Not sure any fence will keep out folks! ...LIke it or not.
It's true that it may be impossible to stop all activity. I am no absolutist.
But I suspect that a seemingly abandoned or at the least unused rail line may be more attractive to unwanted guests than when construction crews get to work, or especially when light rail trains are running. One would expect at least a decrease.
There are still plenty of unmarked drainage channels.
I just found out that the high-level administration at Skanska-Rados says that they are now behind schedule because of "design problems."
Chances are that these design problems are all the design changes, bike-path design, etc. that have been taking place recently.
I really don't expect the Phase 2 to open before 2017.
Disappointing but not surprising. Very little seems to have occurred on Phase II in the last few months and very little seems to be reported on it. They have listed it being 60% designed for many months now. Now that Phase I seems to be getting close to opening with pre-revenue service, hopefully the focus will be on Phase II.
Re: Expo Line Phase 2 project developments « Reply #729 on Jan 26, 2012, 9:48pm »
Projects in built-up areas like much of Southern California take a lot of preliminary planning and surveying. It's a lot easier to make changes with paper and pixels than with steel and concrete. The "alignment" contractor for the Gold Line Foothill Extension has crews out surveying, and (we hope) finding possible sources of snags and problems before they start major construction. Remember, "nature always sides with the hidden flaw."
Joined: Feb 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 426 Location: Cheviot Hills, Los Angeles, CA
Re: Expo Line Phase 2 project developments « Reply #730 on Jan 27, 2012, 8:15am »
I've noticed that despite all the demolition in the ROW from Centinela to Pico west of Sawtelle, Quiksilver Towing hasn't budged. Wonder what the story is there and when the ROW will regain that territory as well.
Re: Expo Line Phase 2 project developments « Reply #731 on Jan 29, 2012, 11:50am »
Driving by Friday I saw that the back parts of the Schwartz Glass and Hastings Plastics lots at 17th and Colorado were being demolished, but the fronts were still intact.
It's February and still no support pile in the middle of Venice Blvd to for the new bridge superstructure to phase 2 like they all but promised...
That's taking a very long time because each step has to be approved by Caltrans, Venice Boulevard being a Caltrans state highway. Right now they are trying to have the 90% design approved and then it will move to 100% design, which will require another iteration for approval. Note that this bridge will be built by Balfour Beatty Infrastructure. Also, the overhead utility lines have to be relocated as well before the column can go in there. This will take at least a year from now.
Skanska - Rados is already behind schedule anyway (due to all the design changes taking place).
Joined: Mar 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 863 Location: Los Angeles
Re: Expo Line Phase 2 project developments « Reply #734 on Feb 3, 2012, 5:07pm »
The slowdown or almost halt in Expo Phase II design and construction is very troubling to me. It wasn't too long ago when we were talking about Phase II and the Foothill Gold Line opening in 2014 possibly. Now we are looking at 2016 as best case for both.
On another note, LA Weekly is saying there is little chance that LAX will help construct the people mover to connect with Crenshaw and the Green Line. Not sure I really believe LA Weekly reporting, but that pretty much takes the usefulness out of the Crenshaw Line if that is the case. Even if the people mover does move through, we still won't have a great airport connection, except for a lot of employees and possibly some tourists if Crenshaw ever goes to Hollywood. Otherwise, people are going to bemoan all the transfers they will have to go through to get anywhere.
Overall, I wish LAWA would spend some money here instead of dreaming up new Flyaway routes. Flyaway is nice, but a real airport connection to our transit system via people mover would be so much better. Granted we are talking some serious money for this though.
I think 2016 for Expo Phase 2 is highly optimistic if not ruled out. 2017 seems more reasonable, considering that major construction won't start for another year and testing and start-up takes almost a year.
^ I wonder if these delays have anything to do with the fact that 30/10 hasn't happened yet and the money isn't coming in sooner?
No. Both Expo Phase 2 and Foothill are well-funded, without need for 30/10.
Expo is suffering from design changes and, as usual, slow-progressing design and planning.
