On Memorial Day, Santa Monica Next Advisory Boardmember (and newly-appointed Santa Monica Housing Commissioner) Carter Rubin took a tour of the construction happening along Phase II of the Metro Expo Line. Fortunately for us, he chronicled his adventure on Twitter, complete with some awesome photographs.
Below are a few of the major locations Carter scouted on his trek, which began in the far-flung neighborhood of Palms. For the full story, follow him on Twitter: @CarterRubin.
Expo Line operations and maintenance facility. pic.twitter.com/ImadwlFG5Y
— Carter Rubin (@CarterRubin) May 26, 2014
As construction progresses on the Expo maintenance facility (at Olympic and Stewart St.), so too does construction on Buffer Park, the 2.35 acre public green space planned along the south side of the facility in order to (for lack of a better word) buffer the nearby neighborhood from noise. – JI
Bergamot Station platforms going in. pic.twitter.com/PdPIkUpJaF
— Carter Rubin (@CarterRubin) May 26, 2014
This station at 26th Street and Olympic will be the first stop westbound trains make in Santa Monica. It will serve the Bergamot Arts Center, several nearby office parks, and whatever eventually replaces the abandoned Papermate factory across the street. – JI
Bridge over Olympic pic.twitter.com/IHzPXZ8ofY
— Carter Rubin (@CarterRubin) May 26, 2014
Like Carter said, this is the bridge over Olympic. -JI
17th Street/Memorial Park/SMC Station platform construction. pic.twitter.com/Rl45yUwhpA
— Carter Rubin (@CarterRubin) May 26, 2014
The 17th Street station, the second of three stops in Santa Monica westbound trains will make, connects passengers to two nearby hospitals, Santa Monica College, and Memorial Park. Making sure that the train integrates smoothly with the surrounding area takes concerted planning, that’s why City officials have begun drafting the Memorial Park Neighborhood Plan. Tell your planners what you envision for the area’s future. – JI
A bunch of @metrolosangeles @ExpoLine construction photos incoming. For starters: track installation on Colorado Ave pic.twitter.com/yjNwemtUq8
— Carter Rubin (@CarterRubin) May 26, 2014
Expo line trains will continue down the center of Colorado Avenue west of 17th Street where they will reach the end of the line at the 4th Street station, a few blocks from the Third Street Promenade, the Santa Monica Pier, Tongva Park, and, of course, the beach. Below are a few more of Carter’s pictures of Expo line construction outside of Santa Monica. – JI
Urban irony: This cement plant helps construct the agent of its own demise, as TOD is planned for this site. pic.twitter.com/fQjlQNUY2v
— Carter Rubin (@CarterRubin) May 26, 2014
A then/now of Expo Line in Northvale. Compare this from ~2010 to https://t.co/I0LhLfsinw pic.twitter.com/C6KQR991dm
— Carter Rubin (@CarterRubin) May 26, 2014
And here's Westwood/Rancho Park Station, starting to look like a real station! pic.twitter.com/54BAP1vcRv
— Carter Rubin (@CarterRubin) May 26, 2014
