K (Crenshaw) Line Quick History and First Impression: Expo/Crenshaw, Leimert Park, and MLK stations

Hey guys, here's a look at the new Crenshaw K Line in South Los Angeles. This video covers a quick history behind rails on Crenshaw, what it's like riding the train, and it's perceived impact within the South LA neighborhoods. Currently 7 stops are open along the K-Line's 8.5 mile path. It spans through South LA, Downtown Inglewood, and Westchester. The total cost is over $2 billion.
Construction for the K-Line on Crenshaw started in 2014 after being approved by the FTA in 2012. Over the last 8 years, the K Line has spurred development on Crenshaw. This can be seen as both good and bad. Earlier this week I found this interesting article on the LA Times about residents op[inions on Los Angeles Metro's new light rail train on Crenshaw: www.latimes.com/california/st...
The K-Line is partially open, and won't fully connect to the LAX people mover and the C (Green) Line until at least 2024.
This video focuses on three of the K Line's stations: Exposition and Crenshaw station, Leimert Park Station, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Station.
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[@kilodeltaeight]

At least at the Expo Line connection, LADOT is planning to install some intersection improvements soon-ish that will make the connection better, as well as improve community connectivity around the station - both of which will help a lot. Plus, eventually, the K Line is going north to connect to the D line and even the B line and Hollywood Bowl…eventually.

[@mariusfacktor3597]

Thank you for this! I transferred from the Expo Line to K Line yesterday and couldn't believe you had to cross a 6 lane highway (Crenshaw) just to get to your next platform. It was unbelievable to me that they spent $2.1B for a light rail line only to give priority to cars right outside the station. I'm glad to hear they will fix this!

[@1hall]

would love to see a station by the hollywood bowl, and any more in hollywood. i can’t drive and I live and work around here and despite the red line running through the area I’ve wanted there to be more metro rail stations here ever since I was a kid.

[@ywc99411]

@@mariusfacktor3597 At first, I thought more people are going to use Metro rail when the K line extend to the LAX/Metro station and connect with the APM(Automated People Mover). But with this kind of transfer at Expo/Crenshaw, I really don't see there is going to be a huge increase in ridership. What kind of plane passengers would want to transfer like this with couple luggage?

[@tommaddux7186]

Someone commented that "we're almost as good as the 50's". Better I think. I rode the yellow cars many times since my Mom worked at the May Company Crenshaw at Santa Barbara, (MLK). The problem was that you waited in a sort of box painted on the street, out in the middle. Oncoming traffic just had a couple of bumps on the traffic end but not a real barrier. Now and then a few folks got hit. We lived at Slauson and 4th Avenue. I remember the big liquor store on the NE corner of 54th was a Thrifty's Drug Store. If you went down Slauson to Van Ness there was a big playground where I went on Halloween night to watch the huge bonfire they built.

[@tim333y7]

Good video, but one mistake at the end: new apartments dont displace people, not enough new apartments do

[@dfair]

They already announced plans for the malls it’s going to be an outdoor grove type feel that extends to the station

[@FlyingOverTr0ut]

Great video and channel. I've been in LA for three years and there's so much I don't know about it. And metro can't expand quickly enough. It's a lifesaver for me and so many others.

[@Jay-ov8oz]

Wow that last bit of info regarding rental units was very eye opening. Not to be too cynical but of course that’s a reason to have something like a new transit line

[@paulabrown-mcadams1640]

I agree with your report on the Chrenshaw mall. I often wonder what will become of this historic building. Will it become an apartment complex or will it be torn down to build something new? Your video is insightful and shows a light on South LA. Thank you for your interest in South Los Angeles.

[@mynameisdub6232]

Great and informative as usual.

[@SouthLARecap]

Thanks so much, My Name is Dub! Hope you have a good idea about the K Line (if you haven’t already taken it)

[@gilval808]

The MLK Crenshaw station is kinda disappointing I'm also wondering myself why didn't Metro put an escalator and a elevator to take you directly into the mall instead of going up to the street surface and going around towards the back of the mall to enter. They put an elevator at the 7th Street Metro center to get easy access to Macy's the block plaza why didn't they do the same here at MLK Crenshaw station. Hopefully passengers will put in suggestions to metro in making easy access to enter in the Crenshaw Mall. Now since the k line has officially open for operations the main question now is safety will there be a lot of LAPD law enforcements patrolling the stations and will these trains be cleaned at the last station and will law enforcement officers keep the homeless from sleeping on the train by clearing out the train at the end. Good video always a pleasure.

