Metro Line extension from Los Angeles to Santa Monica opens Friday May 20,2016

The long-awaited first metro line linking Los Angeles to the sea opened amid much fanfare on Friday May 20,2016 , providing passengers a reprieve from the gridlock the city is famous for.

The USD 1.5 billion, 6.6-mile Expo Line extension from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica marks the return of commuter train service to the sea following a six-decade gap in rail operations.

The new line marks the first time since the 1950s – when the city's electric streetcars stopped operating - that Santa Monica has been accessible by rail.