|
Post by bluelineshawn on Aug 25, 2012 7:53:32 GMT -8
It has been discussed in other thread and the point raised was that since Metro will switch to names letters soon... Emphasis on "soon". My impression is that this will happen within the next year and maybe in the next few months. IIRC Bruce Shelburne mentioned that they won't again make the mistake of asking the board to approve the name changes and will just start doing it. As has already started with the "E".
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 5, 2012 15:53:27 GMT -8
I don't know why USC sources are usually negative and critical of the Expo Line. A new such article just came out. I think many students who use the line appreciate it but we still see mostly negative articles from USC. Regrading the delays, currently the trains seem to make it to Culver City within +/- 2 minutes of the 29 minutes scheduled, which is not really bad at all. Of course, the line can easily be sped up by another 5 minutes, and it should be, but it's not as bad as some make it sound. Sure, it stops at some red lights, but currently no one is expecting it to catch all the greens. If it didn't stop at any red light, the time to Culver City would only be 21 minutes. Latest Metro Expo Line A Sluggish Disappointment For L.A. CommutersRegarding making the timetable, Expo Line is usually far more reliable than driving, which can have serious delays (up to half hour or more) due to varying traffic conditions. The author never mentions that.
|
|
|
Post by pithecanthropus on Sept 5, 2012 16:05:14 GMT -8
I agree, naming the lines for letters will be a bad move! Besides, I was hoping they'd save letters to designate routes once the Regional Connector is online. So for instance going east along the Expo Line a "P" train could be the one that provides a single seat ride to Pasadena; and another letter could be the one that goes to East L.A. Either way the train for your desired route would require a longer wait before boarding, but you'd get a single seat ride. Or you could just board any eastbound train as you do today, and transfer as needed. If you're only going as far as 7th Street, then any train would do, same as today. It has been discussed in other thread and the point raised was that since Metro will switch to names soon, the letter inside the circle won't be the color name. Metro seems to be favoring ABCDE in chronological order (e.g. A for Blue since it was the firs to open, and E for Expo since it is the last line to open). But many have suggested an alternative logical color/name scheme: E for Expo and East LA W for Wilshire H for Hollywood I for Imperial L for Long Beach F for Foothill This way, people can still call it Red line if they want but for the H in the red circle will at least mean something. I agree wholeheartedly. For an organization that is generally great at marketing, Metro would really be making a mistake to choose such an arbitrary and opaque system. Naming them after the primary destination/corridor would give a mnemonic edge to the learning process that you just don't get if you go the ABCDE route.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 5, 2012 17:15:19 GMT -8
I agree, naming the lines for letters will be a bad move! Besides, I was hoping they'd save letters to designate routes once the Regional Connector is online. So for instance going east along the Expo Line a "P" train could be the one that provides a single seat ride to Pasadena; and another letter could be the one that goes to East L.A. Either way the train for your desired route would require a longer wait before boarding, but you'd get a single seat ride. Or you could just board any eastbound train as you do today, and transfer as needed. If you're only going as far as 7th Street, then any train would do, same as today. I agree wholeheartedly. For an organization that is generally great at marketing, Metro would really be making a mistake to choose such an arbitrary and opaque system. Naming them after the primary destination/corridor would give a mnemonic edge to the learning process that you just don't get if you go the ABCDE route. This discussion should really be taking place at the Name the Exposition Blvd LRT thread.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 6, 2012 10:35:42 GMT -8
It's funny that the Neon Tommy author thinks that the Expo Line is subject to the same traffic congestion as a bus or a car. She doesn't realize that it's not a streetcar, which has its tracks embedded in traffic lanes, but has a secluded right-of-way instead.
|
|
elray
Junior Member
Posts: 84
|
Post by elray on Sept 6, 2012 11:15:55 GMT -8
I don't know why USC sources are usually negative and critical of the Expo Line. A new such article just came out. I think many students who use the line appreciate it but we still see mostly negative articles from USC. Latest Metro Expo Line A Sluggish Disappointment For L.A. CommutersRegarding making the timetable, Expo Line is usually far more reliable than driving, which can have serious delays (up to half hour or more) due to varying traffic conditions. The author never mentions that. I don't see the article as negative, only highlighting the truth of the moment. While the author may ignore the potential for fine-tuning of the system, in the end, it still isn't going to be anything to write home about speed-wise, thanks to at-grade construction. Some insist that any rail is good for us, and that at-grade was "the only" choice - and maybe it was, given the false-start on Expo funding over a decade ago, but considering that GloMo and now MRT found funding for subway segments in their districts, I submit that the public has been shortchanged with the Expo designs, and unfortunately, "advocates" approved thereof.