Foothill is suffering from legal challenges and, again, as usual, slow-progressing design and planning. It seems to be slightly ahead of and better planned than Expo and may open in 2016 once the legal hurdles are cleared and it gets going.
Re: Expo Line Phase 2 project developments « Reply #738 on Feb 4, 2012, 9:29am »
Perhaps the planners realized that rolling stock is going to be an issue in opening both of these lines. I assume that earlier plans were assuming an extension of the Breda order, which isn't going to happen, rather than an entirely new rolling stock procurement, which is going to take a while. Right now, there's enough rolling stock to operate the existing system at existing service levels, as well as Expo Phase I at 12 minute headways. They could scrape together enough trains for Expo Phase I at 6 minute headways too, but that's about it. Depending on the running time, that might be enough to run the whole Expo Line at 12 minute headways, but either way, that doesn't leave any spare cars for the Foothill Line, and doesn't leave any room for expansion if Expo proves to be an immediate success.
Perhaps the planners realized that rolling stock is going to be an issue in opening both of these lines. I assume that earlier plans were assuming an extension of the Breda order, which isn't going to happen, rather than an entirely new rolling stock procurement, which is going to take a while. Right now, there's enough rolling stock to operate the existing system at existing service levels, as well as Expo Phase I at 12 minute headways. They could scrape together enough trains for Expo Phase I at 6 minute headways too, but that's about it. Depending on the running time, that might be enough to run the whole Expo Line at 12 minute headways, but either way, that doesn't leave any spare cars for the Foothill Line, and doesn't leave any room for expansion if Expo proves to be an immediate success.
Yes, that's definitely another big problem, although rarely discussed.
Right now they are still taking bids. Afterwards a winner will be selected, vehicles will be designed, tested, and mass-produced. On top of that, add the local-jobs enforcement. Now that I think about this, we'll be lucky if Expo Phase 2 and Foothill can open in 2017, given how long it takes to design and make these cars.
Perhaps the planners realized that rolling stock is going to be an issue in opening both of these lines. I assume that earlier plans were assuming an extension of the Breda order, which isn't going to happen, rather than an entirely new rolling stock procurement, which is going to take a while. Right now, there's enough rolling stock to operate the existing system at existing service levels, as well as Expo Phase I at 12 minute headways. They could scrape together enough trains for Expo Phase I at 6 minute headways too, but that's about it. Depending on the running time, that might be enough to run the whole Expo Line at 12 minute headways, but either way, that doesn't leave any spare cars for the Foothill Line, and doesn't leave any room for expansion if Expo proves to be an immediate success.
Interestingly enough, Boston is making the same mistake.
Building an extension that will require new cars, but no car order in sight, even though orders take years.
On another note, LA Weekly is saying there is little chance that LAX will help construct the people mover to connect with Crenshaw and the Green Line. Not sure I really believe LA Weekly reporting, but that pretty much takes the usefulness out of the Crenshaw Line if that is the case. Even if the people mover does move through, we still won't have a great airport connection, except for a lot of employees and possibly some tourists if Crenshaw ever goes to Hollywood. Otherwise, people are going to bemoan all the transfers they will have to go through to get anywhere.
Overall, I wish LAWA would spend some money here instead of dreaming up new Flyaway routes. Flyaway is nice, but a real airport connection to our transit system via people mover would be so much better. Granted we are talking some serious money for this though.
FlyAway bus routes are mandated by court settlement so LAWA has to spend time and money to operate it. No one sued LAWA to make them build a peoplemover.
This is exhibit A for what happens when we turn over transit planning to NIMBYs.
I think 2016 for Expo Phase 2 is highly optimistic if not ruled out. 2017 seems more reasonable, considering that major construction won't start for another year and testing and start-up takes almost a year.
I’m sorry, but isn’t there *anything* we can do to prevent this? Some way to possibly hold Metro/the contractor/whoever’s feet to the fire so that we don’t have a repeat of Phase 1?
This project is already costing $1.5 billion. Phase 1 wound up costing us over $250 million more than what was initially projected ($640 million, unless I’m mistaken).