[@kilodeltaeight]

At least in the case of The Bloc, the connections were installed during renovations well after the station opened, and were paid for by the developer. Indeed, they were required to do so, IIRC, as part of the process of getting their permits. With Crenshaw Plaza, the property owner would need to pay to install the extra entrance, or at least agree to it, and the existing buildings would need to be modified to allow for one, which would also impact whoever is leasing the affected space. That may not have been possible (who knows if there’s even a basement in that spot). It may happen eventually when the site is renovated or re-developed, but I doubt it will occur before then.

[@PR3DATORREAL]

once the lax stop oppens this will be my daily ride to work im hyped

[@rhondawise869]

I always come back and watch your videos and I met you and your Dad in 2016 at Copy City. Do a story on Saint Mary's Academy.

[@grego5284]

Look's like a great way to travel. If I still lived in Los Angeles, I would definitely take advantage of. 😎

[@SouthLARecap]

It’s definitely a fun ride. Eventually, if you come back to visit, you’ll be able to catch it from LAX!

[@mastonharris9787]

By the way great video.

[@vickiehurt2665]

I’ve only taken this line twice. I was disappointed because it doesn’t connect with the C Line or LAX stations yet. I think it should’ve waited to open fully next year!

[@CharlesBronsun]

Crazy change.

[@chrishelbling3879]

So, we're almost back as good as in the 1950s?

[@SouthLARecap]

Hah! 50s still had better service (at least from the maps) lol

[@ronnyrueda5926]

Metro left a knockout panel north of the shell gas station for a second entrance. Hopefully the 2nd entrance gets built along with the Crenshaw crossing project.

[@BirbarianHomeGuard]

One wonders if modern rail transit is about actually moving people or just being a catalyst for gentrification

[@wilsonmar5140]

I work for Metro

[@mariusfacktor3597]

I appreciate what you do

[@wilsonmar5140]

I work for Metro 17 yrs

[@troysierra5228]

@@wilsonmar5140 When will the last segment K line connection to C line open. All their information has is 2024. But what month???

[@Absolute_Zero7]

The at grade median segment is disappointing/annoying. Especially when we consider that the entire C line (which this line will interline with) is fully grade separated, it's annoying that there is this .88mi long segment where the train is at the whim of surface traffic lights.

[@ywc99411]

Why can't they build the Expo/Crenshaw station for K line just like 7th/Metro. one level for K, and one level for E? and maybe that parking structure on the top?

[@SouthLARecap]

There was a lot of community pushback with the K-Line, and budgetary restraints probably prevented it. Still, I agree, it’s really inefficient and the parking structure is a distance away from both lines.

[@diegochavez56duece]

Malls are dying out brotha..I think that can be a reason

[@1dognight166]

Need to bring back the fare inspectors , to Metro . At least, back then criminal activity was to a minimum.

[@sweetmapleleafs]

K-Line & its new gentrification stations. wow

[@robleeg]

Same thing happening in Atlanta. I was in LA 6 months

[@mastonharris9787]

Sad part about it is, all the apartments going up and none of the blacks folks such myself can't afford to live there. 😡 I guess thay want there money back as soon as possible ,so I would think Caucasian folks will be able to afford the rent so thay will get there money back sooner than later.

[@wilsonmar5140]

People can not afford rent

[@mariusfacktor3597]

They need to upzone the shit out of South LA to make it affordable again.

[@Ned_Slanders]

They intentionally evaded the mall because they don’t actually want to stimulate the commerce there.

[@balthazarbratt8194]

The trains on Metro are sketchy AF. The trains and buses feel like a rolling homeless shelter. Bums and drug addicts have free reign of the place. It actually feels more sketchy then when I rode them daily in the 90s. Good luck.

[@SouthLARecap]

I get this. And I think this is very true on the weekends. But I will say that during rush hour there are far fewer sketchy incidents occurring on the trains. There was a ton of security at the train station, but it would be worth riding the train maybe one month after its opening to see how well Metro takes care of it

[@balthazarbratt8194]

@@SouthLARecapYeah I'm sure there is a lot of security right now but once the hoopla wears off I'm assuming it will be just like the Blue line , red line, orange line, etc.

[@jesualdocortez6426]

So advocate for rent control, affordable housing, more lines. Big reason they on the street is cus they’re evicted. That’s why ares with higher rent see higher homelessness go figure