|
|
|
Post by LAofAnaheim on Sept 6, 2012 11:32:08 GMT -8
It's funny that the Neon Tommy author thinks that the Expo Line is subject to the same traffic congestion as a bus or a car. She doesn't realize that it's not a streetcar, which has its tracks embedded in traffic lanes, but has a secluded right-of-way instead. Reality is though Gokhan, the segment between Jefferson and 7th street/Metro center, the Expo Line runs like a darn streetcar. Nearly everyday I ride the Expo Line and I see the passengers faces go from smiles to frowns once we get to 23rd street station. It sometimes takes 5 minutes to get from 23rd to Pico station. That is ridiculously long. I could bike there faster from 23rd to Pico. This is the worst at-grade segment in the entire Metro rail system. Significant improvements are needed and the article appropriately called it out. The article did note that there are no errors between Vermont to Culver City station, so its actually correct. Some criticism is needed of the Expo Line and north of Jefferson (esp between 23rd to Pico), needs improvement. Also, I'm glad that attention is being brought to the Eastside Gold Line, it also needs signal synch work on 3rd street and Little Tokyo sections.
|
|
|
Post by LAofAnaheim on Sept 6, 2012 11:35:20 GMT -8
I don't see the article as negative, only highlighting the truth of the moment. While the author may ignore the potential for fine-tuning of the system, in the end, it still isn't going to be anything to write home about speed-wise, thanks to at-grade construction. Some insist that any rail is good for us, and that at-grade was "the only" choice - and maybe it was, given the false-start on Expo funding over a decade ago, but considering that GloMo and now MRT found funding for subway segments in their districts, I submit that the public has been shortchanged with the Expo designs, and unfortunately, "advocates" approved thereof. MRT has not found any funding for a subway segment in his district. The Crenshaw Line is still expected to be at-grade between 48th through 60th, which is what he's fighting for. The only additional option that I see being picked up is that we'll see a Leimart Park station somehow built..just like how USC/Expo Park was an optional station; Leimart Park will miraciously get some surprised funding; which it deserves. Molina didn't find funding for the Eastside Gold Line in Boyle Heights. Due to engineering needs, it had to be a subway under 1st street. So it's not like Molina got some funding, it was the only way the Eastside Gold Line could be built. That wasn't an option.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 6, 2012 12:46:42 GMT -8
Nearly everyday I ride the Expo Line and I see the passengers faces go from smiles to frowns once we get to 23rd street station. It sometimes takes 5 minutes to get from 23rd to Pico station. That is ridiculously long. I could bike there faster from 23rd to Pico. This is the worst at-grade segment in the entire Metro rail system. Significant improvements are needed and the article appropriately called it out. The article did note that there are no errors between Vermont to Culver City station, so its actually correct. Some criticism is needed of the Expo Line and north of Jefferson (esp between 23rd to Pico), needs improvement. Isn't the slowdown between Pico and 23rd is because of the rail junction and therefore has nothing with the line being at-grade? Similar problems are even more common in the subway systems, where there are even more junctions.
|
|
|
Post by mattapoisett on Sept 6, 2012 13:30:24 GMT -8
Isn't the slowdown between Pico and 23rd is because of the rail junction and therefore has nothing with the line being at-grade? Similar problems are even more common in the subway systems, where there are even more junctions. No, though that is part of the issue. Every time the train I'm on arrives at the 110 HOV on-ramp at 28th St, we hit a stop signal. It usually takes about 2 minutes to clear. About half the time arriving at Western in either direction, we hit a stop signal. It adds another minute to the trip. I've encountered the ATP going off multiple times between Jefferson and Washington, making us late for the switch "window". if the Expo line arrived at the junction on time, it would be allowed to proceed through in a timely manner. it can't though, because it interacts with a significant number of grade crossings along it's route. According to Metro, the eastern portion of the line is supposed to sync itself at Gramercy to allow the train to arrive at Pico with limited delays, but Metro has admitted that, even with signal priority etc, LADOT still gives enough weight to automobile and pedestrian traffic crossing the row to screw things up. When they talk about tweaking the system to make improvements, this is what they are working on.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 6, 2012 13:47:45 GMT -8
Traffic-light-controlled sections do not have signal preexemption for trains; therefore, there will always be a few reds a long the line. However, these are built into the trip time. An agressive operator should be able to make the 29 minutes to Culver City but others spend too much dwelling at the stations and don't hit the speed limit when cruising and end up getting caught at many lights.
Metro and Expo are trying to have LADOT increase the signal priority for the trains and even have signal preexemption at some crossings. Expo/Rodeo has virtually signal preexemption for example, despite no crossing gates being there.
Also, if a train from the opposite direction arrives at a crossing earlier, the train in the other direction loses its signal priority.
