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Post by Gokhan on May 8, 2014 17:41:42 GMT -8
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Post by joshuanickel on May 8, 2014 20:58:42 GMT -8
Surprisingly, Venice Blvd MSE ramp will have direct-fixation rail. No ramp in Phase 1 has direct-fixation rail. They still have to build the walkway section and also the connection to the bridge. Rail installation should probably happen in late summer. The Olympic/Cloverfield bridge has the same thing going on with the concrete cap on the ramp: Expo Line Looking East To Bergamont StationAre we sure it will be direct-fixation? In phase 1, they did something very similar and then put the ballast on top of the concrete: They could be doing the same thing here. I can not tell from your photos, but is the concrete level with that of the actual bridge over venice? If so then it will be direct-fixation.
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Post by Gokhan on May 9, 2014 6:35:39 GMT -8
Yup, you're right -- I had forgot how it was done. You can indeed see in my picture that the bridge deck sits higher.
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Post by Gokhan on May 9, 2014 9:24:59 GMT -8
The alignment of the bridge deck with respect to the ramp: This is how the transition is made, looking west from La Cienega Station:
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Post by culvercitylocke on May 10, 2014 17:35:52 GMT -8
there's a three feet deep excavation around the venice blvd median columns. they're finally starting with rebuilding the road.
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Post by Gokhan on May 10, 2014 17:57:20 GMT -8
there's a three feet deep excavation around the venice blvd median columns. they're finally starting with rebuilding the road. Venice Blvd reconstruction started quite a while ago actually -- has been going on for about a month now.
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Post by Gokhan on May 11, 2014 19:32:31 GMT -8
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Post by roadtrainer on May 12, 2014 9:11:27 GMT -8
The picture 11th from the bottom does show enough space for the train to pass under,,,, other wise it will be the blunder of the century.... "train bridge to large!" It has to be torn down and rebuilt! Oh I can see the headlines now! Alot of heads rolling and the train delayed by two years! and all the new cars going to the Goldline!
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Post by Gokhan on May 12, 2014 9:19:15 GMT -8
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Post by culvercitylocke on May 12, 2014 10:26:14 GMT -8
Why did they choose the rollercoaster aesthetic for the section between Sepulveda and Sawtelle? It's only two blocks, not nearly as long as the elevated MSE section between La Cienega and Ballona Creek. You'd think they'd just build up to the elevation they needed for this incredibly short stretch instead of imitating six flags. Unless this is the like the ridiculous dirt mound wall at Venice and is a pathetic cost savings that never should have been allowed.
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Post by Gokhan on May 12, 2014 10:45:57 GMT -8
Why did they choose the rollercoaster aesthetic for the section between Sepulveda and Sawtelle? It's only two blocks, not nearly as long as the elevated MSE section between La Cienega and Ballona Creek. You'd think they'd just build up to the elevation they needed for this incredibly short stretch instead of imitating six flags. Unless this is the like the ridiculous dirt mound wall at Venice and is a pathetic cost savings that never should have been allowed. There is no other possible way. The train needs to dip when passing under the 405 freeway and then rise when going over Sawtelle Blvd. You can't go straight because then there wouldn't be enough clearance over Sawtelle Blvd and it would also be very claustrophobic to go immediately under the freeway all the way. Besides, it would be less aesthetic to have a tall MSE wall than the current very short wall. Last but not least, it's better to have the station on a hump. This way, trains use gravitational potential energy to slow down approaching the station and to accelerate departing the station, saving electricity and prolonging brake and drivetrain life. Subway stations are also designed on a hump for the same reason.
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f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
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Post by f ron on May 12, 2014 11:34:55 GMT -8
I'm curious to know if the 405 clearence appears to be any closer to 15' than it did when we had the same conversation last September!
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Post by darrell on May 12, 2014 11:41:46 GMT -8
Repeating this elevation drawing of going under the I-405 bridge (but not including the final through-girder bridge over Sawtelle that removed the need to lower the street):
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Post by Gokhan on May 12, 2014 13:01:23 GMT -8
I'm curious to know if the 405 clearence appears to be any closer to 15' than it did when we had the same conversation last September! Clearance actually looks quite high if you look from the east side. See my first photo of the bridge looking west from Exposition Blvd.
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f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
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Post by f ron on May 12, 2014 14:43:31 GMT -8
I agree it does appear that way in the photo. Though it also looks as if the MSE ramp has one more layer yet to go?
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Post by masonite on May 12, 2014 15:24:26 GMT -8
It's great that the last mile in Santa Monica will have signal preemption. This will bring the total time for the line to about 45 minutes. How come the street-running section in LA feels like there is a troll at every crossing? What does it take to have LADOT give preemption? This is the million dollar question. It would be nice to hear LADOT explain this. I was hoping for some improvements a few years into the opening. I know this is not as simple as pressing a button, but I would have thought there would be some progress. If we can't get it done for 12 minute headways, I don't see it for 5 minute headways. It seems our Rapid Busses have better technology in that they can at least hold a light for an additional 10 seconds. Of course, Long Beach has had nearly 25 years to get the Blue Line preemption and has yet to do so.
