The seven-station light rail extension cost $US 1.5bn to build. It serves the districts of Palms, Cheviot Hills, Rancho Park, West Los Angeles and Sawtelle Japantown.
The extension is designed to relieve severe congestion of the I-10 freeway. LRVs will operate at 12-minute intervals during the day and at 20-minute frequencies after midnight. The trip from the centre of Los Angeles to Santa Monica will take 46 minutes.
