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Post by Gokhan on Sept 3, 2009 7:29:18 GMT -8
At a community meeting last night, I was told by Expo executives that they have no idea when the line will open or in how many segments. One thing that is clear is that the Venice/Robertson Station likely won't open until at least 2011 or 2012 or so. So will there be 1A to Crenshaw, 1B to La Cienega, and 1C to Venice/Robertson? Perhaps. Can 1A open in 2010? Not known. But they said they will know more after today's board meeting when they discuss what to do with the board members.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Sept 3, 2009 12:23:02 GMT -8
You think there will be DASH like service from Venice/Robertson to Century City via Motor Avenue? That would help tremendously and give Century City a feel that it is finally connected (albeit by 'shuttle') to a mass transit system.
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Post by darrell on Sept 3, 2009 21:37:13 GMT -8
Here are two photos of the falsework for the Flower bridge over the Harbor Freeway. First is from today's Expo board presentation, showing a temporary steel girder being installed at night with the freeway closed that supports one end of the smaller steel beams. Second shows some of the smaller steel beams in place this afternoon.
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Post by darrell on Sept 3, 2009 21:43:40 GMT -8
From the report for Item 6.b, it's astonishing to see: The Contractor’s approach in completing the bridge was to progress the work in a linear manner working from the east to the west. Under this approach, the Contractor’s schedule showed the station being completed in September, 2012. Staff asked the Contractor to evaluate the costs and the schedule savings if they were to accelerate the Venice/Robertson Aerial Structure work using two crews and constructing the bridge from each end. The Contractor has determined that after acceleration, the station could be completed 12 months earlier in September, 2011. Three years from now to build the aerial station?! The result from today's Expo board meeting was they approved $250K to accelerate the foundation work (not a larger amount for the whole job), hearing the item after closed session.
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Post by kenalpern on Sept 4, 2009 5:39:46 GMT -8
I'm a big fan of openness and honesty when bad news must be given to the taxpaying public. If there are reasons for legitimate delays, then I think most folks will appreciate the candor. Methinks that more transparency is needed on the part of both the contractors and the Authority Board.
By the way, let me thank you all for the exciting photos and updates! I remind you all that this Expo Line was grassroots driven in ways that the politicians had never seen before, and I think that it continues to be so with the enthusiasm I see on this Discussion Board.
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Post by Jason Saunders on Sept 4, 2009 8:48:21 GMT -8
I'm a big fan of openness and honesty when bad news must be given to the taxpaying public. If there are reasons for legitimate delays, then I think most folks will appreciate the candor. Methinks that more transparency is needed on the part of both the contractors and the Authority Board. By the way, let me thank you all for the exciting photos and updates! I remind you all that this Expo Line was grassroots driven in ways that the politicians had never seen before, and I think that it continues to be so with the enthusiasm I see on this Discussion Board. Cheers to that! The public deserves to know. It's their money and Metro/Expo's opportunity to be proactive and avoid the 'appearance' of impropriety by being fully open and explanatory. Being secretive only makes them 'appear' to be complacent. Cheers also to active supportive citizens like F4E and TC. Cheers to the awesome photos we saw this week. It's a real treat to get a sneak peak of these awesome stations. Things look good in the tunnel stations.
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 4, 2009 9:34:31 GMT -8
Extrapolation of the latest data, including the September figures, puts the Expo Line completion to Culver City to April 2011, hence the opening to Summer 2011. See the latest project-status presentation. Here is my favorite photo. Eric Olson mentioned during the presentation that the first Expo tracks will be installed inside the trench, very soon. They will bolt four short pieces of concrete ties onto the concrete, place a piece of rubber on them, and clamp the rails on top of the rubber. Note the emergency walkways on both sides and the water-sprinkler pipes. The distance between the walls is 29.9 ft. I like the natural sunlight penetrating through the girders.
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Post by Jason Saunders on Sept 4, 2009 11:29:47 GMT -8
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Post by Philip on Sept 4, 2009 11:56:58 GMT -8
I know we're not supposed to talk about rumored official completion dates, but just so I'm clear, does this mean the originally projected completion date of Summer, 2010 is pretty much off the table at this point?
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 4, 2009 13:09:53 GMT -8
According to the latest presentation, things are currently 50 weeks off schedule, another six weeks in addition to the prior 44 weeks estimate, that is just about a year.
The best-case scenario would be to open the line to Crenshaw at the end of 2010. I think it would still be great if they could open to Venice/Robertson in Summer 2011 but I'm not optimistic about even that. That's because the contractor doesn't even have a schedule for the Venice/Robertson aerial, and their best-case estimate for that is September 2011 completion. That is the current best-case scenario for Venice/Robertson Station opening is early 2012. That is don't hold your breaths for opening to Venice/Robertson.
It's becoming more likely that Venice/Robertson will become part of Phase 2 and it will be taken over by the new contractor when the Phase 2 contract is awarded early 2010.
