Celebration Will Mark 1st Anniversary

Children and commuters alike will celebrate the first anniversary of the Metro Rail Blue Line, the first link in a 300-mile Metro system of trains, car pools and buses designed to avoid gridlock as Los Angeles enters the 21st Century.

Festivities begin at noon today with a children’s party at the Long Beach Promenade, where marionettes and music will introduce “commuters of the future” to what is described as the future way of commuting.

The party is open to the public and guests are asked to arrive at the Transit Mall station by train. Parking at the system’s Willow station in North Long Beach is free.

Cake will be given to commuters Monday morning as they step off trains at the five busiest Blue Line stations: 7th and Flower, Pico and Flower, Florence, Imperial and Compton. Besides cake--which law prohibits from being eaten inside stations--the RTD will hand out commemorative pins.

The festivities end Monday afternoon at Citicorp Plaza, near the 7th and Flower station in downtown Los Angeles, with a concert and prizes for Blue Line ticket-holders.