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Post by metrocenter on Apr 11, 2011 12:07:36 GMT -8
Lots of crying going on, on this thread!
Drove the route last night. Sorry, no pictures, it was too dark.
The single LRV was parked on the tracks outside the Museum of Natural History.
Intersections at La Brea/Jefferson and Flower/Washington were fully shutdown. Several intersections are newly resurfaced, including Exposition/Normandie. Westbound Exposition Blvd at Rodeo (the 'X' crossing) still trips me up: it makes me wonder how many accidents are going to happen there, due to dimwits like me getting confused.
At Pico Station, the work on the north entrance ramp (to 12th Street) looks like it's nearly complete, but it's still closed to the public.
Lots of trees have already been planted. In particular, a few were planted near Jefferson/USC station, they could've been our 'mystery tree'. Many more trees are ready to plant. It's going to be a very beautiful boulevard when everything is finished.
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 11, 2011 12:17:08 GMT -8
There is ugly graffiti (tagging) all over the Western Station. I don't get these kids. Someone needs to teach them that vandalism is a very bad thing. The punishment on this needs to be very strong. They were already tearing down the newly reconstructed Exposition/Crenshaw intersection at least at two different places:  |
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 11, 2011 12:21:50 GMT -8
Now it's Day 2 of the actual train testing.
The train is already traveling much faster than it did on Day 1, apparently around 15 MPH. I almost got to shoot the video at the Exposition/Rodeo split, which terrifies metrocenter, but the light for me turned green before the train made it there. So, this is just east of it with the train riding wrong-way on Track 3 (south track). Enjoy!
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andop2
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Post by andop2 on Apr 11, 2011 12:44:24 GMT -8
Intersections at La Brea/Jefferson and Flower/Washington were fully shutdown. Several intersections are newly resurfaced, including Exposition/Normandie. Westbound Exposition Blvd at Rodeo (the 'X' crossing) still trips me up: it makes me wonder how many accidents are going to happen there, due to dimwits like me getting confused. Big intersection closure this weekend at La Cienega/Jefferson, affecting National and Rodeo as well. Huge detour to La Brea. This is going to be a mess! I also predict that gates will one day (soon) be installed on Exposition eastbound at the X intersection with Rodeo. I've driven by a couple of times, and NEVER has anyone in front of me regarded the KEEP CLEAR. I have little faith their attitude will change once trains are running, so trains will have to slow to avoid clipping the offending vehicles. Gates will finally restore sanity. |
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 11, 2011 12:53:14 GMT -8
I also predict that gates will one day (soon) be installed on Exposition eastbound at the X intersection with Rodeo. I've driven by a couple of times, and NEVER has anyone in front of me regarded the KEEP CLEAR. I have little faith their attitude will change once trains are running, so trains will have to slow to avoid clipping the offending vehicles. Gates will finally restore sanity. There will be no gates there, at least in the near future. I was surprised that the gates were omitted at this location, but then they make such obvious mistakes unless someone tells them about it during the planning stage. Unfortunately I only got involved in the late FEIR stage of Phase 1 and I missed it. |
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andop2
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Post by andop2 on Apr 11, 2011 13:14:47 GMT -8
I also predict that gates will one day (soon) be installed on Exposition eastbound at the X intersection with Rodeo. I've driven by a couple of times, and NEVER has anyone in front of me regarded the KEEP CLEAR. I have little faith their attitude will change once trains are running, so trains will have to slow to avoid clipping the offending vehicles. Gates will finally restore sanity. There will be no gates there, at least in the near future. I was surprised that the gates were omitted at this location, but then they make such obvious mistakes unless someone tells them about it during the planning stage. Unfortunately I only got involved in the late FEIR stage of Phase 1 and I missed it. Gokhan, I have two questions for you (if you know the answer): 1) Any idea how much it would cost to add gates to Exposition/Rodeo intersections (northside only)? 2) If the Powers That Be decided they want to add gates, how many hoops have to be jumped through. Does a SEIR have to be done? Any state agencies have to sign off? etc. And how long would this all take? Thanks! |
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 11, 2011 13:34:26 GMT -8
There will be no gates there, at least in the near future. I was surprised that the gates were omitted at this location, but then they make such obvious mistakes unless someone tells them about it during the planning stage. Unfortunately I only got involved in the late FEIR stage of Phase 1 and I missed it. Gokhan, I have two questions for you (if you know the answer): 1) Any idea how much it would cost to add gates to Exposition/Rodeo intersections (northside only)? 2) If the Powers That Be decided they want to add gates, how many hoops have to be jumped through. Does a SEIR have to be done? Any state agencies have to sign off? etc. And how long would this all take? Thanks! It would have to be initiated by Metro, first with a seconded and approved motion, then a feasibility study, then a supplemental EIR, and then CPUC approval. It could cost up to $5 million at this stage because of a need for new study and new (higher) fencing, signals, etc. Funds would have to be found too. |
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 11, 2011 15:24:18 GMT -8
Well, let's hope that no one puts their car's nose onto the tracks. There is a good amount of buffer zone (KEEP CLEAR) in addition to WAIT HERE. So far, I've only seen one person violating it but he was still about two feet from the path of the train.
