|
Post by darrell on Oct 20, 2014 14:05:21 GMT -8
Revisiting this conversation from August... The new lanes on Overland Avenue were set down over the weekend. Final count: EIGHT lanes : Six dedicated to thru traffic, One dedicated for turning, and One for parking -- Posted speed limit is 35 mph --not that anyone is hindered by that on road designed to get as many cars across the tracks as quickly as possible before the gates go down. The signals at the tracks won't be operating for many, many months until then the place is a speedway. Dissapointing to see a neighborhood street get this kind of treatment and hard to imagine this is a more satisfying "aesthetic impact" than a bridge would have been. View AttachmentAt least they left the west side curb, parkway, and street trees alone. I was concerned that they'd be gone to move the curb the short distance the City of L.A. required for its lane-width standard, but they did it all on the east side.
|
|
f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
|
Post by f ron on Oct 20, 2014 14:17:22 GMT -8
Revisiting this conversation from August... The new lanes on Overland Avenue were set down over the weekend. Final count: EIGHT lanes : Six dedicated to thru traffic, One dedicated for turning, and One for parking -- Posted speed limit is 35 mph --not that anyone is hindered by that on road designed to get as many cars across the tracks as quickly as possible before the gates go down. The signals at the tracks won't be operating for many, many months until then the place is a speedway. Dissapointing to see a neighborhood street get this kind of treatment and hard to imagine this is a more satisfying "aesthetic impact" than a bridge would have been. View AttachmentAt least they left the west side curb, parkway, and street trees alone. I was concerned that they'd be gone to move the curb the short distance the City of L.A. required for its lane-width standard, but they did it all on the east side. The ugliest of it takes place at the intersection of Overland and Northvale. They've created an environment where --so long as the lights are green-- cars can hit some really high speeds, especially at non-peak hours (which there are about 21 in a given day). The turn onto Northvale has been opend up so that a vehicle needn't slow down as much to take the turn. There's a cross walk just after the turn which the moving vehicle cannot see until it's on top of it. If you're in that crosswalk when that happens it's pretty scary stuff. I think someone is going to get hurt at that turn or worse. Oh, that's precisely where the bike path lets out. Yes, it's nice to see the parkway remain on the other side. There will apparently be trees planted on the east side. No parkway of course.
|
|
|
Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Nov 9, 2014 3:22:10 GMT -8
How did we miss this? Back on October 20:
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Nov 9, 2014 11:03:45 GMT -8
I've been wondering how that hole happened! It's hard to imagine an accident happening here and sending a car through the fence but some LA drivers are creatively bad. It's interesting that the SUV and pickup both narrowly avoided the pole with the traffic camera and tree, despite a car can barely fit between them. There is only damage in the fence and minimal damage in landscaping.
In fact, there have been / are quite a few of these fence holes along the Expo Line. People drive 55 MPH despite the posted 35 MPH speed limit and/or use their smartphones while they drive. There is quite a big hole in the extra-extra-10-ft-tall fence at Harvard Ave in front of Foshay School, which was supposed to keep the kids from climbing over it instead of walking through the tunnel. It's an irony in the face of people who regard streets and cars safer than rail tracks and trains. That irony also appeared as a very sad tragedy at Venice/Robertson last week.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Nov 13, 2014 10:05:11 GMT -8
Preparations for tonight's USC football game, showing one of the long lines for the Expo Train at Vermont Avenue.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Nov 13, 2014 21:17:54 GMT -8
Parking enforcement and tow trucks have been having a blast around USC tonight. This BMW and Jeep are just a couple of many being towed away. Their occupants won't be happy when they get back to say the least. Next time -- take the Expo Line.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Nov 18, 2014 12:06:14 GMT -8
This morning some 18-wheeler stalled on the 11th Avenue crossing and broke at least one of the quad at-grade-crossing gates. Trains were delayed. 11th Avenue is used by trucks a lot, as there is a milk factory at the intersection as well some truck yard and other businesses and the Crenshaw Station construction nearby.
Let's see how long it will take them to replace the gate(s).
|
|
|
Post by davebowman on Dec 1, 2014 15:13:57 GMT -8
I take the Expo Line once a year to go to a USC football game, and I must say it was a breeze this past Saturday going to and from the Coliseum--it probably helped that the game was a blowout win for the Trojans . My question is: after the game there were temporary queues set up along the boulevard on the south side of Exposition, one for Expo Line EB and one for Expo Line WB, and there were temporary TAP readers set up at the beginning of the lines and Metro staff there to make sure we all tapped. Then there were also staff at the permanent TAP readers on the WB platform--for which I don't blame them, because some confused people (probably ND fans) jumped into the line while crossing Exposition--and so we tapped again. Does this mean we were charged twice?
