|
Post by masonite on May 20, 2015 18:38:14 GMT -8
The fare gate cost wasn't in the hundreds of millions and it did include all the maintenance for 10 years I believe. The initial cost was paid by the feds anyway for security reasons. Having fare inspectors is not very cost effective either when you include the high cost of worker's comp, pension, health care, and other benefits of public employees in CA. Furthermore, you'd have to have hundreds of them work full time to make any type of dent and even then how do have them check a full 6 car subway train in two minutes that may have close to 500 people? There is a reason why Metro continues to add gates as much as possible. I doubt they would be doing that if the economics did not work out. The Unions would love them to hire fare inspectors. I fail to see what unions have to do with anything considering that the dozens of sheriff deputies checking fares in LA County are unionized and making more per year than a San Francisco area BART station attendant just because they have guns on their hips. Also, for an agency seemingly preeminently concerned with branding for attaining the elusive discretionary riders who have better options (read: cars) they aren't making a resolute case for consistency when you want to call surface rail that stops at traffic lights and can't match fare collection as a subway branded with the same "Metro Rail" moniker. It's kind of unprofessional how it seems cobbled together and rife with contradictions--I say this as a daily rider using the Metro as my primary transportation. I apologize for this thread going off topic even if slightly-- I maintain that a new $2 billion rail line such as the Expo Line ought to have been constructed within its design-build parameters to accommodate fare turnstiles. All I was saying is that tge unions would love to have more members. Fare checkers would be unionized. The Metro Board is dominated by Union allies, so their predisposition would be to hire fare checkers not utilize fare gates. The fact that they are utilizing fare gates gives the strong impression that they are cost effective. Yes, I agree the whole thing has been bundled as the system was not originally designed for gates, even the Red Line.
|
|
|
Post by johanragle on May 21, 2015 9:11:16 GMT -8
Especially the Red/Purple lines - right now, if you want to transfer from the Red to the Purple line at Wilshire/Western, you have to go upstairs to tap a validator. Given the tight scheduling, that just isn't really possible, so I don't see how Metro expects anyone on those lines to be able to validate their cards for transfers at that station.
|
|
|
Post by masonite on May 21, 2015 10:30:01 GMT -8
Especially the Red/Purple lines - right now, if you want to transfer from the Red to the Purple line at Wilshire/Western, you have to go upstairs to tap a validator. Given the tight scheduling, that just isn't really possible, so I don't see how Metro expects anyone on those lines to be able to validate their cards for transfers at that station. I assume you mean Wilshire/Vermont. To be honest, I don't think there is any way to get dinged for transferring from the Red to Purple Line. It is really treated as one line by Metro for everything. Transfers are pretty much free anyway.
|
|
|
Post by darrell on May 23, 2015 13:20:18 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 1, 2015 12:25:01 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by bzcat on Jun 2, 2015 10:50:29 GMT -8
Gosh, if you didn't know there was a train station wedged in there under the bridge, you'd probably never see/find it.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 2, 2015 11:19:57 GMT -8
Well, the fences will be removed and a Metro grand pylon will be installed when it is done... Also, the station is hard to miss unless you are driving southbound on National Blvd. Today they replaced the shattered elevator glass seen in my pictures. There will be a curious hump in the bike and pedestrian multiuse path near Cardiff Ave and Exposition Blvd. You can see a shallow retaining wall to support the hump. I wonder if the reason is the transformer rack there.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 15, 2015 13:38:30 GMT -8
Clearance testing over Centinela Ave Bridge. Once the clearance testing is over, test trains should start running all the way to the Stewart Yard in a couple of days. It looks like the clearance under I-405 Freeway at Sawtelle Blvd was OK.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 15, 2015 15:11:20 GMT -8
It's not clear from this photo how the train passes under the western edge of I-405 Bridge at Sawtelle Blvd but here it is at the eastern edge of the bridge:
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 15, 2015 15:15:13 GMT -8
Wow, that is very close...
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 15, 2015 15:23:58 GMT -8
Stewart St looking west: Military Ave looking west, nice rustic location: Barrington Ave looking north: Expo cement factory (CEMEX) at Sepulveda and Exposition, where Expo concrete is made. Unfortunately it will be gone soon after the line is opened:
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 15, 2015 15:25:26 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 16, 2015 11:26:22 GMT -8
Palms Station bicycle facilities that were installed last week are already in use. Also note the new LED lighting poles.
|
|
|
Post by tramfan on Jun 16, 2015 13:06:58 GMT -8
I also took a photo of the test train passing the westside of the 405 under crossing but unfortunately it was out of focus: the train and its pantograph passed through without any problems though. The train driver told me they pulled the test train because the power could not be turned on for this segment yet. The Olympic bridge TPSS is the only one not yet connected to the OCS.
|
|
|
Post by tramfan on Jun 16, 2015 13:08:15 GMT -8
The DTSM station is of course not connected yet either...
