|
Post by Gokhan on Apr 28, 2010 8:18:52 GMT -8
I believe those are for the Elevator to the platform. No, these are for some sort of a room under the bridge between the east abutment and the easternmost columns, possibly for use by Metro. The glass elevator is going to be on the other side of the easternmost columns. As you see in the first picture, the platform already ends at these columns (sky showing through).
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Apr 28, 2010 8:21:35 GMT -8
^^^ Ha, you couldn't resist! You bet I can't. LOL
|
|
|
Post by transitfan on Apr 28, 2010 8:37:40 GMT -8
Why is the expo maintenance facility important for a short opening? Can't trains be fixed and spend the night in the blue line facility? It's required by Metro. I believe they don't want to jeopardize their operations. True, or maybe they don't want Expo trains to have a long deadhead from the Blue Line yard (Div. 11) to Flower St. This way, it's only a couple of miles.
|
|
|
Post by darrell on Apr 28, 2010 12:28:13 GMT -8
True, or maybe they don't want Expo trains to have a long deadhead from the Blue Line yard (Div. 11) to Flower St. This way, it's only a couple of miles. I believe they don't have space in the Blue Line yard. The original plan was to build an overnight maintenance facility just north of Washington and Long Beach Ave. But Metro changed operational plans, now calling for Long Beach trains to also serve Expo, and diverted money from the Expo maintenance facility to rebuilding the Blue Line tracks for new train control. The last version I saw was only overnight storage tracks by the station on former UPRR right-of-way just south of Washington.
|
|
|
Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 28, 2010 12:50:52 GMT -8
I don't think that the construction of this storage yard will delay anything, but if it were to become a problem I can't think of any reason why they couldn't store extra cars overnight at 7th/metro for a few months. What do they do now? Leave two cars overnight on the tail tracks? They could fit two more on the platforms and then another two after that in the tunnel. Would they need more than that?
|
|
|
Post by darrell on Apr 28, 2010 15:54:28 GMT -8
Here are two photos inspired by Gokhan's of the Culver City aerial superstructure beginning plus a pretty day after the clouds. It's also playing with my long zoom lens - 70 mm above, 300 mm below. Here are two of the Ballona bridge, at 300 mm: Note the four sets of ends of the bridge's tension cables, above. Below is from the trail in Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook State Park. For construction timing, steel for its falsework went up across Jefferson Blvd. in early January (1/5/10 photo):
|
|
|
Post by redwings105th on Apr 28, 2010 20:25:45 GMT -8
It's amazing how the line is starting to look like. Imagine how'd it look like with a train running through it? It'll be an amazing sight from that point at Baldwin Vista State Park. I know this might sound stupid but where is the former UPRR right-of-way thats south of Washington Blvd?
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Apr 28, 2010 21:04:23 GMT -8
I know this might sound stupid but where is the former UPRR right-of-way thats south of Washington Blvd? Not sure what you are asking but the Expo Line is built on the former Southern Pacific tracks (which are former Pacific Electric, which are former Southern Pacific, and which are former Los Angeles & Independence Railroad tracks), and the old tracks are directly under the aerial structure.
|
|
|
Post by rajacobs on Apr 29, 2010 11:24:43 GMT -8
OK, I'm still hot on the trail of doing something about that graffiti! I shot a note to Greg Starosky--Expo's gov't/comm. relations rep.. He replied:
"I have seen the graffiti and Expo has requested the contractor (FFP) to address this issue; none of us want to see our hard work go to waste. Also, very soon the contractor will apply an anti-graffiti coating to the structures – however – we all agree that they need to be more proactive in removing the existing graffiti in a timely manner.
I will pass on your concern to the appropriate people at both Expo and FFP. Again, thank you for your email."
...And he did. Within 5 minutes I got a carbonned response from Steve Moini, the Expo Construction Auth. Construction Manager, "Working on it already."
|
|
|
Post by metrocenter on Apr 29, 2010 11:28:39 GMT -8
It's amazing how the line is starting to look like. Imagine how'd it look like with a train running through it? It'll be an amazing sight from that point at Baldwin Vista State Park. I agree. I've been trying to envision this for awhile now, from several vantage points. The grade-separated portions are always the most visible. I'm especially interested to see the train (1) crossing over the 110 freeway, (2) crossing over Washington, National, and Venice Boulevards, and (3) running alongside the 10 freeway in Palms. I know this might sound stupid but where is the former UPRR right-of-way thats south of Washington Blvd? It doesn't sound stupid, but not sure what you want to know. You're asking where the UP right-of-way is? How does this relate to Expo?
