Preview L.A.'s New Crenshaw Light Rail Line, Opening in 2020

"Test trains are running on the Crenshaw/LAX Line, signaling progress for the brand-new rail line, expected to open next year," writes Elijah Chiland.

"The $2.1 billion train line will pass through parts of South LA and the South Bay, providing a link between the existing E (formerly Expo) and Green lines. It will also bring riders to within a short shuttle ride of LAX," adds Chiland.

The article goes in-depth on the details of the new line, which is planned to expand farther north in a separate, future phase. The line will cut through neighborhoods like Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, Hyde Park, and Westchester, as well as the city of Inglewood—some of which are former streetcar suburbs, but all have been sorely lacking rail transit.

Given the potential for the train to bring train to some of the historically Black neighborhoods along the route, "community leaders are planning a large open-air museum called Destination Crenshaw running along the street-level tracks between 48th and 60th streets. Metro will kick in at least $15 million to fund construction of a small park at the intersection of Crenshaw and Leimert boulevards, which will be incorporated into the project," according to Chiland.