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Post by gatewaygent on Feb 7, 2013 22:31:51 GMT -8
I've noticed that people have set up a serious trinket display and a drink cart at the surface of the Red Line Santa Monica Sta. It started with just one lady and a few trinkets. She disappeared, most likely at the behest of Metro police, and then these people came along next. If Metro is not issuing vendor permits for a fee, they're probably missing out! This probably isn't the busiest station, but it is a busy intersection, especially with "El Gran Burrito" next door, a shopping center caddy-corner, and L.A. City College about 300 ft. away.
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Post by TransportationZ on Feb 8, 2013 0:11:09 GMT -8
With little fanfare but much hope, a new Wetzel's Pretzels has opened this week in 7th Street/Metro Center station. The store is located at the east (Hope Street) portal of the station, in the location of the former "Rush Snack Bar"/"Pure Juicery. The pretzel/pretzel dog/lemonade shop is open daily, including morning rush hour. From what I've seen, it's doing a brisk business in the morning. Hopefully it's brisk enough to allow them to survive for a good long time. It is a nice space. I sat in there killing a few minutes while I enjoyed a juice from Rush. Unfortunately, no one came in while I was in Rush for the 15 minutes I was there so I was not surprised it failed. Hopefully, this will fare better. I don't see this type of store in many stations though. This is the busiest station. Maybe some of the new Connector Stations they can build in a space like this here or there. IMO, it needs to be deeper in the station. This is more of a transfer station than anything, and it would be really nice to have businesses right at the area where people transfer. The problem is they are solely relying one entrance for business. Plus, currently since you actually have to go down to get to the wetzels, you also aren't getting the people simply walking down the street. They need to be getting the transfers and 7th/Fig people.
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Post by metrocenter on Feb 8, 2013 9:17:21 GMT -8
Back home in Philly, Suburban Station (in addition to being the major transit hub for Center City, Philadelphia) has a plethora of food places, as well as access to several nearby office buildings and many exits spanning several blocks. 7th Street/Metro Center is crying for that sort of convenient access and expansion. I agree. They need to open a portal south of 7th Street (into Macys Plaza), as well as one north (at Wilshire or 6th and Flower). This would add both convenience and safety, and seriously enhance the whole area. I'd also like to know if anything can be done to the semi-permanent homeless encampment that has sprung up at 7th/Flower. IMO, it needs to be deeper in the station. This is more of a transfer station than anything, and it would be really nice to have businesses right at the area where people transfer. The problem is they are solely relying one entrance for business. Plus, currently since you actually have to go down to get to the wetzels, you also aren't getting the people simply walking down the street. They need to be getting the transfers and 7th/Fig people. I think the key to hot food businesses inside a station, is having a place to eat your food inside the store. (This because nobody should be eating hot dogs on the trains or platforms). The problem with 7th/Metro is, I don't know where they would have enough space to prepare food, sell it, and provide an eating area. That said, they could have a nice news stand in there, with magazines, packaged food/drink/gum, lotto tickets, etc. That wouldn't take up hardly any space at all.
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Feb 8, 2013 9:55:49 GMT -8
You could also just get rid of the ridiculous "no food or drinks" policy on the train or platform.
While I know most of you will disagree, here in Montréal and throughout Europe you can eat or drink on the trains or platform. It's not a problem. There are the occasional 'tards who spill a drink on a train, but it's rare.
It means there is a constant metro presence keeping the train clean and swept. The trains are also thoroughly cleaned every night.
With the no eating/drinking policy in LA, you not only have the inconvenience of not being able to snack or drink on long train rides (for you or your kids), you also give an excuse to any Sheriff with a chip on his shoulder to harass, intimidate and question.
Frankly, every time I come to the States it feels like you guys keep adding more and more little restrictions on your life. All in the name of "safety" or something. I really don't understand those who enjoy it.
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Post by TransportationZ on Feb 8, 2013 10:20:22 GMT -8
You could also just get rid of the ridiculous "no food or drinks" policy on the train or platform. While I know most of you will disagree, here in Montréal and throughout Europe you can eat or drink on the trains or platform. It's not a problem. There are the occasional 'tards who spill a drink on a train, but it's rare. It means there is a constant metro presence keeping the train clean and swept. The trains are also thoroughly cleaned every night. With the no eating/drinking policy in LA, you not only have the inconvenience of not being able to snack or drink on long train rides (for you or your kids), you also give an excuse to any Sheriff with a chip on his shoulder to harass, intimidate and question. Frankly, every time I come to the States it feels like you guys keep adding more and more little restrictions on your life. All in the name of "safety" or something. I really don't understand those who enjoy it. Excellent point, since people who either don't care or don't know the food rule eat and drink on trains anyway. Not mention the countless commuters during morning rush hour with Starbucks on Gold Line and Red/Purple Line trains. Metrolink allows food and drink except alcohol, and it doesn't seem to cause any trouble or big messes.