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Apr 29, 2010 11:55:23 GMT -8
Well, next Thursday let's try to tune in to the Expo board meeting so that we will no longer be in the dark regarding the NFSR NIMBY lawsuit, Expo construction timeline, current delays, and various other issues...
|
|
|
Post by redwings105th on Apr 29, 2010 12:27:55 GMT -8
I know this might sound stupid but where is the former UPRR right-of-way thats south of Washington Blvd? It doesn't sound stupid, but not sure what you want to know. You're asking where the UP right-of-way is? How does this relate to Expo?[/quote] It was on a post that darell made that Metro is looking for other places to put the Storage Yard for the Expo Lone's cars.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Apr 29, 2010 12:47:45 GMT -8
I know this might sound stupid but where is the former UPRR right-of-way thats south of Washington Blvd? It was on a post that darell made that Metro is looking for other places to put the Storage Yard for the Expo Lone's cars. Ah, you are talking about Washington Blvd in Downtown, not in Culver City. The Union Pacific trains on the two tracks next to the the two Blue Line tracks don't go any further north than the Expo Line (Air Line) Junction, known as the Amoco Junction. At the Amoco Junction where they meet the Expo Line abandoned tracks (not to be used on the Expo Line), they go northeast. So, the tracks or right-of-way north of the Amoco Junction and south of Washington Blvd will be used for the Expo Phase 1 storage and inspection facility. The Expo right-of-way west of the Amoco Junction was also considered for the S&I facility but it didn't work out because of the NIMBYs. Also, a nonrevenue Expo - Blue Downtown Connector between the Amoco Junction and Exposition/Flower didn't work out because of the NIMBYs.
|
|
|
Post by rajacobs on Apr 29, 2010 12:58:59 GMT -8
Received another response from the FCI/Fluor/Parsons community joint venture manager, that "the graffiti should be removed by close of business today." ...kudos for their responsiveness; it's apparent they care a lot regarding perception and appearance of their effort.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Apr 29, 2010 17:38:54 GMT -8
Received another response from the FCI/Fluor/Parsons community joint venture manager, that "the graffiti should be removed by close of business today." ...kudos for their responsiveness; it's apparent they care a lot regarding perception and appearance of their effort. Thank you, rajacobs, for single-handedly initiating and resolving this issue.
|
|
|
Post by darrell on Apr 29, 2010 18:29:03 GMT -8
Received another response from the FCI/Fluor/Parsons community joint venture manager, that "the graffiti should be removed by close of business today." ...kudos for their responsiveness; it's apparent they care a lot regarding perception and appearance of their effort. The "removal" was painting over it with white paint. I presume when the surfaces receive their final grinding they'll return to gray and receive graffitti coating.
|
|
|
Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 29, 2010 19:19:08 GMT -8
^^^ Ha, you couldn't resist! You bet I can't. LOL
|
|
|
Post by rajacobs on Apr 29, 2010 22:03:35 GMT -8
Although graffiti along National was addressed, missed was the graffitti on a column of the Ballona bridge structure facing Jefferson and more on south side of the Ballona bridge over the intersection with National.
|
|
|
Post by jeisenbe on Apr 30, 2010 0:21:29 GMT -8
Why are concrete columns left unpainted? I have always though these structures would look better with some paint, even a subtle earth tone, or a cream color. At UC Berkeley, an ugly brutalist structure, Evans Hall, was greatly improved with some earth-toned paint, when previously the concrete looked pitted, weather-damaged and run down.
Sure, you would need to repaint the concrete every 10 or 20 years, but with the amount of graffiti around here, repainting would be easier than sandblasting and scrubbing. The steel viaducts for the Chicago El and many elevated "subways" in New York appear to be painted, and have a much greater surface area.
I know we want to build these things as cheaply as possible, but couldn't we spend a little more on making the viaducts and ramps look nice?
|
|
|
Post by rajacobs on Apr 30, 2010 9:56:31 GMT -8
Regarding the graffiti, the Parsons community outreach mgr responded: "The graffiti on the columns will be taken care of on Monday, as we need special equipment for the columns. Again, thank you for your email and please continue to come us on task."
Perhaps this location is closer to application of the anti-graffiti-coating and requires the grinding that Darrel suggested above.
