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Post by gatewaygent on Apr 25, 2012 23:23:20 GMT -8
Ha-ha! That is so fashion forward...a shabby chic parking lot!
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Post by jamesinclair on Apr 25, 2012 23:55:03 GMT -8
Sounds like a lot of pros:
Cheap. A surface lot costs $8,000 per space....excluding land costs! Permeable. Excellent for the environment. Bumpy: Good speed control.
It also gives off subtle advice. If you dont like parking here, then walk or take a bike!
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Post by bzcat on Apr 26, 2012 9:58:42 GMT -8
I don't mind a little weed in my parking lot
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Post by gatewaygent on Apr 26, 2012 13:34:51 GMT -8
It's raining today. How is the Expo Line holding up? Is everything still intact? Is the opening still on schedule? Just making sure!
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Post by davebowman on Apr 26, 2012 16:13:08 GMT -8
I can confirm a sighting of a westbound test train at Expo Park/USC Station at 5:00pm on Thursday.
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Post by rajacobs on Apr 26, 2012 22:21:54 GMT -8
Sounds like a lot of pros: Cheap. A surface lot costs $8,000 per space....excluding land costs! Permeable. Excellent for the environment. Bumpy: Good speed control. It also gives off subtle advice. If you dont like parking here, then walk or take a bike! ...Except, after the rain, there are footsteps embedded in the oiled surface. There are tire marks from a car that pulled into the parking lot and then pulled out. Heck there are even bicycle tracks in the stuff! I want to be optimistic, but I'm not sure how well this is going to pan out.
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Post by jamesinclair on Apr 27, 2012 0:41:19 GMT -8
...Except, after the rain, there are footsteps embedded in the oiled surface. There are tire marks from a car that pulled into the parking lot and then pulled out. Heck there are even bicycle tracks in the stuff! I want to be optimistic, but I'm not sure how well this is going to pan out. If ones precious car cant park in a cheaply paved lot, then it's best kept in a garage. Heavens forbid parking on a (shudder) dirt lot.
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Post by rubbertoe on Apr 27, 2012 6:39:16 GMT -8
I did some Google'ing and couldn't find any actual construction start date for the TOD complex. They obviously think that parking will be required for the summer opening in July (?), but that it won't be required long enough to warrant a full paving job. I would be curious how that surface holds up under a heavy rain. I know they put in new drainage under that whole lot, which will have to be torn up if they end up putting an underground garage in as part of the TOD. It certainly is a prime location...
When I drove by the LaCienega and LaBrea station on Wednesday, they were busy getting ready for the opening. There were large crews on all the platforms wiping things down, and changing out lights. I heard on the news this morning that there was going to be a 12:30pm dignitaries ride, followed up by a 1:00pm news conference.
RT
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Apr 27, 2012 6:55:52 GMT -8
I heard from a little bird that the photo op of the opening is scheduled for 12:55 PM today in front of USC/Exposition Park.
Appropriate place - in the middle of the line and right next to its namesake park!
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 27, 2012 8:21:23 GMT -8
So no news on the "first public train" running tomorrow morning? OK well I'll head over to USC/Expo Park station around 4AM, and see if I can catch one of the "sweep trains". Maybe I'll see one of you there!
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 27, 2012 8:40:51 GMT -8
The Expo Line maiden voyage is going to take place today. It will be departing from the Expo Park / USC Station after the opening ceremony, which starts at 12:30 pm. It's a VIP-only event but feel free to watch from the sidewalk on the USC side. I expect it to be similar to the maiden voyage at the 14:00 minutes of this video. You may want to buffer it first before you play it.
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 27, 2012 9:28:37 GMT -8
(Thanks for the info Gokhan. Don't think that the following snark is directed at you, it is not.)
I'm sure this will be very cool to watch from the sidewalk. Unfortunately I'll be nowhere near USC at 12:30 today. And anyway I am more interested in the opening to the public, rather than one limited to "VIPs" (most of whom will never, ever ride the train again).
I wish these "VIPs" had spent more of their time and energy keeping those contractors in line, so the project could have come in closer to budget and schedule. But back to what's important: "You're ready for your photo-op, Mr. Ridley-Thomas!"
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Apr 27, 2012 11:18:32 GMT -8
So no news on the "first public train" running tomorrow morning? OK well I'll head over to USC/Expo Park station around 4AM, and see if I can catch one of the "sweep trains". Maybe I'll see one of you there! The countdown widget on Metro's home page finishes counting at 4:54am. Although this weekend will not run the normal Expo Line schedule, the first train out for all 7 days is scheduled at 4:54am out of 7th/Metro Center. The only connecting trains to that departure is one inbound Purple Line and two outbound (from Union Station) Red Line trains. The first Red Line out of North Hollywood will miss the connection by 1 minute. I believe the 18 and 20 buses run all night (as is other 24 hour buses into Downtown L.A.).
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 27, 2012 13:06:06 GMT -8
So no news on the "first public train" running tomorrow morning? OK well I'll head over to USC/Expo Park station around 4AM, and see if I can catch one of the "sweep trains". Maybe I'll see one of you there! The sweep trains aren't on the published schedule so head to 7th/metro unless someone knows otherwise. I'll be there coming in on the purple line. See ya!
