|
Post by bluelineshawn on Sept 2, 2012 15:03:55 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 2, 2012 15:05:58 GMT -8
They were going to count the number of people riding the Expo Line to the game. We should get an exact number early next week.
|
|
|
Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Sept 2, 2012 16:42:47 GMT -8
From our man in the field, Dwight (paraphrased): Huge day for the Expo Line and Metro. I was At USC/Expo Station and starting around 11am at the USC/Expo station it was consistently 150 to 200 getting off per arriving train - but an equivalent number were getting off at Vermont AND I heard riders were getting off at Jefferson.
I overheard people say that Metro was "so easy" and they would never drive to the game in the future.
The parking lot in Culver City was FULL by 11:30am.
The Gold line also had extra service and 3-car trains to support the football traffic (and a music concert in Chinatown) so this was a very huge weekend for Metro. They had staff everywhere to help out.
|
|
|
Post by bobdavis on Sept 2, 2012 22:05:02 GMT -8
And so much for the old rumor that the Gold Line power system couldn't support three-car trains.
As a Trojan dad would say, "Conquest" of crowd-handling challenges. My older daughter graduated from USC back when the SP freights were still running along Exposition Blvd. This makes the first time fans could go to the games by rail since the the ex-LA Railway lines quit in 1963 (and the last football game would have been in 1962).
|
|
|
Post by masonite on Sept 2, 2012 22:51:42 GMT -8
And so much for the old rumor that the Gold Line power system couldn't support three-car trains. As a Trojan dad would say, "Conquest" of crowd-handling challenges. My older daughter graduated from USC back when the SP freights were still running along Exposition Blvd. This makes the first time fans could go to the games by rail since the the ex-LA Railway lines quit in 1963 (and the last football game would have been in 1962). Wouldn't the last time fans could go to the Coliseum via rail have been in 1953 with the end of the Air Line?
|
|
|
Post by carter on Sept 3, 2012 9:04:54 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by TransportationZ on Sept 3, 2012 9:35:24 GMT -8
Metro really needs to get this line in tip top shape if thousands of people are going to rely on this line to go to games. A sudden switch or power issue would be a disaster at the height of people coming to and from the games.
The Expo Park/USC station really should have been a subway or trench station, especially since it is known that thousands of people literally have to cross those tracks.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 3, 2012 9:56:00 GMT -8
If it were a subway, there wouldn't be an Expo Park / USC Station, as there was no place underground to put a station because of the foundations of the adjacent USC buildings.
I'd rather have the Expo Park / USC Station instead of a subway. Expo Park / USC Station is crucial for USC access. Vermont Station is too far and not a very pleasant walk.
Besides, the game-dame operations went extremely smoothly. Crowds were no problem.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 3, 2012 10:24:05 GMT -8
The LARY (Los Angeles Railway) Yellow Car U Line (University Line) narrow-gauge streetcar that ran through Hoover, 30th, McClintock, and Vermont ran its last streetcar in 1947. Santa Monica Air Line Red Car light-rail line on Exposition Boulevard (Expo Line predecessor) ran its last light-rail car on September 29, 1953. Southern Pacific diesel freight trains ran to Santa Monica until 1987 and to Culver Junction until 1989. In principle, they could have run Metrolink-like diesel commuter rail until 1989, but I don't know if it was done at any occasion. I am only aware of circus trains running to Exposition Park until 1980s and some national expedition train (peace train?) in the 1960s or so. There was also a plan in 1984 to build an "Olympic Line" high-capacity diesel commuter rail between USC and UCLA to shuttle the Olympics spectators back and forth that would use the Expo Line right-of-way and then-existing northward right-of-way branch on Sepulveda that was never realized.
|
|
|
Post by bobdavis on Sept 3, 2012 13:30:51 GMT -8
The LARy-LATL 5 and 6 lines ran along Santa Barbra Ave. (today's Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd), and there was a siding opposite the Coliseum where game-day extra cars could be spotted. These lines were abandoned in 1956, but some of the tracks may have been retained for event service. It would be more of a hike from the V (on Vermont) or the J (on Jefferson) but it would not be that difficult. This points up an LARy tradition, having route designations that tied into one or more streets that the cars traveled on: the P on Pico and the W on Washington, for example. The H just went a few blocks on Heliotrope, and was mostly on other streets, but that was enough.