Regarding painting the structures--oftentimes I prefer "naked concrete," especially for bridges. With an appropriate coating, washing/scrubbing tagged areas may be easier & cheaper than repainting.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Apr 30, 2010 17:26:40 GMT -8
The last day of April and last day of the week comes with closing photos of the Expo construction taken this evening. At Farmdale and Exposition, they are building something in the northwest corner across from Expo Inn. I don't know what it is. A little further west at La Brea, they are installing rail tracks: Expo has already more graffiti than the New York Subway. It's pretty sad: White paint over graffiti: Venice/Robertson Station on Day 5 of the construction: Perspective: NIMBYs are still fighting but the reality is that in a few months the catenary will be installed, TPSSs will be finished, and the system will be ready for test trains. We will soon get to enjoy the line. And then soon we will ride it to Santa Monica and the NFSR NIMBYs will still be paying the interest for their legal-fee debts.
|
|
|
Post by tobias087 on Apr 30, 2010 18:53:58 GMT -8
The new blue fence up around the Trousdale station looks quite nice, although it's not exactly Trojan colors
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on May 3, 2010 15:01:21 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by trackman on May 3, 2010 18:54:13 GMT -8
Yikes, I don't know if this work is much of anything: "...Due to budgetary constraints, Staff worked with Metro to reduce the scope of the facility, which reduces the storage capacity to 12 light rail vehicles, eliminates the car wash, inspection pit, cleaning platform and office building. Maintenance of the Expo Phase 1 fleet will be done at the Long Beach Blue Line yard. ..."
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on May 3, 2010 21:04:33 GMT -8
Yikes, I don't know if this work is much of anything: "...Due to budgetary constraints, Staff worked with Metro to reduce the scope of the facility, which reduces the storage capacity to 12 light rail vehicles, eliminates the car wash, inspection pit, cleaning platform and office building. Maintenance of the Expo Phase 1 fleet will be done at the Long Beach Blue Line yard. ..." Sigh... You are right. $5 million saved and $20 million wasted on a facility that can do nothing but store a dozen trains on already-Metro-owned right-of-way.
|
|
|
Post by jeisenbe on May 3, 2010 21:55:56 GMT -8
Light rail vehicles cost about 3 million, right? So, we are spending $20 million (not including the land value!) to store $36 million of vehicles? Yikes. Why should it cost so much for a few rails in the ground?
|
|
|
Post by Transit Coalition on May 4, 2010 7:48:34 GMT -8
Light rail vehicles cost about 3 million, right? So, we are spending $20 million (not including the land value!) to store $36 million of vehicles? Yikes. Why should it cost so much for a few rails in the ground? The project budget is a public document. It is not a secret why things cost what they do. I think you should make some calls to the Metro Library and go down and get the documents and put them up here to explain why something costs what it does. Consider the cost of pulling equipment in and out of a storage yard. Let assume you will start Expo from downtown LA to Culver City. Pulling those vehicles in and out of Long Beach to deadhead to LA is about 45 minutes X $300/hour X # of Vehicles = Millions Annually in deadhead costs. The land, the switches, the electronics, the security and all the elements of creating a terminal are expensive, but deadhead time annually shows you a payback point where a north terminal yard starts to save money. I hope you'll do the research and get us the costs and see why it really saves money operating the line.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on May 4, 2010 7:52:35 GMT -8
I guess they are relying on the Phase 2 maintenance facility and this will be sufficient in the interim to store the daily dozen Phase 1 trains. Phase 2 will introduce another dozen trains. You also need additional storage for another dozen or so trains that are going under maintenance.
It appears from the report that money might be going mostly to utility relocation. The facility is a purely storage facility now, plus likely a restroom and a small hut for a watchman.
My hope and feeling is that Phase 2 will be more financially efficient and go smoothly. Phase 1 has run into so many problems: nonrevenue connector opposed by Jan Perry, a 50% price hike by the contractor, CPUC and Farmdale issues, LADWP, delays, lack of crossing gates at Crenshaw and Gramercy, lack of fencing along Exposition, lack of a station at Arlington, extra station at Farmdale, storage facility, lack of money, and so on.
|
|
|
Post by darrell on May 4, 2010 12:26:21 GMT -8
Lots to see at La Brea this morning: Ties were being delivered today. Ribbons of rail are stretched along the ramp, and the ballast is being smoothed for ties. Long view of ramp and bridge. Here's a closer long view of the bridge. Is the falsework for stairs / elevator? The rest of the forms are down, showing the full curve of the bridge spans and the curved-bottom braces connecting the columns on the sides of La Brea. Compare with this simulation image: Closer for detail. On the west looking east. No rails here yet. Look for the worker in the orange vest behind the front bucket in this storm drain catch basin finishing the concrete surface. This is one of the many utility projects you don't think of.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on May 4, 2010 12:43:04 GMT -8
Ah, this is the very first time we have finally got to see the La Brea bridge without its forms and falsework! Looking good now! I didn't bother to take pictures because I thought not much was changing but this is a good milestone catch. But, now, we need some panorama pictures.
|
|