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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 16, 2009 18:59:14 GMT -8
Me too metrocenter! I was blown away by the crowds!! I've been expecting that this line will not do well, but perhaps I underestimated its popularity. I hope to be proven wrong! I think that I was too early for the passes as well. I arrived at LAUS at 0800 and spent the large majority of my time until 1:00 pm taking pictures with a couple of other railfans.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 16, 2009 19:02:06 GMT -8
snuffy were you on the first "revenue" run as well?
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 16, 2009 19:08:12 GMT -8
The intersection at 1st and Indiana is very bad. They didn't even add the warning paint that's there now until a few weeks ago and I see cars stopped on the tracks fairly often. Had the traffic cop not been there everyone would have seen just how bad it is.
And Browne's comments at Streetsblog regarding pedestrian crossings was spot on. It takes several minutes to traverse the crossings around Atlantic. The light cycles are maybe 3 minutes long. Crossing two intersections takes maybe 7 minutes (I didn't time it, but it felt really long). It's unacceptable.
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snuffy
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by snuffy on Nov 16, 2009 19:17:04 GMT -8
snuffy were you on the first "revenue" run as well? I was hoping to but I did not make it until 5AM train. btw, While I was on it's way to go home, I noticed Gold Line yard was pretty much empty! I only spotted one car in the yard! I posted a couple of shots from the opening day at WCRF if anyone interested to see them. www.westcoastrailforums.com/view_topic.php?id=3240&forum_id=19
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Post by bobdavis on Nov 16, 2009 19:49:20 GMT -8
Unlike the opening of the original, Gold Line, I did not get up at O-dark-30 to ride the first revenue run out of East Pasadena. I did take a ride during mid-day and was glad I avoided yesterday's crowds (having spent Sunday at OERM helping our "Day out with Thomas [the Tank Engine]" event). Going toward Atlantic, passenger loading was relatively light; going back to Pasadena the train was well-filled. One man sitting behind me on the northbound trip was taking his children on their first train ride. When we were in downtown Pasadena he asked if we had passed Colorado Blvd.; since we were near Memorial Park, I advised him that we just went under it and that the tunnel was built (in part) so the Rose Parade could run without interference. At two of the stations, I felt like an unofficial "Metro Ambassador", explaining the ticket system and machines to new riders. At LA Union Station, I did a brief stopover to get photos of the Red Line turnstiles, a Metrolink locomotive and Gold Line trains coming down the ramp where once track blocks and red flags prevented passage.
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Post by darrell on Nov 16, 2009 21:29:23 GMT -8
Love your dawn photos, Snuffy!
They also reinforce that these trains belong above ground where people can see them!
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Post by Jason Saunders on Nov 17, 2009 9:09:43 GMT -8
You did a great job documenting the inaugural ride of the Eastside Extension. I noticed how you kept the camera relatively steady and had good position thoughout. Good job at editing too. Perhaps train geeks fifty years from now will look back at your footage with keen interest. Cheers, J
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 17, 2009 22:39:24 GMT -8
Great videos, snuffy, thank you for all the effort.
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Post by Justin Walker on Nov 17, 2009 23:48:10 GMT -8
Correct. I was among about 15 people that rode the first train out of Union Station at 3:40am. It also carried it's first bike passenger at that time. I don't imagine there were many riders on the line for the next several hours, though... Very cool!! No way that I was making that trip without knowing for sure, but I don't know that I would have made it up there that early even if I had known. Did you get any pics? I'll post mine later. Sure thing; here are some of my pics from the first public run of an Eastside Extension train. At 3:40am, both a train to Pasadena and East LA were scheduled to depart Union Station. The Pasadena-bound train arrived on Track 2 first: Looking southward, a clear signal awaits the soon-to-arrive East LA-bound train. You can see a small group of people waiting for the special train: Finally, the special East LA train itself rolls in on Track 1. You can't make out the "Atlantic" headsign in this picture, but it was a nice sight: Both trains rolled out at exactly 3:40am. Here is a pic from onboard the train. In the blue hat was Dave Puglisi of Metro, overseeing the first run. He answered questions and pointed out interesting sights: We made it out to Atlantic by 4:01am. To the right, you can see a spare train already positioned on one of the Atlantic tail tracks, waiting to fill in for any disabled trains that day: Finally, here is the train sitting at Atlantic before its return run to Union Station. I rode that train back and hopped off along the way to see the subway stations. The guards at those stations didn't believe the line was open so early, despite seeing me emerging from station portals...
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Post by spokker on Nov 18, 2009 11:26:59 GMT -8
Can someone seriously tell me what the problem with 3rd and Indiana is? They say it's a blind corner that is close to a school. It being a blind corner is irrelevant if you simply follow the directions of the flashing red lights and bells. The video I am looking at for reference is www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTpkCKmTYdQ at 1:18. Jaywalkers around the corner might get hit, but I don't see how any of this is confusing. Kids are good at red light/green light. Here, all they have to do is watch for red light!
