Here’s what you need to know about parking at the three new Expo Line stations

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The new parking garage at the Expo/Sepulveda Station. Photo: Metro.

The new parking garage at the Expo/Sepulveda Station. Photo: Metro.

Update, Monday, May 16, 1 p.m.: The monthly permits at 17th St/SMC Station have sold out. Permits remain for the two other stations with parking — Expo/Bundy and Expo/Sepulveda.

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As many of you know, the Metro Board of Directors approved a Parking Management Pilot Program in March. The first phase of the program will be implemented on May 22 after the Expo Line extension opens to Santa Monica. Three of the seven new stations between Culver City and Santa Monica have parking and those parking spaces will all have fees to help manage supply and the expected high demand for those spaces.

Starting May 15 at 10 a.m., you’ll be able to purchase monthly permit parking for Expo/Bundy, Expo/Sepulveda and 17th St/Santa Monica College stations. Those with permit parking passes will be able to use the 221 monthly spaces on a first-come, first-served basis between the hours of 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., Monday through Friday. After 9 a.m. the spaces become available to all.

The parking spaces at Expo/Bundy Station can be seen right of the tracks. Photo: Metro. Click to see larger.

The parking spaces at Expo/Bundy Station can be seen right of the tracks. Photo: Metro. Click to see larger.

There will also be 239 daily parking spaces at an affordable daily rate available for transit customers. At Expo/Bundy, Expo/Sepulveda and 17th St/SMC, there will be onsite attendants checking TAP cards. You can pay the attendants either when entering or exiting the parking facility.

When a parking attendant is not available, customers will be able to pay by phone or via website. During the second phase of the program — tentatively scheduled to begin in late 2016 — customers will be able to pay through upgraded parking equipment and by phone.

You’ll also be able to purchase a daily parking pass using a mobile app which will be available May 20, via phone or via website.

Here’s the breakdown of parking on the Expo Line:

•17th St/St. Monica College: 67 spaces,  of which 13 are monthly permits.

•Expo/Bundy: 217 spaces, of which 131 are monthly permits.

•Expo/Sepulveda: 260 spaces, of which 77 are monthly permits.

For those completely freaked about the lack of parking at some Expo Line stations, please consider that many Big Blue Bus routes are serving Expo stations and nearby neighborhoods. The regular BBB fare is $1.25 and transfers to Metro are 50 cents; BBB is on the TAP card system.

Also, Santa Monica already has an extensive bike lane network that gets you to many stations, as well as bike lanes in the city of Los Angeles portion of the extension. There is also a new paved bike path that parallels most of the new Expo Line extension. There are also dropoff areas near the stations and ride hailing options.

If you have questions about the parking program, you can email parking@metro.net. For more information on Metro’s parking program, click here.

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28 replies ›

  5. It’s insane that they didn’t plan for parking in the three new Santa Monica stations. 67 spots for the whole city! How do they expect West Siders to use the trains?

    • Arrive by bike, bus or foot. Also, Expo is mainly for commuters into SM and West LA in the morning and out in the afternoon.

      • Why doesn’t metro work to get a volume discount from the ridesharing services, becuz nobody wants to sit in the same train car as somebody with excessive sweating.

        • People use public transportation when they can easily get to it. A quick car ride or a quick walk is most practical. Los Angeles is one of the most sprawling cities in the world, which has been the hurdle all these years. The Expo extension seems exclusively designed for commuters and tourists going INTO Santa Monica. But it’s another lost opportunity (hello, Green Line to LAX!), when there has been zero thought to West LA residents going east. I personally live 3 miles from the nearest Expo. That’s too far to walk every morning. If there were a giant lot, like Culver City or North Hollywood, I could park and ride.
          I agree with Jaime. Increase the parking spaces!!

      • Scott, Santa Monica doesn’t have big areas near these stations where you can fit a giant parking garage. How would you feel if Metro took your house to build a garage. My guess is you would be up in arms

  7. I hope they figure out to increase the number of parking spaces as that will be the way to increase ridership. Buses is good, but it takes too long and you know it

  8. When can we buy parking passes for Norwalk? The lot fills up by 6:45 am each day.

  9. Regarding parking at the new Expo Line Phase II stations, including the three with vehicle parking spaces, I was surprised not to see mentioned in the post each station having secure bike racks and lockers for cyclists using the Expo Line system.

    • Hi,

      There will be more information about bicycle connections along the Expo Line soon! There’s a lot of info, so just trying to break it down into digestible pieces.

      Anna Chen
      Writer, The Source

    • Buried in Metro’s parking ‘partner’ website, it appears that the existing daily parking fee is $4.75. The new Expo paid lots are not yet listed.

    • Hi Rudy,

      Here is more info about the parking program, although prices may be subject to change depending on further public feedback and staff analysis. We will update if it does.

      Thanks!

      Anna Chen
      Writer, The Source

  11. What about transfers from Metro to Big Blue Bus? Are they “free”, since I would have already spent $1.75 for my ride on the Expo? From what I’ve seen, it looks like it costs $1.75 for a trip that starts on BBB ($1.25) and transfers to Metro ($0.50), and that its costs $2.25 for a trip that starts on Metro ($1.75) and transfers to BBB ($0.50).

    • It is already required that people transferring at Expo/Culver to BBB 12, R12, CC7 or CC1 purchase a Muni-transfer for $0.50. The reverse is true for PAX transferring from a Muni to an MTA bus or train.

  12. If one were to transfer from the BBB to Expo, what about transfers after that? Are they free or 50¢?

    • Hi Pat,

      Edit: apologies, my info was outdated. There are no further transfers after municipal to Metro, you will need to pay fare again if you transfer to another Metro bus or train.

      Once you transfer from muni to Metro, Metro transfers afterwards will be free within the 2 hour window.

      Thank you,

      Anna Chen
      Writer, The Source

      • Are you sure? https://www.metro.net/riding/fares/newfares-faq/#collapse-body-fares020

        “A customer transferring from other municipal carriers (e.g. Foothill Transit, Torrance Transit, Montebello Bus Lines, etc.) will need to purchase an Interagency transfer onboard that line, and submit it as payment when boarding a Metro bus or train. Interagency transfers can be issued as paper passes, “Limited Use” paper TAP cards, or loaded directly onto the customer’s plastic TAP card. Regardless of the form in which the Interagency transfer is issued, it is only good for one transfer from a municipal bus line to a Metro bus or train. Interagency transfers are treated as a 1-Ride Base Fare and are not eligible for the 2 hours of transfers on Metro. If boarding with an Interagency transfer on Metro Silver Line/Metro Express bus, the premium zone charge of 75¢ will be due upon boarding. Zone charges are not covered by Interagency transfers. Customers boarding with an Interagency transfer and planning to ride more than one Metro bus or train should p urchase another Metro fare to avoid getting a citation or fine.”

    • No formal dropoff lane but it’s not that hard to find a spot along the curb on most nearby streets to hop out. There is some street parking in the area although not a ton.

      Steve Hymon
      Editor, The Source