And, Ken, you worked so hard to get Venice/Robertson included in Phase 1, instead of Phase 2, but it didn't work out after all.
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Post by darrell on Sept 4, 2009 14:17:34 GMT -8
This new Expo construction notice today is exciting: What: Temporary closure of La Cienega Boulevard at Jefferson Boulevard for preparation of falsework installation.
When: Friday, September 4, 2009 through Saturday, September 5, 2009 Nighttime work hours: 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. That'll be the first falsework over a boulevard on Phase 1!
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 4, 2009 14:25:39 GMT -8
That'll be the first falsework over a boulevard on Phase 1! Well, I guess I was right about that La Cienega bridge will be built before the La Brea bridge. La Cienega bridge started six months after the La Brea bridge and they also put the blame on LADWP for delaying the removal of the overhead power lines at La Cienega. But again this is showing that this project is being delayed mostly because of contractor problems, not outside agencies. This also shows that the La Brea bridge is now about a year behind schedule. The contractor failed to plan appropriately for the underground-utility relocation there.
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Post by metrocenter on Sept 4, 2009 14:32:56 GMT -8
Yes, sooner is better. But that's because we all know that L.A. will be better as a region for the greatly expanded rail system. It'll get done eventually. Just as the Downtown Connector, Eastside, Crenshaw, Purple and Pink Lines, and Green Line will get done. And when it is done, it will be excellent: it will be a significant triumph of big ideas over little minds.
Probably Culver Junction station will be open after Phase I but before Phase II. I'd call it Phase 1.5.
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Post by masonite on Sept 4, 2009 14:55:30 GMT -8
I know we're not supposed to talk about rumored official completion dates, but just so I'm clear, does this mean the originally projected completion date of Summer, 2010 is pretty much off the table at this point? Since this appears to partially be a problem of contractor resources, I'd hope that they concentrate on the first part of the line to Crenshaw in hopes of opening that as soon as possible and put everything else West of it on the backburner. If this can be done efficiently that would be my preference. A partial opening is a lot better than waiting for the whole first segment a full year or two later.
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Post by Transit Coalition on Sept 4, 2009 15:55:07 GMT -8
I know we're not supposed to talk about rumored official completion dates, but just so I'm clear, does this mean the originally projected completion date of Summer, 2010 is pretty much off the table at this point? The best way to put this is read the update reports from the Construction Authority, add in 3 to 6 months for various elements of system testing and guess a different target than what the Construction group thinks. Rick Thorpe has been known to pull things together, but at this point, there is enough scrambling to make a prediction not dependable.
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Post by kenalpern on Sept 4, 2009 16:14:26 GMT -8
According to the latest presentation, things are currently 50 weeks off schedule, another six weeks in addition to the prior 44 weeks estimate, that is just about a year. The best-case scenario would be to open the line to Crenshaw at the end of 2010. I think it would still be great if they could open to Venice/Robertson in Summer 2011 but I'm not optimistic about even that. That's because the contractor doesn't even have a schedule for the Venice/Robertson aerial, and their best-case estimate for that is September 2011 completion. That is the current best-case scenario for Venice/Robertson Station opening is early 2012. That is don't hold your breaths for opening to Venice/Robertson. It's becoming more likely that Venice/Robertson will become part of Phase 2 and it will be taken over by the new contractor when the Phase 2 contract is awarded early 2010. And, Ken, you worked so hard to get Venice/Robertson included in Phase 1, instead of Phase 2, but it didn't work out after all.
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Post by kenalpern on Sept 4, 2009 16:18:42 GMT -8
Whoops--pressed "post reply" too soon! You may be right, Gokhan, but considering the jackasses who we had as contractors for Phase 1, it's worth the slight delay.
Do I think that we'll have to wait until Phase 2 opens to Santa Monica in 2014-16 before we see the Venice/Robertson station open up? Maybe, but I doubt it. I think that the overall effort is to have this as seamless a process as possible continues, and is ongoing, but part of that will be to have the more defined Venice/Robertson station plans up and running while the construction and legal worlds figure out Phase 2.
I also think there will lots of demand for the Venice/Robertson extension as the line makes it to either Crenshaw, La Cienega or anywhere near the Westside.
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Post by darrell on Sept 7, 2009 9:48:23 GMT -8
This new Expo construction notice today is exciting: What: Temporary closure of La Cienega Boulevard at Jefferson Boulevard for preparation of falsework installation.
When: Friday, September 4, 2009 through Saturday, September 5, 2009 Nighttime work hours: 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. That'll be the first falsework over a boulevard on Phase 1! I guess the "preparation" was nothing more than new traffic signals installed, as of this morning.
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Post by Jason Saunders on Sept 7, 2009 11:50:47 GMT -8
This new Expo construction notice today is exciting: What: Temporary closure of La Cienega Boulevard at Jefferson Boulevard for preparation of falsework installation.