My experience in the westbound direction have been that the trains from 7th/Metro are never more than 2 minutes late to the Culver City Station. This is actually not bad at all. Usually they are right on-time and sometimes a minute earlier. I don't know about the reverse direction because I don't ride it all the way. But the westbound Expo Line is always on-time to Culver City (within two minutes). If they lose 4 minutes to Vermont, they easily make up 2 - 3 minutes from Vermont to Culver City.
|
|
|
Post by TransportationZ on Sept 6, 2012 15:48:35 GMT -8
LADOT's mentality is going not get people out of cars. A train as slow as a bus isn't going to cut it.
Look at the Gold Line. Trying driving down 3rd street in East LA at rush hour and watch as the train will easily beat you to atlantic by a mile.
Even though 3rd street is a grid lock, trains, even though street running, can still move about swiftly. Automobile traffic isn't the Gold Line's problem, it has it's own tracks.(The signal improvements on the East LA Gold Line has really worked wonders)
IMO, the corridor moving more people should have priority, the problem is, even 50 cars can make a huge difference on a road, even if only moving 50 people. However, I don't see why 200-300 people in a full Light rail train have to wait for 20 single occupancy cars to cross the tracks.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 7, 2012 9:37:45 GMT -8
Traffic-light-controlled sections do not have signal preexemption for trains; therefore, there will always be a few reds a long the line. However, these are built into the trip time. An agressive operator should be able to make the 29 minutes to Culver City but others spend too much dwelling at the stations and don't hit the speed limit when cruising and end up getting caught at many lights. Metro and Expo are trying to have LADOT increase the signal priority for the trains and even have signal preexemption at some crossings. Expo/Rodeo has virtually signal preexemption for example, despite no crossing gates being there. Also, if a train from the opposite direction arrives at a crossing earlier, the train in the other direction loses its signal priority. My experience in the westbound direction have been that the trains from 7th/Metro are never more than 2 minutes late to the Culver City Station. This is actually not bad at all. Usually they are right on-time and sometimes a minute earlier. I don't know about the reverse direction because I don't ride it all the way. But the westbound Expo Line is always on-time to Culver City (within two minutes). If they lose 4 minutes to Vermont, they easily make up 2 - 3 minutes from Vermont to Culver City. The factor that affects the speed of the trains most seems to be the operator competency. Last evening, the train arrived to the Vermont Station 5 minutes late and then the operarator dwelled at the Vermont Station unnecessarily for 1 minute. He also went 5 MPH in Culver City al the way from la Cienega to Washington/National. As a result, we ended up 8 minutes late. Today, a similar problem happened. For some reason, the operator kept dwelling at the Crenshaw Station and he missed two greens in a row! As a result, we were 3 minutes late to the Vermont Station and the next train probably caught up with him by the time he made it to 7th/Metro. The operator competency seems to be the biggest issue when it comes to operational speed and accident avoidance for light-rail.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 25, 2012 10:18:07 GMT -8
Probably not related to Expo, but received a text message from USC saying that westbound Exposition closed from Figueroa St to Watt Way until further notice due to traffic-crash investigation.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 25, 2012 12:22:19 GMT -8
Probably not related to Expo, but received a text message from USC saying that westbound Exposition closed from Figueroa St to Watt Way until further notice due to traffic-crash investigation. Involving a motorcycle and possibly a car or SUV, no train involvement: Fatal traffic collision occurs on ExpositionMore from Annenberg TV: A biker in his mid-twenties was killed in a motorcycle crash Tuesday morning at 9:41 a.m. in the 400-block of Exposition Boulevard, just south of USC. Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene. LAPD is investigating whether the victim was a USC student. His name has not yet been released. ATVN will continue to update this story throughout the day as we collect more information.
|
|
|
Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Sept 25, 2012 13:21:22 GMT -8
Was the train also shut down?
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 25, 2012 13:43:17 GMT -8
Was the train also shut down? No, I don't think so. Exposition Boulevard westbound was closed for four hours.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 25, 2012 22:05:34 GMT -8
Sadly we just received an e-mail that the deceased was a PhD student in Chemistry from Russia.
|
|
|
Post by TransportationZ on Sept 26, 2012 7:37:58 GMT -8
Sadly we just received an e-mail that the deceased was a PhD student in Chemistry from Russia. Ouch.
|
|
|
Post by bluelineshawn on Oct 14, 2012 18:30:26 GMT -8
Expo adjacent A Taste of Soul is next Saturday 10/20/12. I went last year and it was pretty cool. Lots of food and vendors and quite a few performers.
|
|
|
Post by davebowman on Oct 15, 2012 14:18:56 GMT -8
I'll be taking the Expo Line for the first time next Saturday to get to the USC/Colorado game from Culver City, so it will be interesting to see how the system handles two big events on the same day.
|
|
|
Post by bluelineshawn on Oct 21, 2012 9:39:24 GMT -8
So how did it go taking Expo to the game? I saw tons of USC fans taking Expo to and from the game. Mostly from downtown and the trains from Culver City looked much less full. Not even half full from what I saw.
