The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (LACMTA) is tooting its horn that the Crenshaw/LAX rail line will open Oct. 7 with FREE rides despite it not being fully opened.
Don’t expect the Crenshaw/LAX rail line to actually get you to LAX until 2024 though.
Some details about the Crenshaw/LAX (K) Line, which opens Friday:
— Ryan Fonseca (@RyFons) October 5, 2022
🚉 Riders will have to wait until late 2024 (at least) for rail connection to LAX
🚉 A bus bridge will get riders to and from the C Line
🚉 Metro's whole system is free to ride this weekendhttps://t.co/BR4S1yxSH8
The elephant in the room neither Metro or Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts have addressed with the public is the pending revamp of the line crossing at Centinela and Florence.
In their “genius” they forgot this is a major thoroughfare to access Prairie Ave. to reach SoFi Stadium. If attendees and/or players get stopped at intersection while the train is crossing they’ll be late.
Related: Centinela Grade Separation Project
Metro and Mayor Butts have off handedly referenced the grade separation in on their website and during a previous council meeting, but no firm plans are publicly available on when the track will be raised to cross over that intersection.
This will cause more delays on the line, and would most likely shut it down in Inglewood while the conversion takes place.
Why are they working backwards?
It is our belief Metro is hurriedly opening the line because it is severely behind schedule, not fully completed, and most likely out of money.
Phil Washington was brought in to lead Metro at the time the project was announced due to his vast “experience” leading the expansion of the Denver International Airport that came in ahead of schedule and under budget.
As Washington awaits confirmation to the Federal Aviation Administration, which covers airports, his appointment could be what is needed to “finish the work” unless the nomination committee rejects him due to the scandal that rocked Metro over the Peace over Violence contract.