When: Friday, September 4, 2009 through Saturday, September 5, 2009 Nighttime work hours: 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. That'll be the first falsework over a boulevard on Phase 1! I guess the "preparation" was nothing more than new traffic signals installed, as of this morning. I was there yesterday on my bicycle. I would have taken photographs but my camera died. They put K-rails in the center of La Cienega to protect future falsework. Also the falsework is progressing closer to the boulevard. I noticed that there are still four wires on the east side of the street on poles still in the alignment path. Anyone know whats up with that? I also observed that they appear to be working on the foundation for the supports to traverse Ballona Creek.
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 8, 2009 21:20:41 GMT -8
I took a few pictures this evening, proceeding from east to west. Sunset over the La Brea bridge, reflecting that the Expo Line is an east - west line. K rails and yellow markings put in the middle of La Cienega for the falsework supports to be placed there. They also put a traffic signal in the middle of the street. Completed National Blvd bridge over Ballona Creek. Not sure if there are piers on the bike path. National/Jefferson will be closed tonight through the morning. Not sure if the new street will open to traffic tomorrow. Doubt it though as there seems to be a lot of work left.
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Post by Justin Walker on Sept 8, 2009 21:50:56 GMT -8
Latest update from the Flower-Exposition trench: This is looking north along Flower St. toward Jefferson Blvd. The angle here isn't the best, but the side walls and pedestrian walkways are indeed finished in the trench. More interestingly, you can also see: A) a large amount of rail in the trench structure B) bolts for installing the Overhead Contact System (OCS) poles C) two pairs of orange lines indicating where the plinth pads for the westbound track will be cast. We are definitely getting close to seeing some track finally down!
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 8, 2009 22:04:50 GMT -8
^^ Nice. Track installation on a concrete bed is probably a slow process and that may be why they are starting in the trench first. Or perhaps they just want to get done with the trench. It was the first thing that started being constructed.
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Post by Jason Saunders on Sept 9, 2009 11:48:09 GMT -8
Completed National Blvd bridge over Ballona Creek. Not sure if there are piers on the bike path. National/Jefferson will be closed tonight through the morning. Not sure if the new street will open to traffic tomorrow. Doubt it though as there seems to be a lot of work left. The National Bridge over Ballona Creek is open to vehicular traffic today.
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Post by darrell on Sept 9, 2009 11:59:13 GMT -8
Between Gokhan's sun setting over the La Brea bridge and Justin's view of the trench ramp rails close to being laid, whew!
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 9, 2009 12:37:38 GMT -8
I just realized that today is 09-09-09 -- perhaps a milestone in human history. It turns out that it was a milestone for the Expo Line as well, with the "realigned" National Blvd now open to traffic. Here is the view looking east from Hayden Ave: Traveling further east: Approaching Ballona Creek: Entering the new Ballona Creek Bridge: The new Ballona Creek bridge, looking at Jefferson Blvd: Exiting the bridge: Exiting the bridge, looking left: As you can see in the photos, National Blvd is no longer a through street and it was reduced to single lane. It now makes a T at Jefferson, after crossing Ballona Creek. You need to wait at a signal before you can turn left or right at Jefferson. If Culver City was under the domain of Fix Expo, they would blame this on the environmentally discriminating Expo Authority, whom they would say was too cheap to build grade separation at Hayden Ave and whom they would say reduced National Blvd to a single lane and realigned it into a T instead, creating a traffic nightmare in their neighborhood. (Lots of sarcasm at Fix Expo intended) LOL
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Post by kenalpern on Sept 9, 2009 14:01:11 GMT -8
Easy, bro, easy, now!
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 9, 2009 14:03:01 GMT -8
Have a little more sense of humor, Ken. It was Fix Expo who were supposed to be agitated by the joke. Now, my joke is ruined.
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Post by darrell on Sept 9, 2009 15:01:37 GMT -8
As you can see in the photos, National Blvd is no longer a through street and it was reduced to single lane. It now makes a T at Jefferson, after crossing Ballona Creek. You need to wait at a signal before you can turn left or right at Jefferson. Great photo series, Gokhan! It's as if I drove it myself. Oh, wait, I just did, but your photos cover it better than mine, in heavier traffic. But I believe one correction: National will be two lanes in each direction when finished. The k-rails seem to be remaining until the curb lanes are finished. The curbs are already in place - the existing curb on the south side, and a new curb on the north side.
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 9, 2009 15:35:14 GMT -8
But I believe one correction: National will be two lanes in each direction when finished. That's what I thought given the volume of traffic on National. But the current single lanes fit better with my sarcasm directed at Fix Expo, which agitated Ken instead. It looks like they are also starting to drill the Ballona Creek supports. And they are working on the utility relocation at La Brea.
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Post by darrell on Sept 9, 2009 17:29:56 GMT -8
It looks like they are also starting to drill the Ballona Creek supports. And they are working on the utility relocation at La Brea. You can (sort of) see a drilling rig behind the right signal pole (with the no ped crossing sign) in your photo. Although I wonder if that's only for preparation, before the big blue one drills the deep hole here.
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