By Lookout Staff

February 5, 2010 -- The Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority unanimously approved a $1.5 billion plan Thursday to bring the Expo light rail line to Santa Monica.

The 6 to 0 vote gives the greenlight to phase 2 of the project, which will extend the line from Culver City to a terminal in Downtown Santa Monica. Construction of the first phase of the project, which runs from downtown to Culver City, is underway and the line is expected to open next year.

Dozens of opponents testified against the project, saying the line -- which will run most of the way at street level -- would increase noise and create traffic hazards. Supporters countered that the line would relieve traffic and pollution in the notoriously congested Westside.

Construction of phase two of the line -- which will end at the corner of 4th Street and Colorado Avenue -- is expected to start later this year.

"Every other part of Los Angeles has been served by mass public transportation," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who represents the Westside. "This part of town, this part of the county has waited a long time for this."

Transportation officials said the money to build the line will come from State and local funds.

But officials cautioned that the total funding is not a done deal due the State budget crisis and lower-than-expected sales tax revenues.

When completed, the Expo line would follow the old red car route into Santa Monica, reaching the end of the line on tracks running down Colorado Avenue.

The trains -- which would continue along Colorado Avenue after making a stop at Bergamot Station -- could begin rolling in as early as 2015, carrying between 200 and 400 passengers to the terminal slated to go on the Sears Automotive site Downtown.