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Post by Philip on Feb 8, 2013 11:28:08 GMT -8
I agree. They need to open a portal south of 7th Street (into Macys Plaza), as well as one north (at Wilshire or 6th and Flower). This would add both convenience and safety, and seriously enhance the whole area. I'd also like to know if anything can be done to the semi-permanent homeless encampment that has sprung up at 7th/Flower. The homeless would certainly be an increased issue with an expanded underground. I like those ideas for portals as well. In addition, I really think that during the Regional Connector construction, they should find a way to open up the concourse a bit. With Philly as an example again, you can walk the subway concourse for several blocks in almost any direction from City Hall. Imagine in bad weather being able to stay walking underground if you have to get from 7th/Flower to the Central Library or elsewhere. And again, you can line the concourse with shops.
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Post by masonite on Feb 8, 2013 12:06:05 GMT -8
You could also just get rid of the ridiculous "no food or drinks" policy on the train or platform. While I know most of you will disagree, here in Montréal and throughout Europe you can eat or drink on the trains or platform. It's not a problem. There are the occasional 'tards who spill a drink on a train, but it's rare. It means there is a constant metro presence keeping the train clean and swept. The trains are also thoroughly cleaned every night. With the no eating/drinking policy in LA, you not only have the inconvenience of not being able to snack or drink on long train rides (for you or your kids), you also give an excuse to any Sheriff with a chip on his shoulder to harass, intimidate and question. Frankly, every time I come to the States it feels like you guys keep adding more and more little restrictions on your life. All in the name of "safety" or something. I really don't understand those who enjoy it. I disagree. Canada and Los Angeles are totally different when it comes to cleaniness and littering. There are enough empty food containers, wrappers, discarded food and such as is now on the system. We'll be sitting in seats soaked in spilled soft drinks if it is a free for all. Metrolink has tables and a much more suburban and affluent ridership. Completely different from Metro. People litter with no regard for the rest of the public in the City. I worked for a real estate company for many years and remember talking to someone who was complaining about how hard it was to keep clean a mall in Los Angeles compared to the rest of the country. People would literally just toss trash over their shoulder here right in the middle of the mall like animals.
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Post by masonite on Feb 8, 2013 12:09:43 GMT -8
I agree. They need to open a portal south of 7th Street (into Macys Plaza), as well as one north (at Wilshire or 6th and Flower). This would add both convenience and safety, and seriously enhance the whole area. I'd also like to know if anything can be done to the semi-permanent homeless encampment that has sprung up at 7th/Flower. The homeless would certainly be an increased issue with an expanded underground. I like those ideas for portals as well. In addition, I really think that during the Regional Connector construction, they should find a way to open up the concourse a bit. With Philly as an example again, you can walk the subway concourse for several blocks in almost any direction from City Hall. Imagine in bad weather being able to stay walking underground if you have to get from 7th/Flower to the Central Library or elsewhere. And again, you can line the concourse with shops. Keep in mind, building a bigger underground station is most likely a money loser. This is because it costs several hundred million dollars to build an underground station and the more dirt and bigger station you are building the more it will cost. Given that, I think our current stations are big enough to accomodate a small newstand here and there. Just don't expect it to be big money maker for Metro as they would collect a deminimis amount in rent for this.
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 22, 2013 11:50:24 GMT -8
Long-overdue roundup:LA Sheriff's crackdown on Blue Line rail crime results in hundreds of citationsHayley Fox | April 15th, 2013, 2:18pmThe L.A. Sheriff's Department has begun an ongoing effort to curb crime along Metro's Blue and Green line trains, while also enforcing fare rules.The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD) is cracking down on all sorts of law-breakers along Metro rail lines, handing out hundreds of tickets and arresting approximately 150 people over the course of a few days. LASD Sgt. Brian Godwin said this three-day push that took place last week is part of an ongoing to enforce fare rules and stop crime — such as cell phone theft — along the Blue Line. From April 8 to April 10, deputies issued 895 citations and made 142 misdemeanor arrests and 11 felony arrests. Godwin said approximately 80 percent of the tickets issued were for fare evasion, while the rest were for spitting on the platform, being boisterous on the train or eating and drinking where you're not supposed to. The arrests made were for a variety of reasons, ranging from possession of narcotics, to firearms or previous warrants. The LASD focused patrols along the Blue Line and centered the operation at the Rosa Parks Transit Hub -- where the Blue and Green Lines meet. But sheriffs' say the effort benefited transit riders from Long Beach to Los Angeles, El Segundo to Norwalk. Godwin said that although some additional officers were deployed, it was more about redistributing the ranks in a way that focused on problem areas. According to the LASD: "Both uniformed and plainclothes teams were deployed. Additionally, deputies patrolled on horseback around the passenger stations, in surrounding neighborhoods, and businesses adjacent to the targeted passenger stations." Cell phone theft aboard Metro trains and at transit stops also continues to be an issue. Godwin said that criminals riding the rail often target passengers who are using their smartphone and sitting near an exit. This allows them to quickly snatch the phone and flee the train as it approaches a station. Last September, LASD Lt. Matthew Rodriguez told KPCC that more than half the reports of stolen electronic devices and jewelry aboard Metro in 2012 occurred on the Green and Blue lines.