This is one place where the gates would be simplest to design and work best and increase safety many ten times with minimal impact on traffic; so, it baffles me why they didn't put gates here, which should have been no-brainer.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Apr 11, 2011 16:30:19 GMT -8
Well, let's hope that no one puts their car's nose onto the tracks. There is a good amount of buffer zone (KEEP CLEAR) in addition to WAIT HERE. So far, I've only seen one person violating it but he was still about two feet from the path of the train. This is one place where the gates would be simplest to design and work best and increase safety many ten times with minimal impact on traffic; so, it baffles me why they didn't put gates here, which should have been no-brainer. I agree whole heartedly with Gokhan and Metrocenter. Exposition/Rodeo was THE place for crossing arms. Or even a full shut down of the intersection would have been good as Arlington was only a 1/4 mile a way. |
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Post by ieko on Apr 11, 2011 16:57:03 GMT -8
I wonder about Flower at Jefferson, going eastbound on Jefferson you're completely blind to the sides, at night you hardly even notice there are tracks there. I would've liked to have see at least led embedded in the pavement like at some of the left turn lanes on Washington Bl. maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=34.021252,-118.278408&spn=0,0.016512&z=17&layer=c&cbll=34.021252,-118.278408&panoid=_oITw3E7xquWM9vD8t88ZQ&cbp=12,309.42,,0,13.57 |
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Post by bobdavis on Apr 11, 2011 19:30:30 GMT -8
I took some photos and posted them on Trainorders.com. One of the Metro men told me that right now they are just running between Crenshaw and Vermont. I noticed that the safety grounds are currently in place just south of Washington, and there was still some work in progress along Flower St.
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Apr 12, 2011 9:22:50 GMT -8
A little late, but I was in Los Angeles last week and took some shots of the test train at Vermont. A few angles you may not have seen. Click the photo for the whole set and a couple videos of a manual switch being thrown on Expo.  Expo Line - Vermont by Alexis Kasperavicius, on Flickr |
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 12, 2011 10:54:22 GMT -8
A little late, but I was in Los Angeles last week and took some shots of the test train at Vermont. A few angles you may not have seen. Click the photo for the whole set and a couple videos of a manual switch being thrown on Expo. Expo Line - Vermont by Alexis Kasperavicius, on Flickr Not late at all, much appreciated. Do you work for Expo or FFP? If not, how did you get to take all those pictures from the platform? |
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Apr 12, 2011 11:10:21 GMT -8
Oh. I asked them. There were TV News crews there just a few minutes prior. Since we are with the Transit Coalition and needed some shots for our web page. Well?
They were more than happy to oblige. They said the day was pretty much delayed by all the coverage anyway and knew it would die down by the end of the week - which it has.
I was a journalist and cameraman in times past. Really, just asking politely works wonders. The worst they can say is no.
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 12, 2011 11:14:32 GMT -8
Thanks for the switch video, Alex.
There was no train testing this morning. The train was parked at its usual spot just east of Menlo Avenue. A lot of heavy work on the OCS was taking place just west of Crenshaw, with the crew installing new feeder cables. It looks like there is still a lot of construction work left. Hopefully on June 15 they will be done with all the construction except for La Cienega parking structure, Farmdale, storage facility, and Culver Junction Station.
The line should easily be able to open before November but the problem is the La Cienega parking structure. It's needed for Westside access. It's scheduled to be completed in October. So, hopefully, the line will open before Halloween.