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 23, 2015 11:44:41 GMT -8
Nice new satellite-map service with a-month-old images to explore the Expo Line Phase 2 construction and more. Signing up may be needed. maps.us.nearmap.com/
|
|
|
Post by jdrcrasher on Jun 23, 2015 16:12:18 GMT -8
What are those vertical "fins" hanging on the sides of the railcars?
|
|
|
Post by rubbertoe on Jun 24, 2015 8:38:42 GMT -8
Nice new satellite-map service with a-month-old images to explore the Expo Line Phase 2 construction and more. Signing up may be needed. maps.us.nearmap.com/Gokhan, I picked up on this too from Expolinefan's recent set of pictures. Looks like they are doing high resolution aerial mapping, though the underlying maps still have the Google logo on them. Maybe Google bought that company? Also, I checked out the corner of 1st and Central where the RC TBM launch will be. Very nice switching between prior dates and the current ones. Very smooth and allows easy comparison over time. Still tough to beat "boots on the ground" for street level close up shots. RT
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 24, 2015 12:08:18 GMT -8
What are those vertical "fins" hanging on the sides of the railcars? Clearance testing. Since the trains can tilt sideways at an angle, there needs to be tapering vertical clearance.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 24, 2015 12:13:59 GMT -8
Now, this is what I call Expo Line Phase 2 progress. This is in contrast to current status of Expo Line Phase 1: This is evidently because of a publicity event on Monday. Palms Station has become the symbol of Expo Line Phase 2: WHAT: Join Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti and Members of the Exposition Construction Authority Board of Directors for an exclusive preview of LA’s newest light rail line – the Expo Line extension from Culver City to Santa Monica. · Get a behind-the-scenes look at this state-of-art transit system as a train arrives and departs from the new rail station in Palms. · Hear about the success of the project’s local hiring program and safety record. · Receive an update on the testing schedule and the transition to Metro for revenue operations. WHEN: Monday, June 29, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. WHERE: Palms Station Platform RSVP for parking and access information (space is limited) *appropriate shoes will be required for entry onto station platform **platform will be accessible via stairs only – no elevator access WHO: • Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti • Incoming Expo Construction Authority Board Chair and LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin • Expo Board Member and LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas • Expo Board Member and LA City Councilmember Paul Koretz VISUALS: A test train will pull up to the nearly complete Expo Line station in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Palms. The Mayor and Expo Board Members will be available for photographs and interviews.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 24, 2015 15:34:01 GMT -8
I don't know if this will work during regular, high-speed operations. It's way too low.
|
|
|
Post by masonite on Jun 24, 2015 20:04:37 GMT -8
From the meeting tonight, the highlights are:
Construction is 93% complete. Testing seems to be going quite well. There was a mention of gate problems that have now been resolved. The Westwood and Overland crossings may be signed off next week by the PUC for operation. Trains should be going to Centinela in the next few weeks and into the City of Santa Monica in August. Stations are essentially done except Downtown SM Got the impression from Metro that they are impressed with Skanska's work and haven't seen the problems that they have from other contractors on other lines.
|
|
|
Post by joemagruder on Jun 24, 2015 21:23:41 GMT -8
Regarding the low wire (Gokhan's photo above): This seems to be similar to the clearance in the San Francisco Muni Metro subway under Market Street, which seems to have worked for 40 years.
|
|
|
Post by darrell on Jun 25, 2015 9:15:18 GMT -8
Regarding the low wire (Gokhan's photo above): This seems to be similar to the clearance in the San Francisco Muni Metro subway under Market Street, which seems to have worked for 40 years. Or Blue/Expo passing under I-10 on Flower (Google Streetview image)
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 25, 2015 11:12:24 GMT -8
Regarding the low wire (Gokhan's photo above): This seems to be similar to the clearance in the San Francisco Muni Metro subway under Market Street, which seems to have worked for 40 years. Or Blue/Expo passing under I-10 on Flower (Google Streetview image) From that picture, the clearance between the train under I-10 bridge over Flower Street appears to be two or three times the clearance between the train and I-405 bridge; so, this is not helping to remove any doubt. The concern is that the pantograph or OCS could frequently get damaged.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 25, 2015 11:16:04 GMT -8
We need these publicity events more often. They are going to do the work that normally takes them two months to finish in two days and finish most of the Palms Station for Monday. Would they surprise us and announce an early opening for the Palms Station? No additional trains are needed for opening the Palms Station.
|
|
f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
|
Post by f ron on Jun 25, 2015 12:13:02 GMT -8
I don't know if this will work during regular, high-speed operations. It's way too low. I agree it looks super low. Much lower than Darrel's example. I think it becomes a matter of what's defined as "high speed operations". I know the Metro/Expo documents state the running speeds for this segment but never-the-less I'll bet it slows to a crawl through that spot. I mean, look at it!
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 25, 2015 12:46:23 GMT -8
It looks like only a couple of inches between the 750 V DC OCS contact wire and the A/C unit. There is hardly a foot between the A/C unit and the bridge. That puts the height of the bridge from the top of the rail at about 13 ft. Now, here is the shocker: P3010 is a-whole-foot-taller than the P865!!!See the Page 32 of the Metro Rail design criteria (PDF file).
|
|
|
Post by TransportationZ on Jun 25, 2015 12:54:40 GMT -8
Or Blue/Expo passing under I-10 on Flower (Google Streetview image) From that picture, the clearance between the train under I-10 bridge over Flower Street appears to be two or three times the clearance between the train and I-405 bridge; so, this is not helping to remove any doubt. The concern is that the pantograph or OCS could frequently get damaged. I somewhat disagree. Expo also has the OCS pole with both the contact and messenger wires. The Blue Line only has to worry about the contact wire. If contact wire was at the height of the messenger wire, the pantograph would look fine. Admittedly, on the last image, it's hard to tell the exact clearance from that angle.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Jun 25, 2015 13:01:07 GMT -8
Clearance posted for the Flower St I-10 bridge is 15 ft 0 in. I estimated the clearance for the I-405 bridge over Sawtelle Blvd bridge at about 13 ft. It could be a little higher but it certainly looks a lot less than 15 ft. Also take into account that the P3010 is a foot taller than the P865 and that's something to worry about.
|
|