1976: Supervisor Baxter Ward, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles County, presents to the Southern California Rapid Transit District Board of Directors the Sunset Coast Line proposal for a countywide rail rapid transit system.

The system (map), consisting of 89 miles of aerial structure and 94 miles of at-grade structure within freeway rights-of-way, would provide heavy rail transit to 43 cities in the County south of the San Gabriel Mountains. 

It also includes special projects in the Wilshire – La Brea corridor and a downtown Central Business District distribution system, and accomodates bicycles and surfboards on rail cars.

1991:  Groundbreaking ceremony is held for the Norwalk-El Segundo Metro Green Line. 

Distinguished guests included the newly-appointed California Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing Carl D. Covitz; Congressman Glenn Anderson; Los Angeles County Supervisors Deane Dana and Kenneth Hahn; Long Beach City Councilman and LACTC Chair Ray Grabinski; Los Angeles City Councilmember Ruth Galanter and others.

The original Green Line plans called for the first fully-automated rail rapid transit line in the United States.

The project was scaled back, as legal issues involving the Century Freeway resulted in a 1979 federal consent decree allowed transportation officials to move forward with the Green Line with a proviso for more affordable housing near the freeway.