There was another idiot today in front of me, not respecting the WAIT HERE sign at Exposition/Rodeo eastbound. Somebody is bound to be clipped by the train there soon. Every time it happens, there will be an accident investigation for two hours and you will have a lot frustrated passengers. It's so dumb of Expo not to put a simple crossing gate there.
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 12, 2011 14:22:37 GMT -8
Summary of the Expo board meeting today Expo has now posted the Monthly Project Status Update for April... here it is. |
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 12, 2011 16:35:02 GMT -8
The line should easily be able to open before November but the problem is the La Cienega parking structure. It's needed for Westside access. It's scheduled to be completed in October. So, hopefully, the line will open before Halloween. I don't see why that is needed before opening. It is needed, but the line can open without it just like the gold line did without the garage at Atlantic. |
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 12, 2011 17:29:40 GMT -8
I don't see why that is needed before opening. It is needed, but the line can open without it just like the gold line did without the garage at Atlantic. It's not, but I would like it to be there for the initial-ridership PR. |
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Post by jdrcrasher on Apr 12, 2011 19:20:05 GMT -8
Guys, i just wanted to mention that we got one of the Space Shuttles!!! And I don't mean just the test vehicle (Enterprise)! We're getting Endeavor: latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/04/space-shuttle-los-angeles-endeavour.htmlSeriously this is just great news. This is another benefit in riding the Expo Line (which - if all goes well - will be up and running by next year) down to the USC area and the California Science Center. And of course, this creates a chain reaction, by giving tourists the chance to access more of the Figueroa Corridor by using the Expo Line, pumping tourist dollars into the economy, while boosting ridership a little bit. |
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Apr 12, 2011 20:53:36 GMT -8
I don't see why that is needed before opening. It is needed, but the line can open without it just like the gold line did without the garage at Atlantic. Westside access is not contingent on a single parking garage at La Cienega. People can take buses, bike, get a ride or walk to a station. Parking is not the "be all, end all" of all Metro transit. There's more parking lots on the Green Line than on any Metro rail line, but does that translate to higher ridership on the Green Line than on the Blue, Gold, Red or Purple lines? No! A train line needs destinations (i.e. USC, Figueroa Corridor, Staples, Downtown LA). Parking will not define a train line or give it ridership...give me destinations and I will ride. |
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Post by Philip on Apr 12, 2011 22:56:47 GMT -8
If the construction does wrap in June as planned, I don't see why it would take until November for the line to open to La Cienega. At the very least, an opening to Crenshaw in September should be pursued, since it would allow rail service in time for football season. Metro would be foolish not to take advantage of that.
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 13, 2011 5:23:12 GMT -8
Five months is a long time for pre-revenue testing (after construction ends in June). I haven't seen the schedule, but possibly they are padding it just in case something comes up during testing. Like it did with La Linea Del Oro.
For a comparison of timelines, the first powered test on the Eastside Gold Line happened in mid-March 2009, and there were people saying the line would open in June, September or October. The line didn't actually open until November 15.
In the case of Expo, the first powered test was on April 8. So given the history, mid-November seems like a good conservative estimate.
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 13, 2011 7:52:36 GMT -8
For prerevenue service to begin, all systemwide testing must be completed. Since all systems will not be finished before June 15, full testing cannot start before then. That's when all crossing gates, signals, etc. will be in place. Then give about three months or so for systemwide testing. Once this is successfully completed, prerevenue can start, which is exactly five weeks according to FTA guidelines. Prerevenue means regularly scheduled light-rail service but with no passengers in the train.
But it is possible to open the line in October with the present timeframe and I heard rumors that Metro CEO is pushing for that.
Here is a good list of what has to be done during testing, from a knowledgeable source:
Train braking tests: Can a car/train stop in the distance required in
every possible situation?
Signals tests: Do the signals operate as expected in every possible
situation? What happens when one car/train is close behind another?
Infrastructure power tests: Do the substations supply the voltage and
current as expected in every situation? What happens when the maximum
number of cars is on the line and accelerating?
Car power tests: Will a car/train still operate properly when the
voltage falls to its minimum?
Speed tests: Do the cars/trains ride properly at maximum speed? Is
there always a good power contact at maximum speed? Can a car/train
operate through a switch at maximum (switch) speed without problems?
Clearance tests: Do cars/trains clear fixed objects properly (above
and below as well as on the sides)? Can cars/trains pass one another
everywhere they are supposed to?
Handicap facilities/Wheelchair devices: Do all anticipated types of
such devices interface with the cars properly?