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Post by metrocenter on Nov 18, 2009 11:57:49 GMT -8
Can someone seriously tell me what the problem with 3rd and Indiana is? In my assessment, the intersection is not unsafe, for pedestrians or for drivers. However, I do think it is somewhat non-standard and therefore can cause confusion. When I say "non-standard", I mean the fact that drivers are not supposed to pull up to the intersection, as they do elsewhere, and as they used at this location to before the Gold Line opened. Rather, drivers are supposed to stop well behind the intersection, at the line painted on the ground. For the motorists, there is the line painted on the ground, as well as signs pointing to the line. There are also traffic lights indicating stop vs. go. This provides all the necessary information for drivers who are paying attention. I do think there are some issues with visibility, in my opinion, as well as sign overload. But as long as you are paying attention, you should be able to figure it out. All I'm saying is the intersection would benefit from some gates. 99.8% of us don't need the gates. But the last thing I would want is for the .2% who can't read signs or follow traffic rules to (a) block the train, causing unnecessary train delays, or (b) collide with the train, contributing unfairly to a public perception of an unsafe rail line.
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Post by spokker on Nov 18, 2009 14:23:06 GMT -8
They could throw up some crossing gates, but I don't get where the people who think it's a death trap are coming from.
As far as confusing intersections go, I don't know how drivers who would be confused by the Gold Line Eastside Extension survive on the rest of our roads and highways.
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Post by metrocenter on Nov 18, 2009 18:39:01 GMT -8
Tonight during rush hour, I rode from Soto to Chinatown and back. Ridership south/east of LAUS was very low: ~20 riders per car. LAUS to Little Tokyo was exactly three minutes. Not speedy but not horribly slow either.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 18, 2009 20:37:56 GMT -8
They could throw up some crossing gates, but I don't get where the people who think it's a death trap are coming from. As far as confusing intersections go, I don't know how drivers who would be confused by the Gold Line Eastside Extension survive on the rest of our roads and highways. IMO the main problem is that the intersection is non-standard and has two traffic lights back to back. If people stop in between the two they are stopping on the train tracks. If traffic is backed up (as it does now because of the trains) cars can get caught between the lights. The second light on the far side of the tracks is crazy. If someone finds themselves on the tracks for whatever reason it doesn't make sense to have a traffic light telling them to stop where they are. Get rid of the second light and/or put up gates.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 18, 2009 20:44:21 GMT -8
Thanks for the pics Justin! I wish that I had known for sure what time the first run would be. Did you have inside info? One of the press releases from Metro (or maybe it was the Source) stated that the first run would be at 0900. I thought that was unlikely, but I wasn't going to be there at 0340 unless I was sure.
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Post by spokker on Nov 18, 2009 21:03:14 GMT -8
IMO the main problem is that the intersection is non-standard and has two traffic lights back to back. If people stop in between the two they are stopping on the train tracks. If traffic is backed up (as it does now because of the trains) cars can get caught between the lights. The same principle behind "Do not block the intersection" applies here. You have to scan ahead and figure out where you're going to end up. If you get caught in the intersection, you have to trust that cross traffic is paying attention and not hit you. However, people probably won't get hit in their cars at that intersection. As designed, the line is slow, so the operator will be able to slow down. However, as designed, the line is not unsafe, as trains will be able to stop if someone gets stuck (like when CurbedLA got stuck on the tracks). It isn't someone getting stuck on the tracks when a 79 MPH Amtrak train is barreling down on them. It's a light rail train that has to stop for traffic anyway.
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Post by spokker on Nov 18, 2009 22:24:24 GMT -8
A lot of people are talking about how the Gold Line Eastside extension will make drivers and pedestrians "confused" and that people will make mistakes (like not paying attention?) and that's part of why it's unsafe.
I can't help but think of my own experiences. On school days I walk a mile from the bus stop to my house since a particular bus I could use doesn't have frequent headways late at night. If I am confused or not paying attention, my walk home could become tragic. However, I employ defensive walking, if such a thing could be said. I, for example, make eye contact with a driver making a right hand turn before stepping out into the crosswalk. I take the extra effort to walk to the crosswalk instead of jaywalking.
If I do get confused or break a law and put my life in danger and get hit, guess what, no one cares. As long as the driver stops and was not drinking, they will not be charged with a crime or even cited. I will be dead and nobody will care. There is no group called FixOrangeCountyStreets to rabble-rouse on my behalf. In fact, they will ask, "Why wasn't he paying attention?" or "GOOD ANOTHER DEAD ILLEGAL" when they print my name on the OCRegister web site.
However, if a train hit me in East LA or South LA because I was confused or breaking the law, oh boy, I would be a martyr! It doesn't make much sense to me.
By the way, if you are suicidal go jump in front of a train in East LA and make it look like an accident. I guarantee you'll be remembered forever, as Goodmon's case study.
