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Post by bobdavis on Jun 2, 2009 15:42:25 GMT -8
Anyone been to Union Station today or yesterday? I'm wondering if the Gold Line trains have started running through to the new track on a regular basis yet.
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Post by metrocenter on Jun 3, 2009 7:10:55 GMT -8
I drove the length of the extension at 6PM yesterday (Tuesday 2 June). The tunnel's west portal was closed up with a chain-link fence. So at least at that time of day, the trains were not running.
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Post by Jason Saunders on Jun 4, 2009 7:34:50 GMT -8
I was working on the Nisei WW11 monument next to the Geffen Contemporary Museum most of last week. The monument is about 500 yards from the Eastside Extension. I saw trains both new and old models rolling by all day long every day at relatively slow speeds (about the same speed as traffic which is pretty congested right there.)
The veterans now in their eighties and nineties have a table set up next to the monument and are out there most weekdays from 9 to 3 ish. I really felt enriched having heard their stories. (Internment camps are a shameful part of US history) One of them quite fondly remembered the red car and the Belmont tunnel and plans a one seat ride from his home in Pasadena to the memorial once Eastside opens.
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Post by metrocenter on Jun 9, 2009 7:47:07 GMT -8
I was at Union Station today and, to my pleasant surprise, I found the following: My version (patched from several pics) (click for larger version): The system map at Green Line Aviation has also been updated to the version above. Thus, Eastside Gold appears as no longer "under construction". BTW, this map shows no parking at Atlantic: I guess they'll update the maps next year, once that structure has been built.
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Post by marslight on Jun 11, 2009 21:11:31 GMT -8
I saw a three-car train of Bredas at the Little Tokyo station around 11.30 this morning, numbers 704, 708 and 709
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Post by Justin Walker on Jun 12, 2009 23:30:39 GMT -8
The system map at Green Line Aviation has also been updated to the version above. Thus, Eastside Gold appears as no longer "under construction". BTW, this map shows no parking at Atlantic: I guess they'll update the maps next year, once that structure has been built. As of today, Metro has overhauled their Eastside Extension site. It now has service information, better document layout, many photos, a very rendered video of the new line, and a PDF of the new Metro Rail System Map. Now if they'd only post an opening date more specific than "2009"......
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Post by antonio on Jun 13, 2009 1:12:43 GMT -8
This has been a long time coming
edit: verbal tense
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Post by ieko on Jun 13, 2009 2:12:21 GMT -8
I find it really strange that Metro doesn't advertise the last two stations on the Harbor Transitway as being a part of the 'bronze line' in any of its literature. The last two stations being Carson St. and Pacific Coast Highway stations. I really like that new map though, much better than the current one!
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Post by James Fujita on Jun 13, 2009 12:22:44 GMT -8
The new Web site does look a lot better. And the photos look great, especially the tunnel ones.
(Am I crazy, or are the "Gold Line Destinations" and "Gold Line Communities" photo galleries overwhelmingly pictures of Little Tokyo? Heh. )
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Post by losangeles2319 on Jun 13, 2009 20:48:58 GMT -8
The new website IS awesome!!! I loved all the new information. Are they going to do that for all the projects and stuff or is that just because the Eastside Extension is going to open soon? And yeah a majority of the pictures WERE little tokyo. I want to see more of Boyle Hieghts and East LA!!! oh well, on opening day i guess
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Post by spokker on Jun 13, 2009 21:11:28 GMT -8
(Am I crazy, or are the "Gold Line Destinations" and "Gold Line Communities" photo galleries overwhelmingly pictures of Little Tokyo? Heh. ) King Taco didn't give them permission to use photos of their establishment I guess.
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Post by erict on Jun 14, 2009 15:51:54 GMT -8
I really can't wait for it to open, both because it has taken like forever and because we can move on to new project with Federal funding. I personally think that the DTC should be next in line but I am sure Metro has other plans.
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Post by kenalpern on Jun 14, 2009 17:05:54 GMT -8
I dunno about that--my understanding is that if Expo and Crenshaw are focused on with local funding, the federal/local teamup for the DTC will be one of the main things that will be the next 5-10 year commitment from the feds. That and the Subway.
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Post by darrell on Jun 14, 2009 18:22:29 GMT -8
I dunno about that--my understanding is that if Expo and Crenshaw are focused on with local funding, the federal/local teamup for the DTC will be one of the main things that will be the next 5-10 year commitment from the feds. That and the Subway. I'm hearing insider expressions of concern that those pushing to increase one project's priority (in the current Measure R-based draft LRTP, especially referring to the South Bay Green Line extension and DTC) are threatening others' funding (especially getting the Wilshire subway going).
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Post by erict on Jun 15, 2009 6:46:12 GMT -8
The Subway really is in the most need of (long overdue) federal funding I guess. But the DTC would transform the light rail system we have and are building, it's so hard to choose one. And I thought that the cheapskate Feds will only fund one project at a time (at a measly 50%). Naturally the SGV valley wants their foothill extension and LAX want it's green line extension. I guess all this want is good, but everyone can't have what they want.
