Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa check out soil testing for the future rail line. Photos by Luis Inzunza

The shovel, so to speak, hit the ground this morning as part of the planning process for the Crenshaw Line light rail project. Soil testing begun in order to determine what’s literally in the dirt, since a fair amount of it will be moved as part of the construction process.

A pair of Metro Board members — County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa — also held a press conference to announce the beginning of testing. The Crenshaw Line is scheduled to open in 2018, with connections to the Expo Line, the Green Line and LAX.