|
|
|
Post by mattapoisett on Dec 2, 2014 9:39:00 GMT -8
Quite possibly not. If you had a pass of any sort It would not matter how many times you tapped. If you just had cash Value, the TAP Card gets locked out after each successful tap for a short time. I think it is 10 minutes. This is so cards don't accidentally get charged twice or so multiple people don't use the same pass to get through the gates. The validators have a beep & a buzz. If you hear the beep when you tap, the transaction was successful, if it buzzes, it was not. If your card is registered via taptogo.net, you can see the card's activity and it will show you if there are erroneous charges on the card. I take the Expo Line once a year to go to a USC football game, and I must say it was a breeze this past Saturday going to and from the Coliseum--it probably helped that the game was a blowout win for the Trojans . My question is: after the game there were temporary queues set up along the boulevard on the south side of Exposition, one for Expo Line EB and one for Expo Line WB, and there were temporary TAP readers set up at the beginning of the lines and Metro staff there to make sure we all tapped. Then there were also staff at the permanent TAP readers on the WB platform--for which I don't blame them, because some confused people (probably ND fans) jumped into the line while crossing Exposition--and so we tapped again. Does this mean we were charged twice?
|
|
|
Post by bzcat on Dec 2, 2014 11:21:48 GMT -8
No you did not get charge twice. At mattapoisett mentioned, it freezes out after the first tap for a few minutes. But even if for some reason, you card was not locked out after the first tap, the 2nd tap would be free anyway since the fare change took place You can tap as many times on Metro rail as you want within 2 hours - the direction of travel restriction doesn't apply on rail, only on buses (I'm sure this is a programming problem that will be fixed eventually).
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jan 30, 2015 11:42:15 GMT -8
Stray dog near the Expo/Vermont Station:
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Feb 4, 2015 12:20:44 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Feb 6, 2015 14:25:27 GMT -8
Expo Park / USC Station.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Feb 11, 2015 12:43:44 GMT -8
While in general I think fare inspectors should fine those traveling without proper fare, this morning I got really annoyed by them and exchanged a few words when they removed a young disabled homeless woman traveling with her little pet cat in her backpack from the train. She wasn't one of those pan handlers or in poor hygiene. Why? Many teenagers and school kids either don't have tap cards or simply don't tap them. They get excused. Many others get excused for one reason or another. The best one I've witnessed: Fare inspector: "Sir, this card is reported stolen. Please don't use it next time." Man: "Sure..." There is no common sense.
|
|
|
Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Mar 24, 2015 4:14:23 GMT -8
Not sure how recent this is:
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 24, 2015 11:06:46 GMT -8
This is one of the unpleasant things about public transit. It could happen to anyone. It's best not to interact with any people who look even remotely not normal. If someone talks to you, simply ignore to avoid situations like this, unless they are honestly asking for transit connections etc. There are a lot of unpleasant people like that on trains and buses.
|
|
|
Post by johanragle on Mar 24, 2015 13:47:46 GMT -8
Or to crib a line from Madagascar:
"Smile and nod, boys. Smile and nod."
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 27, 2015 12:31:37 GMT -8
I am worried that Expo Line will run into a lot of problems at the Bagley Avenue crossing. This is a blind crossing next to a freeway bridge and it's very unclear for many average LA drivers where to stop. I had always been worried about this crossing before even Phase 2 was in works. Currently, many drivers stop under the gates or on the tracks:
|
|
|
Post by johanragle on Mar 27, 2015 12:56:13 GMT -8
Aaaaaaaand that's why at-grade crossings with cars are a bad idea.
|
|
|
Post by tramfan on Mar 27, 2015 13:07:58 GMT -8
It's the confusing LA or CA custom to place traffic lights on the other side of intersections instead of next to the line where you have to stop.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 27, 2015 13:15:00 GMT -8
It's the confusing LA or CA custom to place traffic lights on the other side of intersections instead of next to the line where you have to stop. Ditto on that one. I was always curious how they would place the lights here to eliminate problems with the gates or tracks being blocked. I expected lights both before the tracks and after the intersection. To my dismay, they gave no thought to it, and the end result is an invitation for the drivers to stop on the tracks.
|
|
|
Post by tramfan on Mar 27, 2015 13:23:30 GMT -8
Tomorrow I will do my weekly photo run for Dwight and I will include the now also working traffic lights at Overland; see if the same problem exists there. This might be a major traffic design flaw...
|
|
|
Post by davebowman on Mar 27, 2015 13:42:16 GMT -8
I am worried about the 26th St. crossing just south of Olympic. I pass through there northbound every night, and with the gates up cars stop on the tracks to get as close to Olympic as possible. If the gates only come down when a train is approaching, I guarantee you that with a long three-way signal there will be cars stopped on the tracks waiting for the light to change. In fact I'm considering avoiding that intersection altogether once Phase 2 opens, and using Cloverfield instead. The only way I can see it working safely is if the default position for the gates is down, and they only come up when there is a green light for NB traffic on 26th.
|
|
|
Post by culvercitylocke on Mar 27, 2015 22:06:25 GMT -8
I am worried about the 26th St. crossing just south of Olympic. I pass through there northbound every night, and with the gates up cars stop on the tracks to get as close to Olympic as possible. If the gates only come down when a train is approaching, I guarantee you that with a long three-way signal there will be cars stopped on the tracks waiting for the light to change. In fact I'm considering avoiding that intersection altogether once Phase 2 opens, and using Cloverfield instead. The only way I can see it working safely is if the default position for the gates is down, and they only come up when there is a green light for NB traffic on 26th. Nah they'll just install traffic lights around the gates.
