The MTA is proposing a link to the region's light rail system that goes from the Blue Line downtown to Santa Monica. Our neighborhood character can either be enhanced or degraded by the route that is ultimately chosen. The original proposal follows the old Red Car line along Exposition Boulevard. A local group called Friends4Expo is proposing a detour along Venice Blvd. and Sepulveda Blvd. instead of using Exposition Blvd adjacent to the Santa Monica Freeway.
Residents of Westside Village need to voice their opinions of the route of the rail line now while the decision-making process is in its early stages.
I am personally opposed to using street-level rail lines along two of the busiest arterials in the city unless they make the rail lines either elevated or underground. There is enough existing congestion on both Sepulveda and Venice Boulevards now every day that a rail line would detract rather than add to the infrastructure of our neighborhood. The Exposition Blvd right-of-way is already owned by the MTA and is the most direct and logical route for any light rail. Overpasses for Overland Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard at the very minimum should be included in any plans for light rail to Santa Monica.
Residents of Westside Village need to voice their opinions of the route of the rail line now while the decision-making process is in its early stages.
I am personally opposed to using street-level rail lines along two of the busiest arterials in the city unless they make the rail lines either elevated or underground. There is enough existing congestion on both Sepulveda and Venice Boulevards now every day that a rail line would detract rather than add to the infrastructure of our neighborhood. The Exposition Blvd right-of-way is already owned by the MTA and is the most direct and logical route for any light rail. Overpasses for Overland Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard at the very minimum should be included in any plans for light rail to Santa Monica.