Plenty of people also took Expo to Taste of Soul, but it was by far the lesser event of the two ridership wise. Metro was running extra trains for the game (they really should mention this in the service change section on the home page) and from what I could tell kept running them even during the game. Not sure if this is normal or they did it special because Taste of Soul was going on. Either way trains ended up running with very few riders for much of the afternoon.
On a positive note, my ride from Crenshaw to Pico didn't really seem slow at all.
|
|
|
Post by transitfan on Oct 22, 2012 6:01:05 GMT -8
So how did it go taking Expo to the game? I saw tons of USC fans taking Expo to and from the game. Mostly from downtown and the trains from Culver City looked much less full. Not even half full from what I saw. Plenty of people also took Expo to Taste of Soul, but it was by far the lesser event of the two ridership wise. Metro was running extra trains for the game (they really should mention this in the service change section on the home page) and from what I could tell kept running them even during the game. Not sure if this is normal or they did it special because Taste of Soul was going on. Either way trains ended up running with very few riders for much of the afternoon. On a positive note, my ride from Crenshaw to Pico didn't really seem slow at all. It probably was a good idea to run them during the game, as the game was such a rout (50-6 USC!!) ;D, that some ppl probably left early (I wasn't able to see the game here in So. Florida, but I monitored the score via the ESPN website). Since the default page on the browser on my computer at home is USC Tommy Cam , at one point I checked and it looked like some people were already walking from the Coliseum north on campus. Might as well run them, no place to lay up the extra trains during the game (since the proposed storage facility just north of Washington station isn't ready (what's the status on that anyway?)
|
|
|
Post by davebowman on Oct 22, 2012 11:32:16 GMT -8
I am happy to report taking the Expo Line to the USC game on Saturday was a breeze. My friend drove us to the Culver City station from Santa Monica, and he has a handicapped sticker so we were able to park on the street nearby, which was good since the lot was full (about 1:00pm for a 3:00pm game). There were no lines at the ticket machines, but we planned ahead and had TAP cards. A train arrived after a short wait, and there were a fair number of riders but it definitely wasn't crowded. I didn't time the ride to USC but it moved along very well, and the Farmdale Crawl wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. When we stopped at the La Cienega station it looked like there were still spaces left in the parking structure. It didn't seem like many people got off at Crenshaw for the Soul festival. Since the game was a blowout we left at the end of the third quarter (along with a lot of other people). There were lots of Metro personnel helping out around the Expo Park/USC station, and on the boulevard on the south side of Exposition there were separate queues roped off for EB and WB trains with TAP machines at the entrance, but there was no line yet and we were able to get to the platform no problem. A WB train showed up after about a 5 minute wait. A much bigger crowd leaving on our WB train, and after the Vermont stop some people had to stand. I timed it, and it was 20 minutes from Expo Park/USC station to Culver City station. All in all a very positive experience, and I will never drive down to the USC campus for a football game ever again.
|
|
|
Post by bluelineshawn on Oct 22, 2012 17:34:51 GMT -8
Great report Dave. Happy to hear a positive report from an SC fan as the Yelp reviews are pretty much all negative.
Transitfan, I haven't heard anything lately on the Washington storage facility, but I can confirm that there has been no visible activity at all in the last year.
|
|
|
Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Oct 25, 2012 14:30:41 GMT -8
USC produced this video on the Expo Line from a student's perspective. It's a little over the top, but still amusing:
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 25, 2012 15:40:17 GMT -8
USC produced this video on the Expo Line from a student's perspective. It's a little over the top, but still amusing: This is actually great!
|
|
|
Post by LAofAnaheim on Oct 26, 2012 8:19:14 GMT -8
It was a good video...................until the last 5 seconds. What's up with the "can you give me a ride?" comment? "i don't want to walk alone".
Stereotypical LA............basically s***ing on public transportation as you don't feel safe or would rather be in a car.
Not a good produced video, just by those last 2 comments.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 26, 2012 8:45:00 GMT -8
It was a good video...................until the last 5 seconds. What's up with the "can you give me a ride?" comment? "i don't want to walk alone". Stereotypical LA............basically s***ing on public transportation as you don't feel safe or would rather be in a car. Not a good produced video, just by those last 2 comments. LOL I think you totally missed her message to her date there.
|
|
|
Post by bzcat on Oct 26, 2012 9:29:36 GMT -8
Great video. The only quibble I have is that they should have made a video like this a long time ago. It's not like USC was inaccessible by bus before... How to use Metro system (bus included) and a free TAP card should be standard part of new student orientation. UCLA includes a video in new student orientation that shows everyone how to apply for Bruin Go! and use Big Blue Bus and Culver City Bus to everyone when they pick up the registration packet. USC by contrast, barely lifts a finger to help students use public transit.
|
|