On June 25, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority held a press conference at the Leimert Park Station to celebrate the first station dedication of the Metro K Line. The event brought together residents, students, businesses, community leaders and advocates to recognize their efforts to reach this point in the project and to showcase the line’s amenities prior to its official opening.
The Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project represents a $2 billion public transportation investment for the communities in the Crenshaw Corridor and will extend light rail from the existing Metro E Line (Expo) at Crenshaw and Exposition Boulevards to the C Line (Green). The eight-station K Line will travel 8.5 miles and serve communities in Los Angeles, Inglewood and El Segundo.
The dedication ceremony also included a train ride and windshield tour from the Leimert Park Station to the Martin L. King, Jr. Station, highlighting the cultural uniqueness of the Leimert Park Village and several historic, artistic and musical venues, and its proximity to several legacy businesses and restaurants in the Crenshaw Corridor.
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Among the participants were Congresswoman Karen Bass, State Senator Steven Bradford, L.A. County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Holly Mitchell, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, L.A. City Council Member Herb Wesson, Metro CEO Stephanie N. Wiggins, Metro Board Member Jacqueline Dupont-Walker and former Metro Board Member Pam O’Connor.
“When residents of the Crenshaw area, or anyone in L.A. County, wants to take the K Line, they will know that the system itself is sound,” Wiggins told the Sentinel.
“Even the California Public Utilities Commission has the sign-off independent from Metro. We work with our local fire department to ensure high requirements for safety, we have our transit security officers that will be mobile around the system, and we’re adding the Ambassadors Program, an additional layer of an unarmed, welcoming presence to greet riders, help them navigate our system, pay fares, download key Metro apps and work with Metro to quickly address issues,” she said.
The K Line, the seventh line in the rail system, begins operation in the fall, with the southern portion and connection to the C Line opening in 2023 and the connection to the new LAX Automated People Mover opening in 2024. The last time rail transit served the region was approximately 70 years ago. Yellow cars stopped serving local streets in 1955.
“The Leimert Park Station represents the vision and hard work of Metro staff, residents, and community leaders who were intentional about ensuring the art, culture and history that is unique to Leimert Park is felt and honored,” said Mitchell.
“As a third generation Angeleno who grew up in this neighborhood, I look forward to this station and the K Line being part of the fabric of our community.”
