a seamless one-seat ride between the A and E Lines' current 7th Street/Metro Center terminus and Union Station.[26]

Once the Regional Connector is completed, the alignment of the L (formerly Gold) Line will be split into two parts at Little Tokyo/Arts District station station, with the portion north of this station joined to the A Line, extending it to connect Long Beach with Azusa. The alignment east of Little Tokyo/Arts District station will be assigned to the E Line, extending it to connect Santa Monica and East Los Angeles directly. At this time, the L Line will cease to exist as a separate line.

In 2019, Metro began using a renaming system where each rail and bus rapid transit line receives a letter and color. As a result, the Expo Line became the E Line in 2019, and will be recolored from aqua to yellow upon completion of the Regional Connector.[27][28][8]

The groundbreaking for the project took place on September 30, 2014, and the alignment is expected to be in public service by mid 2022.[29]

Eastside Transit Corridor[]

Main article: Eastside Transit Corridor

The Eastside Transit Corridor is a project to extend from the former L Line's terminus at Atlantic station eastward to Lambert station in Whittier. Partially funded by Measure M, construction is programmed to start in 2029 with service beginning in 2035,[30] though the project may be accelerated for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Operations[]

Interior of a westbound train, first day of operation to Culver City

Maintenance facilities[]

Previously, the light rail vehicles used on the E Line were maintained at the division 11 yard in Long Beach, California, the same maintenance facility that is used by the A Line. However, the new division 14 yard, located east of Stewart Street and north of Exposition Boulevard[31] in the vicinity of the 26th Street/Bergamot station in Santa Monica, was opened with the completion of Phase 2.

Rolling stock[]

See also: Los Angeles Metro Rail rolling stock § P3010 contract

Compatible with the rest of Metro's light-rail network, the E Line shares standard Metro light rail vehicles (Kinki Sharyo P3010) with the A Line. Metro estimates that it has 47 light rail cars to provide service on the E Line under the peak-hour assumption of 3-car trains running at 6-minute headways.

Bikeway[]

The E Line Bikeway parallels the route of the light rail line, and includes a mixture of bike lanes on Exposition Boulevard and off-street paths alongside the rail tracks.[32]

Incidents[]

  • On November 29, 2018, a pedestrian was struck and killed. The man had been attempting to cross the tracks.[33]
  • On January 15, 2019, a passenger fell from the platform, between the cars, and was dragged to death. They "have not yet been able to identify the individual as pieces of the victim's body are spread out."[34]
  • On May 2, 2019, a man climbed a nearby construction crane and jumped to his death at the Expo/Sepulveda station, landing on the tracks and halting transportation temporarily.

References[]

  1. ^ "Ridership Statistics". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "Expo Line project fact sheet" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  3. ^ Chen, Anna (July 30, 2019). "Installing new overhead conductor rail in DTLA". Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  4. ^ Hawthorne, Christopher (May 20, 2016). "Why the Expo Line to Santa Monica marks a rare kind of progress in American cities". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  5. ^ Epstein, Joel (April 12, 2016). "How the Expo Line Got to Santa Monica". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  6. ^ "The Guide to the Metro Expo Line: Downtown L.A. to Santa Monica". Discover Los Angeles. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  7. ^ http://media.metro.net/documents/line-806_1571341545.pdf
  8. ^ a b Fonseca, Ryan (September 25, 2019). "Ignore Those 'Line A' Signs. Metro's Blue Line Will Reopen As The 'A Line'". laist.com. Southern California Public Radio. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "E Line (Expo) timetable" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 13, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Hymon, Steve (November 22, 2011). "Our first ride on the Expo Line". The Source. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  11. ^ "Metro E Line (Expo)". www.metro.net. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  12. ^ "Metro Parking Lots by Line". www.metro.net. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  13. ^ "Metro Ridership". Metro.net. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  14. ^ "First Train of the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad". Volume 5, Number 20. Los Angeles Herald. October 19, 1875.
  15. ^ "Santa Monica Air Line". Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California.
  16. ^ Morgenthaler, Anne (March 14, 1988). "End of the Line: The last train out of SM blows a final whistle". Santa Monica Outlook.
  17. ^ "The Expo Line". friends4expo.org. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  18. ^ "Heavy Trash: Aqua Line". Retrieved October 11, 2010.
  19. ^ "Mid City Westside Transit Draft EIS/EIR: 1.0 History, purpose and need" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
  20. ^ "About Expo Overview". Archived from the original on August 7, 2017.
  21. ^ a b c "L.A. Metro – Facts at a Glance". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 13, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  22. ^ Weikel, Dan; Bloomekatz, Ari (April 27, 2012). "Expo Line launches rail service push to Westside". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  23. ^ "Two more Expo Line stations to open June 20". Los Angeles Times. June 5, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  24. ^ Nunez, Jennifer (April 9, 2015). "Testing begins on LA Expo Line phase 2". International Railway Journal. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  25. ^ Zeller, Heidi (March 30, 2015). "Art for the Expo Line: installation at Expo/Sepulveda Station". The Source. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  26. ^ "Regional Connector Transit Corridor (project website)". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 19, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  27. ^ "PowerPoint: Metro staff proposal to rename rail and BRT lines". TheSource. Steve Hymon. April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  28. ^ "LA Metro Could Switch Rail Line Names From Colors To Letters". Curbed Los Angeles. Curbed Staff. April 3, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  29. ^ Nelson, Laura J. (May 12, 2019). "L.A. Metro's downtown subway project may not open until mid-2022". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  30. ^ Hymon, Steve (November 8, 2016). "Measure M project descriptions". Metro. The Source. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  31. ^ Hymon, Steve (March 21, 2012). "Expo Line Maintenance Facility". The Source. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  32. ^ Kavanagh, Gary (December 2013). "State of Expo Phase II Bikeway Corridor, & the Biggest Remaining Concerns". Santa Monica Next. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  33. ^ "Expo Line Train Fatally Hits Pedestrian Near USC". Daily Trojan. November 29, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  34. ^ Hall, Matthew (January 15, 2019). "Train Kills Pedestrian at 17th Street Station". Santa Monica Daily Press. Retrieved August 19, 2019.

External links[]

Route map:

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