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# Light rail line to Santa Monica to be discussed
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/light-rail-line-to-santa-monica-to-be-discussed/
- Published: 2002-11-07T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:52:24.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: local, Downtown, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

It’s well-known that Southern California, especially the westside of Los Angeles County, leads the nation in both congestion and pollution.

It’s not exactly a distinction to be proud of, most would contend.

What is not as well known is that early next year, a blueprint for how much federal dollars for transportation projects for the next six years will be approved.

Millions of dollars could be given to fund the Exposition Light Rail Project, also known as the “Expo Line,” that would connect downtown Los Angeles to downtown Santa Monica. The line would run along what is known as “Exposition Corridor,” roughly paralleling and adding the equivalent capacity of up to two more lanes to the Santa Monica Freeway, which is the No. 1 congested freeway in the nation.

The plan is both highly recommended by the Metropolitan Transit Authority and by the Federal Transit Administration in Washington. The fight for the federal dollars, however, remains fierce in these budget-scarce times.

There is a movement from westside residents who believe the rail line will improve their quality of life. They will discuss that notion next Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Ken Edwards Center in Santa Monica, located at 1527 Fourth St., between Colorado Boulevard and Broadway Avenue.

There will be speakers present from Friends4Expo Transit, a volunteer grassroots citizens’ group, Cycle Santa Monica! and the MTA. Also, a host of elected local, state and federal officials have been invited to support what some consider the most important relief effort to Westside traffic in the near future. It’s anticipated that most or all of the Santa Monica City Council will be present.

In addition to the Expo Line, the idea of future westside light rail projects, such as a Lincoln Boulevard Light Rail Line, as well as the impacts of mass and multi-modal transit efforts on the westside, will be addressed.

Speakers will also address issues such as can the westside get the rail line built by 2009, or will it be 2015, which is the end of the next transit funding budget cycle? And what can our elected officials do to ensure that westside taxpayers get their fair share of federal transportation dollars? As it is now, Californians get roughly 88 cents from every federal tax dollar they send to Washington.

Attend the meeting in search of answers to these questions.

The Web site of Friends4Expo Transit is www.friends4expo.org, or call (310) 393-9025 for more information.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/110702-05_01.jpg)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 7, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/110702.pdf?ref=smdp.com)