|
|
|
Post by transitfan on Sept 4, 2012 7:40:23 GMT -8
The LARy-LATL 5 and 6 lines ran along Santa Barbra Ave. (today's Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd), and there was a siding opposite the Coliseum where game-day extra cars could be spotted. These lines were abandoned in 1956, but some of the tracks may have been retained for event service. It would be more of a hike from the V (on Vermont) or the J (on Jefferson) but it would not be that difficult. This points up an LARy tradition, having route designations that tied into one or more streets that the cars traveled on: the P on Pico and the W on Washington, for example. The H just went a few blocks on Heliotrope, and was mostly on other streets, but that was enough. It would be a hike from the J, but the V on Vermont passed right by the west side of the Coliseum (albeit with parking areas between the street and the stadium). I assume that the V stopped at Vermont & 39th, which would've been the closest stop to the Coliseum. I remember more than once riding the V's successor, the 95 bus line from a game (I recall they would have a couple of extra buses sitting on 39th inside the Coliseum grounds, which would load up and then go into regular service on Vermont. Don't know if they stayed in service once reaching Hollywood Blvd, or pulled back into Division 2).
|
|
|
Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Sept 4, 2012 11:03:59 GMT -8
Metro Calls Expo Trips to USC Game a SuccessMetro officials claimed success for Saturday’s first light rail service to a USC home football game since Sept. 26, 1953, although it was unclear how many people took the Expo Line to see the Trojans' 49-10 victory over Hawaii. Ridership on the Expo Line was approximately 13,000 people, according to figures released by Metro. It was not known how many of those riders were going to the game. The ridership also likely received some boost from the FYF Fest at the Los Angeles State Historic Park between Chinatown and Elysian Park. (link)
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 4, 2012 12:25:40 GMT -8
13,000 is probably the average Saturday ridership for August, up 1,000 from July. They haven't said how many people took the train to the game yet.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 14, 2012 17:14:48 GMT -8
View of the Sepulveda fire from the Expo La Cienega Station:
|
|
|
Post by bobdavis on Sept 14, 2012 21:42:00 GMT -8
Also a good shot of the LADWP 34.5 kV line with "Flowerpot" insulators. Electric line hardware fans like elevated railways (Chicago is probably the best place) for observing line construction practices close up.
|
|
|
Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Sept 20, 2012 15:57:51 GMT -8
ThenNow
|
|
|
Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Sept 22, 2012 18:31:41 GMT -8
Today was another USC home game. Did anyone attend and/or see if more or less people took the Expo line?
|
|
|
Post by John Ryan on Sept 24, 2012 9:54:25 GMT -8
Complaints prompt Metro to 'improve' Expo Line rail crossings latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/complaints-prompt-metro-to-improve-expo-line-rail-crossings.htmlIn the wake of criticism about the safety of the new Expo Line, transit officials are making improvements for pedestrians and motorists at 21 street crossings along the light-rail route. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to spend $287,500 to improve crosswalks, pedestrian warning signs and traffic signals from Washington Boulevard and Flower Street to Jefferson and Hauser boulevards. Among the safety enhancements are more fencing, louder train horns and, under certain circumstances, speed restrictions of 15 mph at stations. The recommendations were presented Thursday at a meeting of the safety and operations committee of the MTA’s board of directors. Authority officials say they want to implement all of the measures by June 2013. “There is no question the reason for the improvements is to make the crossings safer for motorists and pedestrians,” said Vijay Khawani, MTA’s executive officer for corporate safety. “We hope the public heeds these warnings and signs when they activate.” Although three minor accidents involving motor vehicles occurred during Expo’s trial runs, Khawani said there have been no collisions with cars or pedestrians since the line’s official opening in April. Expo, which averages about 18,000 [old numbers] boardings per workday, runs 8.6 miles between downtown Los Angeles and Culver City via Exposition Boulevard. Construction of the second phase to Santa Monica is underway. Many of the safety enhancements will be at the intersection of Exposition and Rodeo Road, where Expo trains travel at 40 mph through a maze of traffic signals, signs, crosswalks and pavement markings for bicycles. Critics have said the complex crossing could be confusing and potentially dangerous for the public. Plans call for 14 improvements to the crossing, including barriers, additional signage for bicyclists, audible warning signals, and directions for motorists and