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L.A. Metro Re-Creates 1990 Blue Line Opening
Los Angeles Metro commemorated 25 years of modern Metro Rail—and 87 miles of rail built—at a July 13 event by re-creating the opening of the Metro Blue Line at the same spot where it first occurred.
A Metro Blue Line train appeared from the 7th St./Metro Center Station tunnel in downtown Los Angeles through a cloud to break through a banner as it did in 1990.
“We’re here today to thank the voters of L.A. County,” said Mark Ridley-Thomas, Metro board chair and Los Angeles County supervisor. “This is your system. You told us what you wanted. You directed it. You supported it. And through your generosity and farsightedness, we’re creating a modern rail system that is regional in scope, rational in its appeal to riders and equitable in the benefits it is providing for the people of L.A. County. We would not be here today were it not for you.”
In addition to its current 87 miles of rail, the Metro Rail system has five major lines under construction, including two more set to open next year that will add 17.6 more miles to service.
“But we would be remiss if we didn’t also recognize the transportation visionaries of the time—particularly L.A. County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley—who worked so hard to pass Proposition A, giving us the kickstart we needed to create modern Metro Rail and expand our transit system,” said Metro Board First Vice Chair and Duarte Council Member John Fasana.
Metro Director and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis added, “A 20-year USC study released this spring revealed that clean air can be directly linked to stronger lungs among children who have grown up in Southern California. We know that in the past 25 years regional smog levels have dropped and that translates to healthier air quality for our children. Metro Rail can’t take all the credit for our improved air quality, but with more than 1.5 billion boardings in the past 25 years—representing thousands of cars not on our roads—it has undoubtedly contributed to cleaner skies,” she said.
“But Metro Rail does not fly solo,” said Metro Chief Executive Officer Phillip Washington, APTA chair. “It’s the centerpiece of a transit network that includes 2,200 Metro buses covering 170 bus routes and nearly 16,000 bus stops. Together with Metrolink [commuter rail], the municipal carriers like the [Santa Monica] Big Blue Bus, the local-return operators like the Glendale Bee and highway improvements like the ExpressLanes project for highway mobility, we’re building a balanced transportation network to address the issues of the entire region.”
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L.A. Metro’s current and former board members and chief executives, including current CEO Phillip Washington, second from left, prepare to board the special railcar that re-created the opening of the Metro Blue Line 25 years ago. |
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