The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is encouraging the public to Go Metro to the 11th annual Taste of Soul on Saturday, October 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The festival will take place on Crenshaw Boulevard between Rodeo Road and Stocker Street, in the heart of the historic Crenshaw District. To avoid the hassle of driving and parking, festival-goers can take Metro Expo Line to the Expo/Crenshaw Station, which is a short walk from the festival.
“As the Taste of Soul family festival celebrates its 11th Anniversary, Metro has become part of the neighborhood with the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project now under construction,” said Metro Board Chair and city of Duarte Councilmember John Fasana. “In just three years, this project will connect the communities of Crenshaw, Inglewood, Westchester and LAX.”
Free parking is available at the following Expo Line stations: Expo/Crenshaw (220 spaces), La Cienega/Jefferson (476 spaces) and Culver City (586 spaces). Parking for a $2 fee is available at Expo/Sepulveda (260 spaces), Expo/Bundy (217 spaces) and 17th St/SMC (67 spaces). For more information on parking and parking fees visit metro.net/parking.
“If you’re looking for a calm, enjoyable and stress-free trip to enjoy the preeminent street festival in South Los Angeles, there is simply one way to travel,” said Metro Board Member and Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Mark Ridley-Thomas. “And that will be to “Go Metro.”
Metro is building the $2.058-billion Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project that will connect the Crenshaw, Inglewood, Westchester and LAX communities along the 8.5-mile alignment with eight new stations; Crenshaw/Expo, Martin Luther King Jr., Leimert Park, Hyde Park, Fairview Heights, Downtown Inglewood, Westchester/Veterans, and Aviation/Century. A ninth station at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street will allow transfers to a future automated people mover to be built by LAX that will connect to the airport’s terminals.
“Taste of Soul has become the quintessential L.A. family festival, where I will join all fellow Angelenos to enjoy a Saturday of music and food and see friends and renew old friendships,” said Metro Board Member Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker. “The best way to get to the festival is traveling on Metro bus lines 40, 102, 210 and several other lines, or by the Expo Line with its connection to Santa Monica. Bus Lines will be detoured from their normal routes but will get you close to the event.”
“Taste of Soul has become a traditional festival not only for the residents of Crenshaw, but for the rest of Los Angeles County that come out year after year to enjoy this unique event,” said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. “Metro is also here to stay and very soon will offer a transportation option to residents of the Crenshaw, Inglewood, Westchester and LAX communities when the Crenshaw/LAX light-rail opens for service in 2019.”
Metro and Walsh/Shea Corridor Constructors (WSCC) will have a booth at Taste of Soul on Crenshaw Boulevard between Rodeo Place and Coliseum Street. The booth will have information about the Crenshaw Line and other Metro projects and programs. The mobile Metro Experience Theatre will be showing rail safety videos along with safety presentations by Metro staff every 20 minutes. Metro will hold a drawing for three large prizes.
Metro staff will also be on hand to respond to questions regarding Metro Art, walking and biking projects, the Express Lanes on the 10 and 110 freeways, TAP cards and fares. Educational information on Measure M will also be available for the public.
Metro Bus Service Detours
Metro Bus lines that will be detoured during the Taste of Soul Festival include: the 40, 102, 105, 210, 710, and 740. Signs in English and Spanish will be posted at bus stop regarding the temporary route changes or check Metro’s Service Advisories at metro.net.
For more information on Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project go to metro.net/Crenshaw or visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/crenshawrail and on Twitter at twitter.com/crenshawrail or call the project hotline at (213) 922-2736.