What is taking so long? I understand these projects are large and complicated with a lot of problems to be dealt with (NIMBYs, lawsuits, technical difficulties, etc.), but this should not be new territory for Metro or the contractor; they’ve been building rail lines for years now.
Set a date. Get working. Stick to it.
I don’t mean to come off as negative or complaining, but it’s stuff like this that really tests one’s patience as a transit rider.
I think 2016 for Expo Phase 2 is highly optimistic if not ruled out. 2017 seems more reasonable, considering that major construction won't start for another year and testing and start-up takes almost a year.
I’m sorry, but isn’t there *anything* we can do to prevent this? Some way to possibly hold Metro/the contractor/whoever’s feet to the fire so that we don’t have a repeat of Phase 1?
This project is already costing $1.5 billion. Phase 1 wound up cost us over $250 million more than what was initially projected ($640 million, unless I’m mistaken).
What is taking so long? I understand these projects are large and complicated with a lot of problems to be dealt with (NIMBYs, lawsuits, technical difficulties, etc.), but this should not be new territory for Metro or the contractor; they’ve been building rail lines for years now.
Set a date. Get working. Stick to it.
I don’t mean to come off as negative or complaining, but it’s stuff like this that really tests one’s patience as a transit rider.
I think currently it looks like it will be late 2016 or early 2017. Considering that it will also take a while to get the new LRV fleet, perhaps mid-2017 or even later is more reasonable.
I don't think the contractor has any fault this time. City of Santa Monica has a lot of fault. They have been trying to micromanage the project and they keep asking for new things all the time. In addition Expo Authority as usual do their business very slowly.
Joined: Feb 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 426 Location: Cheviot Hills, Los Angeles, CA
Re: Expo Line Phase 2 project developments « Reply #744 on Feb 8, 2012, 11:43am »
I walked Phase II yesterday, from Bagley on the east, through the tunnel to Stewart just before Cloverfield. No work was underway whatsoever other than Quicksilver Towing FINALLY being cleared out at Barrington.
"There are no buildings that have been built by chance, remote from the human society where they have grown and its needs, hopes and understandings..."
Re: Expo Line Phase 2 project developments « Reply #747 on Feb 15, 2012, 6:27am »
Welcome to the board WhiteCity! We always look forward to having new members.
You will no doubt soon be getting a PM from the moderator about the picture size limitation. Pictures posted inline should be no wider than 800 pixels. You can, of course, post links to larger pictures, or links to libraries of larger pictures.
Re: Expo Line Phase 2 project developments « Reply #748 on Feb 17, 2012, 5:25pm »
Demolition of buildings along the Phase 2 right-of-way is mostly complete*, and makes it feel like it's becoming a reality.
(*One exception is the southwest corner of 5th (corrected) and Colorado, which needs to go for the city's preferred revised terminus plan.)
Looking east from 16th and Colorado, the two-story black "creative office" building is gone, as are Hastings Plastics and Schwartz Glass on the next block east of 17th.
Added: SMDP article about use of this building at 1600 Colorado for fire department training.
Another view on the right-of-way east from 16th, with the concrete plant in the distance.
The rose nursery on the right-of-way east of Stewart is moving. (I told its owner a couple of years ago that he should think about where to move, but he still thought it was unsure whether Expo would ever be built.)
The stone store at Bundy is gone.
And the towing place at Barrington is gone.
(Not bad photos for an iPhone - my new 4S.)
(Welcome, too, WhiteCity! I'd love to post larger photos too, but 800 pixels wide is our limit here.)
Demolition of buildings along the Phase 2 right-of-way is mostly complete*, and makes it feel like it's becoming a reality.
(*One exception is the southwest corner of 4th and Colorado, which needs to go for the city's preferred revised terminus plan.)
I believe you mean 5th street. The new station alignment was just approved so it is possible that Expo has not acquired that property yet.
I am not sure of this but isn't there also a building at Bergamot Station that has to be demolished to make room for the station? I believe it is the building that houses Track 16.
This website talks about the future of the Bergamot Station and in one of the power points it talks about building D being demolished to make room for the station.
« Last Edit: Feb 17, 2012, 8:39pm by joshuanickel »
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