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Post by metrocenter on Jun 15, 2009 8:01:17 GMT -8
As much as I want to see the Wilshire Subway before I'm too old to use it, I'd have to put the Regional Connector first. The RC (or DTC) would transform L.A.'s set of individual LRT lines into an integrated system.
The new website for the Eastside Gold Line is excellent. I'd love to see a page like this for the Blue, Red, Purple, Green and Pasadena Gold Lines, as well.
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Post by kenalpern on Jun 15, 2009 8:08:03 GMT -8
I concur with metrocenter, but suggest that the Bush era of doing one project at a time for a major urban center like New York or Los Angeles is over. Based on the funding issues for each project, I don't think that an extension of the subway to La Cienega in the next TEA-21 update is unrealistic if combined with the DTC. I do NOT believe that this Congress and Administration believes that $2-3 billion over 5-7 years is too much to ask for L.A. County, unlike the previous Congress and Administration.
I also believe that a Green Line extension to the South Bay Galleria (~$250 million) would at all impact the DTC, but if that extension is pursued beyond the Galleria then it would be a deal-killer for the DTC. I hope the South Bay sticks to its guns to get it to the Galleria, but holds back on doing anything more for the next 7-10 years.
I also believe that tolls to LAX for parking and plane flights can and should be pursued to fund any Green Line extensions to LAX (and the South Bay Galleria, if legally possible), as well as the LAX People Mover.
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Post by spokker on Jun 16, 2009 21:52:41 GMT -8
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Post by bobdavis on Jun 17, 2009 9:27:53 GMT -8
Two and a half questions for those closer to Downtown LA: Has the Eastside Extension started scheduled testing yet? Will the Mayor have a VIP run on Friday (if so, what time?)
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Post by darrell on Jun 17, 2009 18:41:27 GMT -8
Three-car Breda trains on the Gold Line in Chinatown today (click in the YouTube video frame twice, then the HD button, finally the full-screen button):
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Post by James Fujita on Jun 19, 2009 14:21:03 GMT -8
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Post by bobdavis on Jun 20, 2009 19:58:38 GMT -8
Latest "scuttlebutt" (to use an old sailors' term) regarding the Eastside extension is that it won't open until sometime in August. There were reports that some of the substations "kicked out" (dropped the traction power circuits) when load tested at loads they should have handled. I heard no reports of the LA Mayor doing a VIP run on "Juneteenth" (Friday 6-19-09), so apparently that has been postponed. We've waited over 45 years for electric rail service to return to the Eastside, a few more months won't make that much difference. It looks like Metro will be running a bus substitute--I will get photos of it to add to my "buses replaced by trolley cars" collection (like SF Muni 8 and 32 lines), since it will presumably disappear when the Gold Line goes into service out that way.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Jun 20, 2009 21:56:25 GMT -8
I read in (Curbed LA?) last week that Leahy has apparently said hopefully sometime before September. That blog said that it had to do with testing the ventilation system and that once the testing was complete then they would begin running test trains through from Union Station. That should be in a few weeks.
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Post by spokker on Jun 21, 2009 19:28:55 GMT -8
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Post by Jason Saunders on Jun 22, 2009 8:08:29 GMT -8
There were reports that some of the substations "kicked out" (dropped the traction power circuits) when load tested at loads they should have handled. I wonder if this is related to the 5000 pounds of extra vehicle weight of the new AnseldaBreda cars.
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Post by metrocenter on Jun 22, 2009 8:25:23 GMT -8
Nice, thanks for posting. Looks like the train starts out just west of Soto Street, and heads westward past Mariachi Plaza toward downtown.
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Post by metrocenter on Jun 22, 2009 8:28:05 GMT -8
KCRW (NPR station) had a quick blurb about Eastside Gold this morning. It was extremely positive, saying that the line was ahead of schedule (originally due December, likely opening before September) and under budget.
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Post by metrocenter on Jun 22, 2009 8:33:54 GMT -8
I would love to know why transit agencies always go to AnsaldoBreda.
Their track record (pun intended) is abysmal, from what I've read. San Francisco is still dealing with their overweight Breda cars running on their system, most recently on the T-Third line. Apparently, officials in Boston, Atlanta Washington D.C., and Copenhagen have been burned by AB as well.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Jun 22, 2009 10:00:47 GMT -8
KCRW (NPR station) had a quick blurb about Eastside Gold this morning. It was extremely positive, saying that the line was ahead of schedule (originally due December, likely opening before September) and under budget. I think that's where the 2009 year versus 2009 fiscal year comes into play. Everything up until recently pointed towards a June opening which is the end of the fiscal year. All of the updates for the last year have showed a timeline where revenue service started sometime in June. I guess that was the optimistic version. Either was a couple of months isn't that bad.
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Post by jejozwik on Jun 22, 2009 10:04:51 GMT -8
that perspective coming out of the tunnel looking straight at the downtown skyline has to be the star of the metro system. beautiful
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