Transportation officials in Los Angeles have approved the extension of one of the city's light rail lines out to Santa Monica. The new 7-mile link will connect the oceanside town to downtown L.A.
"Extending the line to Santa Monica would be an important milestone in L.A.'s ambitious rail-building campaign. It would also mark the farthest west a Metropolitan Transportation Authority line has reached, serving a section of the county notorious for traffic problems.
'Every other part of Los Angeles has been served by mass public transportation,' said L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who represents the Westside. 'This part of town, this part of the county has waited a long time for this.'"
Construction on the extension could begin later this year.
FULL STORY: Rail line to Santa Monica wins approval

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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
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