|
|
|
Post by tramfan on Mar 29, 2015 15:49:29 GMT -8
The serious accident on the Expoline on Saturday March 28 2015 is not the result of a flawed system of traffic signage or safety designs for the LTR lines; it just shows there's is gap of public transportation and/or rail awareness with motorists in LA. It's one of the unintended results of abandoning rail services in LA in favor of the car; a public awareness of public transportation rail was taken away for a long time when the rail disappeared in LA. We're still in the phase where this awareness is being reinstated but it does not happen overnight; and stupidity of drivers still is something you cannot plan for.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 29, 2015 18:57:40 GMT -8
There was a very similar accident that happened during the Expo Line Phase 1 testing when a brand-new Mercedes just purchased and driven off the dealer's lot packed with 5 or 6 USC students got wedged and crushed between a test train and OCS pole, at Venice Blvd and Flower St. So, that Mercedes lasted for less than a mile or so.
I think USC students are familiar with the trains now. This could turn out to be a suicide attempt or grave distraction / smartphone usage while driving.
|
|
|
Post by bzcat on Mar 30, 2015 10:00:46 GMT -8
There was a very similar accident that happened during the Expo Line Phase 1 testing when a brand-new Mercedes just purchased and driven off the dealer's lot packed with 5 or 6 USC students got wedged and crushed between a test train and OCS pole, at Venice Blvd and Flower St. So, that Mercedes lasted for less than a mile or so. I think USC students are familiar with the trains now. This could turn out to be a suicide attempt or grave distraction / smartphone usage while driving. The driver is a 31 years old USC Cinema & Television School student. My guess is this is very simple case of him trying to beat the red light on left turn signal - happens 4 million times a day in LA, but generally the cross traffic is in front of you so you can see the cars coming towards you. In this case, cross traffic (i.e. the train) is beyond the driver and he nearly paid with life to learn a valuable lesson. Red light means you can't turn left, despite the fact everyone does it.
|
|
|
Post by jamesinclair on Apr 1, 2015 12:35:46 GMT -8
It's the confusing LA or CA custom to place traffic lights on the other side of intersections instead of next to the line where you have to stop. Thats federal regulation. The reasoning is that if the traffic signal is placed at the stop bar where you are (as in Europe) the driver is looking straight up, and as soon as they see green theyd hit the acceleration, not realize someone was still crossing directly in front of them. By being across the street, the signal is in your cone of vision as you look safe. Of course, to fix that first problem, Europe also places signals at the driver eye level...
|
|
f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
|
Post by f ron on Apr 2, 2015 8:56:19 GMT -8
Laws or not, signals or not, so long as these rail networks are designed to share space with automobiles and pedestrians these accidents will persist. Sometimes the results will be fatal and the rest of the time they will amount to great expenses of time and money to rectify. There's been much conversation here about the driver in this event. How about the train operator who experienced it? Saw it happening in real time, knew what was happening yet was powerless to stop it. Traumatic stuff. Eventually that operator may return to work, living with that memory. I hope that Metro provides thorough PTSD support for it's operators. The sadness, for me, is that if the designers and implementors of the rail system were adamant about grade separation a lot of needless suffering could be avoided and the rail network would be fundamentally safer and more efficient for it. My 2¢.
|
|
|
Post by masonite on Apr 2, 2015 12:06:36 GMT -8
Laws or not, signals or not, so long as these rail networks are designed to share space with automobiles and pedestrians these accidents will persist. Sometimes the results will be fatal and the rest of the time they will amount to great expenses of time and money to rectify. There's been much conversation here about the driver in this event. How about the train operator who experienced it? Saw it happening in real time, knew what was happening yet was powerless to stop it. Traumatic stuff. Eventually that operator may return to work, living with that memory. I hope that Metro provides thorough PTSD support for it's operators. The sadness, for me, is that if the designers and implementors of the rail system were adamant about grade separation a lot of needless suffering could be avoided and the rail network would be fundamentally safer and more efficient for it. My 2¢. I personally think we have gone too far in the light rail realm overall. Somehow light rail is seen as the answer everywhere whether it is in corridors more appropriate for commuter rail (like the very eastern SGV), bus like the Orange Line (where the Orange Line is actually faster than Expo from Chatsworth to Balboa) or dense corridors like West and South Los Angeles where a subway along Wilshire and Vermont would have been a better use of dollars than Expo or the Crenshaw Line IMHO. You get what you pay for and even though we have spent $4.5B on Expo and the Crenshaw Line, they are built on the cheap. We keep seeing problems whether it is the slow speed of the line, the accidents, the lack of fare control because almost none of the stations have fare gates, the lack of density along much of the line and poor pedestrian connections because Expo is not in the areas where people live, work and want to go in many cases, and so on. The kicker is that light rail is the most inefficient from a cost recovery standpoint compared to bus or subway. The subway returns nearly twice in cost recovery % vs. the light rail system. That is real dollars every year gone.
|
|