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Post by jamesinclair on Jul 9, 2011 23:37:43 GMT -8
"Train crossings are the safest crossings in the city"
Holy crap, someone gets it.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 12, 2011 14:50:05 GMT -8
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Jul 13, 2011 18:06:52 GMT -8
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Post by metrocenter on Jul 14, 2011 9:59:23 GMT -8
This makes things a bit clearer. In a nutshell, construction of the station itself is not affected, but enhancements and the bike path are on hold until the Expo Authority and Culver City settle all of their issues.
The streetsblog article you mentioned does a good job describing the issues (despite all the spelling/grammar/syntax mistakes).
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Jul 14, 2011 15:01:11 GMT -8
A few cell-phone pics of the Expo Park/USC Station taken today, showing various signs. There will be a lot of stranded passengers if the line opens to La Cienega only because of all the "Culver City" signs. Seems like it is going to be cheaper to put the station signs up for Culver City and simply mark on the train head signs and voice announcements for LaCienega/Jefferson station for four months, that way they will only have to change the station signs once, to Santa Monica.
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Post by carter on Jul 14, 2011 22:02:06 GMT -8
This makes things a bit clearer. In a nutshell, construction of the station itself is not affected, but enhancements and the bike path are on hold until the Expo Authority and Culver City settle all of their issues. The streetsblog article you mentioned does a good job describing the issues (despite all the spelling/grammar/syntax mistakes). I can assure you that the editor of LA Streetsblog does not get paid well enough to write the crispest prose. Maybe if you made a donation, it would help
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Post by metrocenter on Jul 15, 2011 8:00:48 GMT -8
I can assure you that the editor of LA Streetsblog does not get paid well enough to write the crispest prose. Maybe if you made a donation, it would help Proofreading doesn't cost money, only a minute or two of time. But anyway, I am grateful for the reporting of critical information. And I will gladly contribute money if the quality of writing begins to improve LOL.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 15, 2011 9:57:51 GMT -8
A few cell-phone pics of the Expo Park/USC Station taken today, showing various signs. There will be a lot of stranded passengers if the line opens to La Cienega only because of all the "Culver City" signs. Seems like it is going to be cheaper to put the station signs up for Culver City and simply mark on the train head signs and voice announcements for LaCienega/Jefferson station for four months, that way they will only have to change the station signs once, to Santa Monica. Or they could have put Santa Monica signs from the beginning.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 15, 2011 10:05:47 GMT -8
Damien followed up very well on this, with a lot of detailed info. Now, we know that Expo Authority and Culver City are both culprits. While Culver City is not good at honoring their debt, Expo Authority is equally or more worse in honoring their promises. For example they still haven't given Culver City part of the Metro right-of-way they promised to be used for transit-oriented development. Also, they told Culver City initially that they can use their federal funds to pay their debt but then scrapped the Culver City Station Clean Mobility Center for buses and now they are saying they can't use their federal funds because they are meant for buses, which they promised in the first place. So, many agencies in this, including Expo, are like little kids, poorly planning their acts and refusing to cooperate and agree with each other.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 15, 2011 15:53:09 GMT -8
Finally, full train testing will start next Friday. Unfortunately National Blvd is also closed on the same day.
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Jul 16, 2011 12:51:14 GMT -8
Noticed some additional rain protection installed under the wavy canopies (space for electrical lighting too) at Vermont, Western, Crenshaw, 23rd (I think). They installed one at the "new" entrance to Pico station in addition to some enhancements. I'll send pics soon.
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Jul 16, 2011 12:54:37 GMT -8
Seems like it is going to be cheaper to put the station signs up for Culver City and simply mark on the train head signs and voice announcements for LaCienega/Jefferson station for four months, that way they will only have to change the station signs once, to Santa Monica. Or they could have put Santa Monica signs from the beginning. That would be a nice decade-long inside joke instead of our existing 3-4 month long inside joke about the terminus
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Jul 16, 2011 15:43:14 GMT -8
That was tried. When the blue line opened I remember seeing overhead signs at Metro center which said "Pasadena." They were turned off and taped over, but they not there any more. Not sure of the story behind it.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Jul 16, 2011 16:41:35 GMT -8
Noticed some additional rain protection installed under the wavy canopies (space for electrical lighting too) at Vermont, Western, Crenshaw, 23rd (I think). They installed one at the "new" entrance to Pico station in addition to some enhancements. I'll send pics soon. Looking forward to the pics.