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Feb 19, 2014 16:06:28 GMT -8
LA City Watch takes issue with how trashy Metro trains can be in an article called " Blue Trash." "if this was a train of trash with animals, PETA and other animal rights activists would be all over the news on the cruelty, yet when people are assaulted by this trash, there is not a whisper in the news. [...] In addition to Metro's share of responsibility in allowing deplorable conditions for riders of the Blue Line, by far the dirtiest trains I've seen are on this line, it is also our fault, it is society's fault, it is the fault of Southern California, which does not devote enough funds to maintenance of mass transit and to create a decent environment for the riders. I picture the trash in the trains, and the riders of poor means having to endure it, and I picture money spent on gleaming freeways, and that a second, more expensive bridge was built over the 405 Freeway at Mulholland Drive to placate the locals who live in neighborhoods of million and multi-million dollar mansions. Why do we as a society spend more money in neighborhoods who already live the life of luxury, yet devote inadequate money to keep trains clean traveling through poor neighborhoods? These people deserve to ride mass transit in decency, not sit in trains with trash." Full article can be found here.
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Post by usmc1401 on Sept 19, 2014 13:16:38 GMT -8
Blue line trains are stopping at Anaheim St for the next month or so. Per KNX radio the downtown Long Beach loop for the Blue line is being rebuilt.
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Post by jdrcrasher on Sept 21, 2014 22:49:12 GMT -8
Blue line trains are stopping at Anaheim St for the next month or so. Per KNX radio the downtown Long Beach loop for the Blue line is being rebuilt. Wait, so... the loop route is staying the same, right?
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Post by TransportationZ on Sept 22, 2014 6:56:46 GMT -8
Blue line trains are stopping at Anaheim St for the next month or so. Per KNX radio the downtown Long Beach loop for the Blue line is being rebuilt. Wait, so... the loop route is staying the same, right? Yes, they are just renovating the station platforms and canopies then rebuilding the Long Beach Transit Mall Switch.
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Post by metrocenter on Sept 23, 2014 7:21:52 GMT -8
Now if only the City of Long Beach and Metro could agree on and implement signal preemption.
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Post by gatewaygent on Sept 23, 2014 20:00:30 GMT -8
Signal preemption? That would be great, but Long Beach is "funny" that way. They commissioned a limited streetcar feasibility study six (6) years ago and never followed up on it. When Metro put "feelers" out for ideas that resulted in the 2009 LRTP Supplement 1, Long Beach suggested a Blue Line extension to CSU/Long Beach. I don't see Long Beach following up on that either. But who knows....
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Post by metrocenter on Sept 24, 2014 14:52:29 GMT -8
It looked like signal priority/preemption in Long Beach might happen, as recently as last year. The City of Long Beach was hoping Metro would pay for the upgrade to LA's traffic signal system, to the tune of $1.5 million. I haven't heard anything about it since.
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Post by metrocenter on Oct 2, 2014 7:06:07 GMT -8
Metro Board Agenda Item: New Subway Entrance to 7th/MetroMetro is now beginning negotiations with owners of "The Bloc" (formerly Macy's Plaza/Broadway Plaza) to create a new entrance to the 7th/Metro Center station. This has for quite awhile now been part of the renovation plans for The Bloc. This Metro decision will allow negotiation of funding, and then design and construction of the entrance. (Crossposted in Blue Line, Expo Line and Regional Connector threads.)
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Post by gatewaygent on Oct 2, 2014 21:06:41 GMT -8
Holy corn hole! It's about time! I'm curious now. Why didn't this happen sooner, say 1989? Was it really because the city council of the time had little hopes for the Blue Line's success and didn't want Metro to be stuck with gaping walk-ways that the county would be stuck having to monitor, block off, and ultimately fill in if it failed?
