For all of you who wrote in wondering how I’d get to USC if I got rid of my car — I’m gonna take the new light rail! (via blogging.la)

That is if I’m still in grad school in 2012, when this light rail’s scheduled for completion. Which would be fine if my main goal in life was trying out the light rail, but not so much if I have other goals. I mean, after 10 years, you have to petition to keep your old credits. And I’m already ’bout to start year 6 –

Still, a light rail’s good news — especially one that’ll connect Santa Monica to USC to downtown. According to the MTA, these things run on electricity and’ll “provide smooth rides and do not create air pollution.”

Add to that the freedom from having to own and maintain a car, and the light rail really becomes something to look forward to. Especially if, like me, you’ve just gotten yet another street cleaning parking ticket. Sniff :(

So current designs just show the light rail ending at Culver City, but the Santa Monica City Council appears to be planning to stretch it all the way by the beach near Third Street Promenade.

Eventually, tourists really WILL be able to go from shopping on Third Street Promenade to shopping at Hollywood and Highland to shopping at 7th and Figueroa — without getting in a car :P

Update, 7/3/06: There’s actually a group called Friends 4 Expo that’s been working on this for 5 years! Here are deets from the meeting I attended –

Update, 9/27/06: The groundbreaking ceremony for the Expo‘s in just 2 days!

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