Tests of emergency equipment and systems: Are specified emergency
equipment and systems for ventilation and exhaust, electrical
generation, water removal, fire detection and suppression, intrusion
detection, and lighting installed and properly operating.
Recruitment, training and certification of personnel (operators,
dispatchers, maintenance) as to electrical and signal systems, track
features, shop equipment, fare collection systems, normal and
emergency communications, security systems, notification procedures,
control center response, supervisory and maintenance response,
emergency (police/fire/ambulance) first responder notification,
liaison and response, power structure and sectionalization, loss of
signals and/or communications contingencies, accident investigation
procedures, bus substitution scenarios, train evacuation, public
notification protocols and procedures, in-operation vehicle
troubleshooting, emergency occurrence training
"Readiness drills" simulating bomb threats, fire and smoke on a
railcar, grade crossing collision with or without injuries to
passengers and/or the public, operation during/after earthquakes,
civil or other disturbances, actual or threatened criminal activity
aboard trains or in station facilities/property
All of the above must include defining the roles and responsibilities
of the people involved, having observers to critique the drills,
debriefing to obtain feedback, and producing and circulating drill
summaries, conclusions, feedback and thorough updated retraining as
appropriate.
Education of the public (especially including children/students),
law-enforcement and other private/public agencies as to traffic signal
operation and other controls, violations, and general safety measures
with actual, though empty, trains in live operation.
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Post by rajacobs on Apr 13, 2011 8:57:55 GMT -8
...This is a well-conceptualized list to address relevant risk manangement topics. This gives me insight into the issues a rail project manager would have to consider. --Thanks!
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 13, 2011 11:56:39 GMT -8
It looks like after two days of testing, train testing has now stopped. They are doing repair work on the OCS and electrical systems.
Palm trees are now appearing at various locations, including the stations.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 13, 2011 12:39:14 GMT -8
Five months is a long time for pre-revenue testing (after construction ends in June). I haven't seen the schedule, but possibly they are padding it just in case something comes up during testing. Like it did with La Linea Del Oro. For a comparison of timelines, the first powered test on the Eastside Gold Line happened in mid-March 2009, and there were people saying the line would open in June, September or October. The line didn't actually open until November 15. In the case of Expo, the first powered test was on April 8. So given the history, mid-November seems like a good conservative estimate. Yes, I posted something similar last week excepe that I noted that the first clearance tests on the gold line were in January. So it took them a couple of months to run powered trains instead of a couple of days. Like I said before they are either hedging conservative or have learned that they were overly optimistic last time around. |
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 13, 2011 12:41:36 GMT -8
Yes, I posted something similar last week excepe that I noted that the first clearance tests on the gold line were in January. Oh yeah, you did! |
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 13, 2011 12:45:39 GMT -8
For prerevenue service to begin, all systemwide testing must be completed. Since all systems will not be finished before June 15, full testing cannot start before then. That's when all crossing gates, signals, etc. will be in place. Then give about three months or so for systemwide testing. Once this is successfully completed, prerevenue can start, which is exactly five weeks according to FTA guidelines. Prerevenue means regularly scheduled light-rail service but with no passengers in the train. But it is possible to open the line in October with the present timeframe and I heard rumors that Metro CEO is pushing for that.... What "systems" required for prerevenue testing won't be completed until June 15? I thought that was the substantial completion date and I remember a timeline that you posted a year or so ago showed testing beginning prior to substantial completion. I also remember that the gold line was testing before substantial completion when they were originally to open in June. June was never announced but often rumored and was very obvious with the placement of the safety ambassadors. Anyway I may be getting things a little mixed up with Expo, so corrections are appreciated but I think that they can test while they are doing things like installing escalators, finishing Farmdale, etc. They just need the tracks, signals, powered trains, and operators. |
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 13, 2011 12:48:23 GMT -8
It looks like after two days of testing, train testing has now stopped. They are doing repair work on the OCS and electrical systems. Palm trees are now appearing at various locations, including the stations. I imagine that these types of starts and stops are to be expected. As long as they don't fine anything majorly wrong like they did with the gold line electrical issue and the tunnel ventilation issue. |
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Post by jamesinclair on Apr 13, 2011 13:04:46 GMT -8
I'd love to hear someone try to mandate 5 week of "pre-revenue" testing on a new highway, after 4 months of other testing, of course.
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