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Post by Gokhan on May 12, 2014 16:45:54 GMT -8
I agree it does appear that way in the photo. Though it also looks as if the MSE ramp has one more layer yet to go? MSE panels and layers are finished but there will be ballast walls just like in my Venice Blvd Ramp pictures.
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Post by roadtrainer on May 13, 2014 5:52:29 GMT -8
Quote: Masonite "It seems our Rapid Busses have better technology in that they can at least hold a light for an additional 10 seconds".
I worked for Metro, I drove the Ventura Blvd. Rapid. And the Rapid from UCLA to Van Nuys. There are no controls on the bus that hold the lights for additional 10 seconds. That is a fairy tale report by the news media saying "at the drivers discretion he can push a button to hold the light longer". Sincerely the Roadtrainer
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Post by masonite on May 13, 2014 8:46:31 GMT -8
Quote: Masonite "It seems our Rapid Busses have better technology in that they can at least hold a light for an additional 10 seconds".
I worked for Metro, I drove the Ventura Blvd. Rapid. And the Rapid from UCLA to Van Nuys. There are no controls on the bus that hold the lights for additional 10 seconds. That is a fairy tale report by the news media saying "at the drivers discretion he can push a button to hold the light longer". Sincerely the Roadtrainer It isn't a button pressed by the driver, but rather automatic signaling and it is the main difference between Rapid and regular busses. Here is how it is described by Metro: www.metro.net/projects/rapid/
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Post by Gokhan on May 13, 2014 12:07:27 GMT -8
Normally when Expo starts at the beginning of a green cycle at Western, it will catch the end of a green cycle at Vermont.
However, now and then, the silly traffic light at the very lightly used Raymond Ave halfway between Normandie and Vermont will go red. For example this morning we missed the green at Raymond by 2 seconds. As a result, we also missed the green at Vermont. This added 2 whole minutes to the trip. As if that wasn't enough, then we also had to wait at Bill Robertson -- another minor street adjacent to Vermont -- for a green.
LADOT signal sync for Expo is plain incompetent.
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Post by tramfan on May 13, 2014 13:24:08 GMT -8
The Sawtelle bridge goes directly over what used to be a rail crossing. The crossing is a couple of feet higher than the roadway and they just paved over the rails when the Airline was abandoned; do they plan to remove the old rail crossing and level the road to gain a little more clearance?
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Post by Philip on May 13, 2014 13:33:45 GMT -8
I biked the Expo Line construction from 26th St. to 4th St. today.
There's definitely been progress, but the majority of the route still mostly looks like a war zone. The biggest change I noticed was the concrete foundations now erected at 4th/Colorado.
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Post by RMoses on May 13, 2014 13:47:47 GMT -8
The Sawtelle bridge goes directly over what used to be a rail crossing. The crossing is a couple of feet higher than the roadway and they just paved over the rails when the Airline was abandoned; do they plan to remove the old rail crossing and level the road to gain a little more clearance? Initially the plan was to excavate Sawtelle to provide adequate clearance, but with the through girder bridge they gained several feet. They should level the hump, unless of course there are utilities buried.
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Post by davebowman on May 13, 2014 14:30:57 GMT -8
It looks like after Phase II opens having dinner at Billingsley's restaurant on Pico will be like living in Alvy Singer's childhood home in "Annie Hall."
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Post by Gokhan on May 13, 2014 15:07:17 GMT -8
The Sawtelle bridge goes directly over what used to be a rail crossing. The crossing is a couple of feet higher than the roadway and they just paved over the rails when the Airline was abandoned; do they plan to remove the old rail crossing and level the road to gain a little more clearance? Initially the plan was to excavate Sawtelle to provide adequate clearance, but with the through girder bridge they gained several feet. They should level the hump, unless of course there are utilities buried. Top of the rail defines the existing grade and I doubt they will modify the existing grade. They may repave it if necessary.
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Post by roadtrainer on May 14, 2014 8:30:42 GMT -8
Okay the train passes underneath the bridge, what about the panthogram? Sincerely The Roadtrainer
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Post by Gokhan on May 14, 2014 11:10:16 GMT -8
Okay the train passes underneath the bridge, what about the panthogram? Sincerely The Roadtrainer Yes, it looks like there is plenty of clearance as I posted earlier.
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Post by Gokhan on May 15, 2014 10:03:38 GMT -8
There were a dozen trucks carrying railroad ballast lined up in Palms this morning. The line is taking shape -- fast.
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f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
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Post by f ron on May 15, 2014 10:38:08 GMT -8
I spoke with an eqipment operator at the Overland crossing this morning. He said that today was likely the final day of rail grinding and aligning for the Northvale Trench segment. Progress?, yes. Relief from the infernal sounds of those machines even on Saturdays(!) ? oh god yes.
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Post by Gokhan on May 15, 2014 11:06:50 GMT -8
I spoke with an eqipment operator at the Overland crossing this morning. He said that today was likely the final day of rail grinding and aligning for the Northvale Trench segment. Progress?, yes. Relief from the infernal sounds of those machines even on Saturdays(!) ? oh god yes. Rail grinding? That's normally done at the very end, just before train testing. Did you actually see a grinder? It generates sparks; so, it's hard to miss.
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