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Post by Justin Walker on Nov 18, 2009 23:28:02 GMT -8
Thanks for the pics Justin! I wish that I had known for sure what time the first run would be. Did you have inside info? One of the press releases from Metro (or maybe it was the Source) stated that the first run would be at 0900. I thought that was unlikely, but I wasn't going to be there at 0340 unless I was sure. No, I personally didn't have any inside info, although some of the others there did. For me it was a complete gamble and it easily could have been a very disappointing 3am trip to Union Station.
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Post by metrocenter on Nov 19, 2009 6:36:33 GMT -8
spokker, you're missing my point. I am not defending idiocy. And I don't think those intersections are unsafe. I do think they 1st/Indiana is moderately complicated, more so than Washington Blvd. But it's not unsafe. And you're right: in the end, people do need to take responsibility for their own safety, and obey traffic laws. If they do those things, they will have no problems at 1st/Indiana.
All I am saying is that, if a fairly cheap solution like crossing gates would prevent train delays and bad publicity, then it's worth it.
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Post by kenalpern on Nov 19, 2009 7:03:55 GMT -8
Unfortunately, we do live in a society where common sense and responsibility for one's own actions appear to be extinct. Furthermore, lawyers abound and this is a very new concept to Eastsiders who've not had rail for decades.
Signage, warnings, education, etc. should be employed aplenty to make sure that even the most clueless are aware that things have CHANGED.
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Post by masonite on Nov 19, 2009 16:46:03 GMT -8
Tonight during rush hour, I rode from Soto to Chinatown and back. Ridership south/east of LAUS was very low: ~20 riders per car. LAUS to Little Tokyo was exactly three minutes. Not speedy but not horribly slow either. Well, that was my fear that this extension wouldn't be an instant hit. I think we'll have to wait until Jan. ridership figures are published to get an indication as to how it is doing since Dec. is really an odd month out of the year. The fencing looks like it will start getting added to the line in Jan. and according to the MTA the software to upgrade the speed on the Little Tokyo to Union Station section will be in place by the end of next week. Hopefully, once that fencing is up, they will speed up the trains. However, even with this extension I am expecting the Gold Line to still be our poorest performing line with ridership below the Green Line for quite some time. Looks like Metro is putting out a new alternative for the Regional Connector to deal with the Little Tokyo issue. thesource.metro.net/2009/11/19/new-regional-connector-concept-proposed-for-1st-and-alameda-intersection/#more-1969
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Post by spokker on Nov 21, 2009 22:59:07 GMT -8
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Post by James Fujita on Nov 26, 2009 15:42:06 GMT -8
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I was doing a Google search for information on Little Tokyo and the Regional Connector and I stumbled upon this funny little blog about exploring Little Tokyo and Mariachi Plaza using the GLEE. It's pretty good stuff, ridiculously accurate on Japanese cuteness syndrome and gives a nice non-transit nerd perspective on exploring L.A.'s newest rail line.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Mar 21, 2012 18:27:11 GMT -8
My congratulations go to everyone who will frequent this line and, of course, all of us rail advocates. Looking at these pictures, I can't help but imagine this is the Expo Line. Well, only twelve months are left for that opening! You can count on me to dare the crowds for that one. And, please, keep more opening-day pictures coming... I remember when we all thought that Expo would open by the end of 2010 and were hoping they might find a way to open earlier!
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Post by gatewaygent on Mar 21, 2012 21:56:10 GMT -8
Oh gawd, is this tragic extension still in the works? I mean, I'm glad the Eastside is getting some "love" even if this ridiculous extension comes to fruition. However, wouldn't a parallel line on Olympic Bl. that originates at the Blue/Expo Line Pico Station and terminated at Montebello Bl./Olympic Bl. accomplish so much more?
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Post by matthewb on Mar 22, 2012 7:24:09 GMT -8
Oh gawd, is this tragic extension still in the works? I mean, I'm glad the Eastside is getting some "love" even if this ridiculous extension comes to fruition. However, wouldn't a parallel line on Olympic Bl. that originates at the Blue/Expo Line Pico Station and terminated at Montebello Bl./Olympic Bl. accomplish so much more? I think you're getting mixed up. bluelineshawn was talking about the Expo line, which is an extension to the west that is due to open to Culver City soon. I think the general consensus is that Whittier Blvd would be a good street for a rail extension through East LA, but that doesn't look likely soon. The Gold line through East LA has been open for a couple years now and has reasonable ridership.
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Post by James Fujita on Mar 22, 2012 17:58:09 GMT -8
we seem to have resurrected an old thread, but I have to say the Eastside Extension WAS worth the effort. I mostly just use the Union Station-to-Little Tokyo segment, but I can see that ridership is going to go up. (At least until the Regional Connector disrupts service. I'm hoping the disruption isn't too bad.)
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Post by gatewaygent on Mar 22, 2012 20:17:20 GMT -8
Oops! Gotta pay more attention. If it's dead and buried, may it remain as such! This awful extension south on Garfield, east on Washington is a waste. And yes, a Purple Line extension east under Whittier Bl., to complement the impending Westside Purple Line extension (barring further whining from a certain zip code), would be ideal.
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