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Post by rubbertoe on Jul 17, 2011 10:55:49 GMT -8
This is funny. I spotted an LRV vehicle on the freeway today. Driving West down the 210 in La Canada, it was coming the other way, being transported. It was shrink wrapped in a very blue plastic, with a large Siemens spray painted in white in the middle. I grabbed the camera in case there was a whole fleet of them traveling together, no such luck, only that one I'm guessing it was for the Expo line, not sure why it was on the 210 though. Do they make these in Sacramento? RT
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Post by darrell on Jul 17, 2011 12:47:39 GMT -8
This is funny. I spotted an LRV vehicle on the freeway today. Driving West down the 210 in La Canada, it was coming the other way, being transported. It was shrink wrapped in a very blue plastic, with a large Siemens spray painted in white in the middle. I grabbed the camera in case there was a whole fleet of them traveling together, no such luck, only that one I'm guessing it was for the Expo line, not sure why it was on the 210 though. Do they make these in Sacramento? RT Siemens makes LRVs in Sacramento, but Metro isn't buying any right now. Wonder if it was headed on to San Diego? I grabbed this photo of a Breda LRV headed up the I-5 Grapevine in August, 2007:
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Post by jamesinclair on Jul 17, 2011 22:12:57 GMT -8
^Damn, that poor truck must have been moving at 20mph on the garepvine.
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Jul 18, 2011 0:07:08 GMT -8
The "new" north Pico station entrance. By the way, the canopy is exactly what the Expo line stations are equipped with. View of the station Gold Line style swing gates
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Post by metrocenter on Jul 18, 2011 7:12:45 GMT -8
Excellent pictures, that new entrance looks great!
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Post by bzcat on Jul 18, 2011 10:47:48 GMT -8
Still too small but a worthwhile upgrade nonetheless.
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Post by James Fujita on Jul 19, 2011 14:41:39 GMT -8
I was wondering what they were doing at the north end of the platform during Anime Expo.
The south entrance is closer to the main entrance to LACC, and I suspect the south entrance will continue to be more crowded. But there are events where it would be good to have the north entrance available.
It's a little surprising that the ticket machines are off to the right, but I suppose that's where they fit.
There's still stuff that I would like to see happen: pedestrian overpasses or underpasses to make crossing Pico a little safer, for example.
But the north end looks nice.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jul 19, 2011 14:45:40 GMT -8
I was wondering what they were doing at the north end of the platform during Anime Expo. The south entrance is closer to the main entrance to LACC, and I suspect the south entrance will continue to be more crowded. But there are events where it would be good to have the north entrance available. It's a little surprising that the ticket machines are off to the right, but I suppose that's where they fit. There's still stuff that I would like to see happen: pedestrian overpasses or underpasses to make crossing Pico a little safer, for example. But the north end looks nice. Staples Center, LA Live!, condos/lofts in South Park, etc.. are more accessible from the north entrance than south. North was busier in the evenings when it was open. Good to see a little re-do of the entrance.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 19, 2011 14:50:12 GMT -8
Expect a comprehensive Expo picture set from me later this week.These are the sun/rain shields installed at the stations. They metamorphosed from translucent plastic to shiny aluminum to galvanized steel. Vermont Station west split platform: They are the same as those used over the ticket-vending machines: I think they chose the Expo Line blue a little too dark, somewhat confusing against the Blue Line blue. I wish it was more aqua with more green in it and a little lighter.
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Post by James Fujita on Jul 19, 2011 14:56:56 GMT -8
On Pico Station: Ah, okay. I was actually thinking about Staples Center and the Nokia Theater. Hadn't considered the condos.
More photos!: Hopefully they darken up the Blue Line's blue, but I like idea of blue and aqua being related.
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Post by rubbertoe on Jul 19, 2011 15:25:14 GMT -8
Wow, For some reason when we had the long discussion of the sun/rain shields at the stations a while ago, I assumed that the shields would be exactly co-located and attached to the long wavy canopies. Now I see that the shields are a completely separate covering, that does share the support frame of the decorative canopies.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 19, 2011 15:52:27 GMT -8
I assumed that the shields would be exactly co-located and attached to the long wavy canopies. No, that was never the case. Although, originally they wanted to have translucent shields at the same location. You simply can't have the shields up that high because otherwise they would be shielding the tracks or the road, not the platform, unless the sun was shining directly above.
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Post by jamesinclair on Jul 19, 2011 20:01:14 GMT -8
I still think covering 100% of the platform with a useless canopy, and only a small section with an actual roof is idiotic.
Im sure passengers will appreciate the "art" when it's raining and the area under the roof is full of people.
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Post by rajacobs on Jul 19, 2011 20:43:15 GMT -8
...Agreed! The flat roof doesn't appear aesthetic and I'm still wondering whether the "artistic" canopy truly shields waiting passengers from the sun. I would really have preferred something more conventional and "train-oriented."
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 19, 2011 22:03:12 GMT -8
The three rain-and-sun shields should cover 1/3 of the length the platform.
The decorative canopies won't protect most of the time, as they are too high above the platform to be effective with most angles of the sun and rain.
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Post by rajacobs on Jul 19, 2011 23:43:57 GMT -8
Leaves me scratching my head... If "the decorative canopies won't protect most of the time, as they are too high above the platform to be effective with most angles of the sun and rain," why did Metro waste the money on them? Heck, the Gold Line structures are functional and look great as well.
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