pedestrians. The improvements stemmed from a request by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in late May to have the MTA assess the safety of Expo’s crossings. Villaraigosa cited the concerns of Najmedin Meshakti, an engineering professor and safety expert at USC, who had questioned the adequacy of precautions and warnings at several intersections along the line and next to the university. The mayor “is pleased that many of these concerns have been and are currently being addressed by Metro. The safety of drivers, pedestrians and Expo line riders and employees is paramount,” a spokesman for Villaraigosa said. The request prompted the MTA to form a task force that included the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates rail crossings in the state. “This is good news to hear. Any step to improve the grade crossings is music to my ears,” said Meshkati, who added that he is still concerned about the Exposition and Rodeo intersection.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 24, 2012 10:34:52 GMT -8
Today was another USC home game. Did anyone attend and/or see if more or less people took the Expo line? After USC dropped to No. 13 from No. 1, the game attendance dropped significantly but we will see what the ridership was this time.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 24, 2012 10:39:31 GMT -8
speed restrictions of 15 mph at stations. It's only when there is a second train is departing from a side platform but it's still annoying to see they are further trying to slow down the line. Speed limits have a little to do with safety. The operators are responsible for safety at crossings. It's good to bring all these safety features but ultimately no safety feature beats a well-trained operator. Also, they talk about reducing the human factor in safety and making things failsafe but when you reduce the human factor, you also reduce a critical element in safety.
|
|
|
Post by JerardWright on Sept 24, 2012 12:10:34 GMT -8
speed restrictions of 15 mph at stations. It's only when there is a second train is departing from a side platform but it's still annoying to see they are further trying to slow down the line. Speed limits have a little to do with safety. The operators are responsible for safety at crossings. It's good to bring all these safety features but ultimately no safety feature beats a well-trained operator. Also, they talk about reducing the human factor in safety and making things failsafe but when you reduce the human factor, you also reduce a critical element in safety. Excellent point! This is no different than the aviation industry and the switch from more automated form of air travel to where now, Most of the crashes now are due to lack of this human element and an over-reliance of the computer for safety factors.
|
|
|
Post by masonite on Sept 30, 2012 20:11:26 GMT -8
I was on Expo today. 4 fare checkers boarded our return train home at around 6:00 p.m. They nabbed two people in our car alone. One lady fumbled around in her purse, but I think it was pretty obvious she just didn't pay and was trying to cover to save the embarrassment.
Another guy just fessed up from the get go. When he was asked for ID, he said he didn't have any. The officer took his info and gave him a ticket, but not sure how they know he just didn't give them a phony name and address?
I know some people don't favor stringent fare collection, but I was glad to see this. It serves as a deterrent to those riding the line, especially for a new line like Expo. Many people feel that they just don't check so you can ride for free. It was a good show of force.
TAP continues to be a problem at Culver City. This station always has new riders as it is a gateway station in an area that is new to rail service. They need more machines and they need instructions on how to use TAP here. I am always finding frustrated people here struggling to buy a ticket and they tie up the dispensing machines. I would have hoped Metro would have added more TAP machines given the fiasco with the USC games here.
|
|
|
Post by jamesinclair on Oct 1, 2012 10:52:47 GMT -8
Another guy just fessed up from the get go. When he was asked for ID, he said he didn't have any. The officer took his info and gave him a ticket, but not sure how they know he just didn't give them a phony name and address? . We dont live in a papers please country, ID is not required to be in public.
|
|
|
Post by carter on Oct 1, 2012 12:03:27 GMT -8
I know some people don't favor stringent fare collection, but I was glad to see this. It serves as a deterrent to those riding the line, especially for a new line like Expo. Many people feel that they just don't check so you can ride for free. It was a good show of force. The issue with fare enforcement is all about whether the costs of paying fare checkers (salaries) justify the benefits (additional revenue, improved safety, etc.). In a world of finite resources, you have to decide if paying LAC Sherrifs is more valuable than paying for other services that Metro provides. There are trade-offs.