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 27, 2012 13:10:04 GMT -8
The Expo Line maiden voyage is going to take place today. It will be departing from the Expo Park / USC Station after the opening ceremony, which starts at 12:30 pm. It's a VIP-only event but feel free to watch from the sidewalk on the USC side. I expect it to be similar to the maiden voyage at the 14:00 minutes of this video. You may want to buffer it first before you play it. That's the "maiden voyage" in the same way as the public groundbreakings start construction. The first revenue run is the "official" maiden voyage AFAIC. The run this afternoon was one of hundreds of non-revenue runs and dozens of invitation only runs leading to the real deal.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 27, 2012 13:14:47 GMT -8
The asphalt issue sounds like a dispute where maybe the contractor is only willing to do the minimum to satisfy their contract and Metro may need a separate contract with another contractor to pave it properly. They can't leave it like that because as it falls apart it will be a safety issue and someone will trip and sue.
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Post by jdrcrasher on Apr 27, 2012 13:22:05 GMT -8
I wish these "VIPs" had spent more of their time and energy keeping those contractors in line, so the project could have come in closer to budget and schedule. But back to what's important: "You're ready for your photo-op, Mr. Ridley-Thomas!"Oh no doubt about it; i'm sure there was pretty much nothing but politicians and business leaders on that "VIP" train today.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Apr 27, 2012 13:28:41 GMT -8
Aren't y'all stressing out about an unfinished pave lot? Shouldn't we leave this criticsm until the Culver City lot is ready for business? Who knows if its even finished..this is just complete speculation. Based on all the countless # of lots Metro has, have you ever seen anything like this open? So are y'all safe to assume that this is what you'll see on opening day of the Culver City station?
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Post by rajacobs on Apr 27, 2012 14:08:08 GMT -8
Who knows if its even finished.. With lines for carspaces on the "pavement," with aisles and lanes with white paint to direct traffic, it's finished.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 27, 2012 14:47:16 GMT -8
Aren't y'all stressing out about an unfinished pave lot? Shouldn't we leave this criticsm until the Culver City lot is ready for business? Who knows if its even finished..this is just complete speculation. Based on all the countless # of lots Metro has, have you ever seen anything like this open? So are y'all safe to assume that this is what you'll see on opening day of the Culver City station? Ummm..yeah. We've seen the pictures in this thread and unless you think that they would stripe parking lanes just for kicks before adding another coat of asphalt, then there's something else going on. I admit that I'm just speculating so take it FWIW, but at least what I posted made sense. And I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm not the slightest bit stressed over the condition of the parking lot. Just offering an explanation that might explain what's going on.
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 27, 2012 14:54:14 GMT -8
I met Rick at the maiden voyage of the Expo Line today and he asked Victor about it, who then called the Metro operations and now we have an answer:
First public Expo Line passenger train: A sweep train departing from 7th/Metro (not Expo Park / USC) at 4:54 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012.
The maiden voyage was great! Video coming soon.
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 27, 2012 15:45:09 GMT -8
I just loved this! The Expo Line train, on its maiden voyage, while the USC Trojan Marching Band playing my favorite song of theirs! This is probably the fastest an Expo train ever went and ever will through the Trousdale crossing. It was exhilarating. USC and the rest of Los Angeles have finally got their train! This was a great day! It was a wonderful grand-opening ceremony for the line. Long-live Expo!
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 27, 2012 15:57:25 GMT -8
I met Rick at the maiden voyage of the Expo Line today and he asked Victor about it, who then called the Metro operations and now we have an answer: First public Expo Line passenger train: A sweep train departing from 7th/Metro (not Expo Park / USC) at 4:54 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012.The maiden voyage was great! Video coming soon. Thanks for the confirmation! The 454 train isn't listed as a sweep train on the timetable though.
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dane
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by dane on Apr 27, 2012 16:19:45 GMT -8
The Expo Line train, in its maiden voyage, while the USC Trojan Marching Band playing my favorite song of theirs! As a Trojan, you should know the composition is Conquest composed by Alfred Newman for the 1947 movie "Captain from Castile". *I played it for four years in High School marching band...* :-)
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 27, 2012 16:21:32 GMT -8
The Expo Line train, in its maiden voyage, while the USC Trojan Marching Band playing my favorite song of theirs! As a Trojan, you should know the composition is Conquest composed by Alfred Newman for the 1947 movie "Captain from Castile". *I played it for four years in High School marching band...* :-) Yes, I not only know that but being a classic-movies fan, I saw that movie! See the description I put on the video. Thanks for bringing this to people's attention though so that now they know if they didn't.
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 27, 2012 16:22:07 GMT -8
By the way, I can't imagine any better grand opening for a rail line! Exposition Park, USC, and the California weather made a great setting for the opening. It was such a wonderful day, with a great ceremony.
This will be a great line.
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Post by jdrcrasher on Apr 27, 2012 17:20:18 GMT -8
^ Saturday the weather is gonna be even better, if not perfect. 77* F - Sunny, with a nice light breeze. 0% chance of rain. In other words... pure Southern California weather!! BTW, thanks for the video Gokhan! I might ride it tomorrow sometime in the afternoon.
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Post by Philip on Apr 27, 2012 18:43:28 GMT -8
Anyone riding the first train tomorrow at 5:00am? That's the one I'm planning on catching.
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Post by carter on Apr 27, 2012 18:58:06 GMT -8
Anyone riding the first train tomorrow at 5:00am? That's the one I'm planning on catching. I'm a pretty hard core transit fan, but I'm not that hard core.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 27, 2012 19:12:19 GMT -8
Anyone riding the first train tomorrow at 5:00am? That's the one I'm planning on catching. I'm planning on it. I think that metrocenter is as well. 0454, not 0500 though. Not trying to be nitpicky, but anyone coming on a train from NoHo will miss it.
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