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Post by bzcat on Oct 3, 2014 9:37:04 GMT -8
None of the property owners in Downtown LA wanted anything to do with Metro in 1989. They simple did not understand the concept and why it is a good idea for people to have access directly to your buildings from Metro station.
Despite that, Metro constructed 7th Street Metrocenter station with several knockout panels that could be used to connect to nearby buildings once they have new owners.
And now we have new property owners that "get it". So it is happening.
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Post by metrocenter on Oct 3, 2014 13:16:30 GMT -8
The Red Line was not well loved during planning/construction. I the late 80s-early 90s, subway construction caused major disruptions to businesses on Seventh Street. Many businesses on Seventh Street closed due to construction (including one of my favorites, Fowler Brothers Books).
We actually are very fortunate to have three entrances on that station, including one in the then-new building at 7th/Figueroa. Pershing Square is the only the other station (that I can think of) having three entrances.
Now this station will have four entrances. I would still love to see a fifth one at Wilshire/Flower too: the northern ticket area (near the steps) is actually very close to Wilshire/Flower.
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Post by gatewaygent on Oct 5, 2014 11:55:15 GMT -8
Out with the old and in with the new...outstanding! Progress isn't always swift, but at least it's forthcoming. Maybe this will be the impetus to get a fourth entrance built to Pershing Square station from the Grand Central Market via the basement. I know there's an entrance on the northeast corner of Hill St./4th St., but vagrants and other dregs like to hang-out there. I wind up exiting on the northwest corner to avoid them. An entrance right into the Grand Central Market would put people right there, maybe increase patronage, and fill some of those vacant market stalls.
I still remember riding the Blue Line in the 90's when the platforms could only accommodate two-car trains and the Red Line was a segment that ran from 7th St./Metro to LAUS.
If only it were so easy to persuade the Scrooge McLand-barons (the Bonaventure et al.) around what should be 4th/5th station of the Connector Project to contribute and make it happen, things would be just that much more terrific.
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Post by metrocenter on Oct 12, 2015 7:55:52 GMT -8
Friday night, taking the Blue Line home from work, southbound approaching Artesia station - someone apparently took a shot at our passing train. It made such a loud bang, it almost sounded like a gun was fired inside the train. But the impact hole was on the outside. About three feet behind my head. The glass held up, did not fully shatter, but absorbed the impact. People were shaken up. I reported the incident to Metro security.
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Post by johanragle on Oct 12, 2015 17:26:23 GMT -8
You need to "share" the image on Google first in order to make it publicly viewable.
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Post by skater on Oct 12, 2015 23:46:05 GMT -8
Friday night, taking the Blue Line home from work, southbound approaching Artesia station - someone apparently took a shot at our passing train. It made such a loud bang, it almost sounded like a gun was fired inside the train. But the impact hole was on the outside. About three feet behind my head. The glass held up, did not fully shatter, but absorbed the impact. People were shaken up. I reported the incident to Metro security. wow . thats crazy . good thing the glass held up and your alright.
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Post by metrocenter on Oct 14, 2015 8:18:25 GMT -8
You need to "share" the image on Google first in order to make it publicly viewable. Thanks!
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Post by Gokhan on Oct 14, 2015 12:50:33 GMT -8
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Post by bobdavis on Nov 24, 2015 9:30:48 GMT -8
Yesterday (Nov 23) I rode the Expo/Blue line from 7th St. to Pico Blvd for a visit to the Auto Show (I find it amusing to go there on three electric railways) Apparently it was not a good day to visit Long Beach, because the Blue Line was closed between Willowbrook and Compton because of a grade crossing collision and Metro had to run a "bus bridge" for a number of hours. I could find no mention of this in the local media (but did not check the LB Press-Telegram). It sounded like someone had challenged a 150-ton interurban train with a 2-ton motorcar and once again proved that the laws of physics are rigidly enforced.
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Feb 13, 2016 22:00:15 GMT -8
vimeo.com/155270370Just spotted a new 3-car KS train at 7th St putting some miles the Blue Line route
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Post by transitfan on Feb 17, 2016 6:48:38 GMT -8
vimeo.com/155270370Just spotted a new 3-car KS train at 7th St putting some miles the Blue Line route Nice! Interesting that the signs were set to the actual destination (Long Beach) instead of "Test Train" or "Not in Service". I wonder if any pax waiting at stations shouted as the train passed by.
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Post by usmc1401 on Jul 27, 2017 7:57:31 GMT -8
Last night 7/26/2017 a fire occurred at 7th and Metro and shut down the Blue and Expo lines at this terminal This morning a bus bridge is being run. The fire was either trash or electrical.
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