|
|
|
Post by masonite on Oct 1, 2012 12:55:07 GMT -8
I know some people don't favor stringent fare collection, but I was glad to see this. It serves as a deterrent to those riding the line, especially for a new line like Expo. Many people feel that they just don't check so you can ride for free. It was a good show of force. The issue with fare enforcement is all about whether the costs of paying fare checkers (salaries) justify the benefits (additional revenue, improved safety, etc.). In a world of finite resources, you have to decide if paying LAC Sherrifs is more valuable than paying for other services that Metro provides. There are trade-offs. True. I think they made their money yesterday as one fare violation fine would probably pay for their entire 4 person team for an hour. I have only been checked 3 times in total in my lifetime, so I am not used to seeing anyone.
|
|
|
Post by masonite on Oct 1, 2012 12:59:34 GMT -8
Another guy just fessed up from the get go. When he was asked for ID, he said he didn't have any. The officer took his info and gave him a ticket, but not sure how they know he just didn't give them a phony name and address? . We dont live in a papers please country, ID is not required to be in public. Yes, but I was just wondering how they were going to actually get this guy to pay his fine or was he going to be able to work the system.
|
|
|
Post by matthewb on Oct 2, 2012 0:52:43 GMT -8
We dont live in a papers please country, ID is not required to be in public. Yes, but I was just wondering how they were going to actually get this guy to pay his fine or was he going to be able to work the system. If you jump the turnstiles in the New York subway and don't have ID with you, you go straight to Brooklyn central booking.
|
|
|
Post by jamesinclair on Oct 2, 2012 9:50:23 GMT -8
The issue with fare enforcement is all about whether the costs of paying fare checkers (salaries) justify the benefits (additional revenue, improved safety, etc.). In a world of finite resources, you have to decide if paying LAC Sherrifs is more valuable than paying for other services that Metro provides. There are trade-offs. Its not just about revenue, you want staff on the trains to improve customer service, safety etc. The fact that they pay part, if not all of their way through fines is a great bonus. Yes, but I was just wondering how they were going to actually get this guy to pay his fine or was he going to be able to work the system. If you jump the turnstiles in the New York subway and don't have ID with you, you go straight to Brooklyn central booking. NYPD is not exctly the post child of following the constitution with their policies. What happens in the case described is that the officer has leeway to determine if the person is giving a fake name and address. "My name is Ronald Mcdonalds, 123 Happy Lane" means the officer can detain you further to determine your actual identity and address. Most people, caught in that spot, either tell the truth out of fear that if they lie theyre in deeper trouble, or are stupid enough to play a game....which gets them in more trouble.
|
|
elray
Junior Member
Posts: 84
|
Post by elray on Oct 6, 2012 12:39:39 GMT -8
We dont live in a papers please country, ID is not required to be in public. Not required to be in public, but prudent if you're going to challenge or break the law or authority, unless you want to spend an inordinate amount of time being detained while your identity is established, with the possibility of free lodging in the graybar hotel for a week or more. Better to let law enforcement feel better about themselves, let them know who you are, and file your complaint later. Maybe I'm getting old, but I find it strange that one would expect their government to deliver up multi-billion-dollar transit service and then not want to cooperate with the basic tenets of public safety on the very lines you so desire. Not certain fare enforcement needs to be done by armed deputies, but for purposes of security, I prefer we spent money on salaries rather than locked turnstiles.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 8, 2012 11:59:44 GMT -8
To: USC University Park Community
From: The USC Department of Public Safety
Re: Incident Resolution Notice
In an effort to better communicate with the campus community about public safety issues, we are pleased to provide the following Incident Resolution Notice. Notices of this nature detail instances in which DPS and/or LAPD have been able to bring a resolution to reported illegal acts affecting our community members. We look forward to providing you with more updates of this nature.
Incident: Attempted Robbery at Exposition and Vermont Expo Light Rail Platform
On Friday October 05, 2012 at approximately 10:40pm, a non-USC student reported an unknown suspect struck him in the back of the head and demanded his property. LAPD Officers, with the assistance of USC DPS Officers responded to the area and detained the suspect a short distance away. The suspect was booked for Robbery and remains in custody.
As a reminder, always, immediately report suspicious persons to DPS or LAPD if you are ever the victim of a crime. Officers will respond immediately to the area and when provided with a good witness description can intervene before the person or persons leave the area.
Sincerely,
Department of Public Safety
|
|