Community Meetings for Subway to the Sea

Looking to gather community support for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's desire to build a subway to the sea, a nonprofit transit group is sponsoring a series of outreach meetings that begin Tuesday, May 22.

Southern California Transit Advocates will hold its first meeting to begin advocacy for an extension of the Purple Line from 6-8 p.m. at Westwood Presbyterian Church, 10822 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood.

At this time, Metro does not have any definite plans for the subway, but the nonprofit wants to raise awareness of the possible project and to begin mobilizing residents to support it, said Kymberleigh Richards, public and legislative affairs director of the Los Angeles-based nonprofit.

The group will play host to four additional outreach meetings planned for Hancock Park, Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica plus an informational meeting this fall at UCLA. Dates for those meetings have not yet been scheduled.

Using a $4,000 grant from the American Public Transportation Assn., the group is teaching residents about advocacy and public lobbying for public transit.