LA Metro to begin tests at new light-rail yard

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has delivered four light-rail cars to begin testing at its new Southwestern Yard, which is slated to begin operations in 2019.

The yard will house rail vehicles for the Crenshaw/LAX light-rail project, which is in the final stages of construction.

The four cars were pulled 4.2 miles from the Green Line's Hawthorne Yard to the Southwestern Yard, Metro officials said in a press release.

Designed and built to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, the Southwestern Yard will include bicycle parking and electric vehicle charging stations. More than 20 percent of the construction materials consist of recycled content, agency officials said.

The yard will have room for storing 56 light-rail vehicles. It includes a main shop, rail vehicle wash area, cleaning platform, material storage building, wheel truing shop and a paint and body shop.

The yard also includes provisions for future expansion, Metro officials said.