|
|
Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Oct 18, 2012 15:09:37 GMT -8
Well it seems like any postings from back in 2003 during the construction of this line have been lost to a couple of board crashes over the years. For history buffs, this was originally part of the Blue line project in the late 1980's, but never got out of committee. There were lawsuits and other things that stopped it as I recall. I am sure others will chime in if I'm wrong. The method devised to actually get this line built: creating a separate "company" or authority to perform the construction tasks in the early 2000's was a novel approach that worked so well it is still used for current rail projects as it frees the contracting agency (Metro) from the grunt and legal work. There are a few places on the internet which still have pictures of construction progress: |
|
|
|
Post by bobdavis on Oct 18, 2012 20:58:37 GMT -8
During the construction of the project, I worked in Alhambra. If my wife needed some items from Trader Joe's, she'd e-mail a list to me. She knew that I would get home eventually, but it might take a while, because I'd go to the TJ's in South Pasadena, which would give me a chance to "supervise" the work, and to use a British expression, "Cheer on the navvies". Finally, in August 2002, she and I and a couple we knew went to South Pasadena at "O-dark-30 AM and watched Metro 238, a Siemens light rail unit, unloaded onto the new track--the first electric railway car in the San Gabriel Valley for over 50 years.
|
|
|
|
Post by tonyw79sfv on Oct 18, 2012 22:15:13 GMT -8
For those who's been using the Internet during the 1990s (even as far back as the 1980s) should remember something called Usenet. One group focusing on Los Angeles transportation is, well, "la.transportation". Thanks to Google Groups, formerly Dejanews/Deja, there's past discussions archived on this topic. I was able to search "Pasadena Blue Line construction authority" and retrieved this thread from 1999. groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!searchin/la.transportation/pasadena$20blue$20line$20construction$20authority/la.transportation/JFAmHQIuT0s/FFIBnGtg2qkJ Well it seems like any postings from back in 2003 during the construction of this line have been lost to a couple of board crashes over the years. For history buffs, this was originally part of the Blue line project in the late 1980's, but never got out of committee. There were lawsuits and other things that stopped it as I recall. I am sure others will chime in if I'm wrong. The method devised to actually get this line built: creating a separate "company" or authority to perform the construction tasks in the early 2000's was a novel approach that worked so well it is still used for current rail projects as it frees the contracting agency (Metro) from the grunt and legal work. There are a few places on the internet which still have pictures of construction progress: |
|
|
|
Post by bobdavis on Feb 5, 2013 23:06:52 GMT -8
Back in the early 90s, I got a photo of the overhead signs at 7th and Flower. For a very brief period, there was a sign reading "Pasadena" this was quickly covered up and removed, and the northern extension of the Blue Line became the Gold Line and came into Union Station. Now we await the Downtown Connector to close the gap.
|
|
|
|
Post by culvercitylocke on Jun 12, 2013 13:50:12 GMT -8
So what was the original planned alignment? I think it's bizarre and horrible that part of the Goldline is also in the middle of a freeway when it should naturally be running on or underneath Colorado or Green Street.
|
|
|
|
Post by bobdavis on Jun 12, 2013 21:30:56 GMT -8
I wouldn't say "bizarre and horrible" that part of the Gold Line runs in the middle of the 210 Freeway; some of the Chicago rapid transit lines have been running in "expressway" medians for decades. These are not the ideal locations for transit lines, but trying to run the tracks under Colorado and/or Green would have made the project prohibitively expensive. Since Metro already owned the former Santa Fe right of way, that's where the trains run. (over the years, I've been on what is now the Gold Line route in trains powered by steam and diesel locomotives--never dreaming that I'd find trolley wire and electric railway cars on the old ATSF 2nd District)
|
|
|
|
Post by skater on Oct 17, 2013 9:09:47 GMT -8
do you know where else I can find more photos? The tunnels near memorial park where already there before the gold line project, right?
|
|
