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Post by culvercitylocke on Sept 19, 2013 16:14:54 GMT -8
how does that work?
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Post by bzcat on Sept 20, 2013 10:18:57 GMT -8
if the city council can make money appear for all of the extras and bells and whistles for the crenshaw line stations, why not make the money appear for the 4th/5th street station as well. They're building it in such a way that it can be added later as an infill station, right? Yes, and this is why the lawsuit is very silly on its merit. Bonaventure actually wants a station there and was on record in support of the station for the EIR. This flimsy legal strategy about impact of cut and cover construction is a naked and cynical money grab because it is incompatible with the position Bonaventure took during the EIR process. In order for Metro to preserve the possibility of a station between 4th and 5th street, it needs to excavate from the surface (i.e. cut and cover) - that's how all train stations are constructed. Metro will install knockout panels in this section of the tunnel, which has cross over tracks, so it will be wide enough to add station platforms and portals later. A deep bore tunnel at this location will make adding the station later practically impossible.
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Post by andert on Sept 20, 2013 12:05:44 GMT -8
They're building it in such a way that it can be added later as an infill station, right? Yes, and this is why the lawsuit is very silly on its merit. Bonaventure actually wants a station there and was on record in support of the station for the EIR. This flimsy legal strategy about impact of cut and cover construction is a naked and cynical money grab because it is incompatible with the position Bonaventure took during the EIR process. In order for Metro to preserve the possibility of a station between 4th and 5th street, it needs to excavate from the surface (i.e. cut and cover) - that's how all train stations are constructed. Metro will install knockout panels in this section of the tunnel, which has cross over tracks, so it will be wide enough to add station platforms and portals later. A deep bore tunnel at this location will make adding the station later practically impossible. Wow, didn't know they lobbied for a station there. That really takes the wind from their argument.
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Post by gatewaygent on Sept 20, 2013 19:20:12 GMT -8
This is the kind of porpoise poop that really irks me. I know I've read somewhere (probably here) that Metro approached the Financial District to secure funding for the construction of 4th/5th Station but they declined. So they had an opportunity to make a difference but instead chose greed over progress. Now they're sulking and lashing out...splendid. They need to let it go, live with their dubious decision, and hope that funding for 4th/5th Station comes along sooner rather than 30+ years later.
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Post by skater on Oct 21, 2013 14:27:08 GMT -8
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Post by metrocenter on Jan 8, 2014 7:40:44 GMT -8
Recent construction notices detail ongoing utility relocation work: - December 3: Utility relocation work is anticipated to start on 5th St between Figueroa St and Flower St on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 between the hours of 9am to 3:30pm for approximately 6 weeks.
- December 7: Utility relocation efforts are ongoing on 6th St at Flower St and will resume on Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 8am to 6pm.
- December 16: Utility relocation work on 5th St between Figueroa St and Flower St has been rescheduled to start Monday, December 16, 2013 for approximately six weeks.
- January 7: Installation of new cable into the relocated service lines will take place on Spring St between 2nd St and 3rd St. Relocation activities are anticipated to start on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 for approximately 5 weeks.
- January 13: Utility relocation work is anticipated to start at the northeast corner of 2nd/Broadway on Monday, January 13, 2014 between the hours of 9am to 3:30pm for approximately 3 weeks.
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Post by John Ryan on Jan 8, 2014 8:38:04 GMT -8
Recent construction notices detail ongoing utility relocation work: - December 3: Utility relocation work is anticipated to start on 5th St between Figueroa St and Flower St on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 between the hours of 9am to 3:30pm for approximately 6 weeks.
- December 7: Utility relocation efforts are ongoing on 6th St at Flower St and will resume on Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 8am to 6pm.
- December 16: Utility relocation work on 5th St between Figueroa St and Flower St has been rescheduled to start Monday, December 16, 2013 for approximately six weeks.
- January 7: Installation of new cable into the relocated service lines will take place on Spring St between 2nd St and 3rd St. Relocation activities are anticipated to start on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 for approximately 5 weeks.
- January 13: Utility relocation work is anticipated to start at the northeast corner of 2nd/Broadway on Monday, January 13, 2014 between the hours of 9am to 3:30pm for approximately 3 weeks.
Thank you. Heavy construction start estimated in March?
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jan 8, 2014 13:07:28 GMT -8
Thank you. Heavy construction start estimated in March? I don't think a contractor has been picked yet for the construction of the subway and stations. From what I've noticed, once Metro selects the contractor, it's usually 12 - 18 months later when heavy construction starts. Look at the Crenshaw Line, wasn't the contract awardded in June 2013, yet there is still no heavy construction? The heavy construction will probably start later this year. It takes time for the contractor to complete all their final designs after awarded a bid. Same with Expo Line and Foothill Extension, it takes a long time between contract award and heavy construction start date. I don't think the regional connector will be under heavy construction until end of 2015.
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Post by bobdavis on Jan 8, 2014 23:26:21 GMT -8
One of the more frustrating aspects of most rail transit projects is that there's such a long "lead time". This is the price we pay for adding infrastructure to already built-up locations. It's so different from the "old days" of laying track through the boonies, when a railway was an obvious improvement on the stagecoach. And I'm reminded of a story from the 1960s about the "world's oldest paperboy"--this was when I'd drop off two bundles of the LA Times to Royal Oaks Manor, a senior citizens' residence in Duarte. One of the residents took care of delivering the papers to his fellow seniors. Back around 1900, when he was a boy, he delivered the Times in the Whittier area. When he started, his dealer had to go to the nearest Santa Fe station with a horse-drawn wagon to pick up the day's news. It was a great improvement when Pacific Electric built a line to Whittier and could bright the papers to the dealer's location, with only a hand-truck needed to take them to the folding shop.
Getting back to the subject of "lead time": Today's contractors have to account for all sorts of utilities, existing structures, NIMBY complaints and government regulations. Projects must be planned in exacting detail--"paper and pixels are cheaper than concrete and steel".
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Post by metrocenter on Feb 20, 2014 10:14:14 GMT -8
Federal Money Approved - $829 million!The loan money was made possible by the expanded TIFIA loan program, which Metro hopes to tap for other projects as well. Also, the grant is a New Starts grant, the first that Metro has received since the Eastside Gold Line. --source--
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Post by gatewaygent on Feb 20, 2014 19:51:05 GMT -8
I likely missed something. Why wasn't funding secured for the omitted 4th St./5th St. Station?
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Post by metrocenter on Feb 21, 2014 7:52:40 GMT -8
I likely missed something. Why wasn't funding secured for the omitted 4th St./5th St. Station? Metro said that for that station to be built, local property owners would need to pay for it. They said they would not pay for it. Thus, it will not be built.
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Post by metrocenter on Feb 21, 2014 7:53:54 GMT -8
2nd/Hope station is going to serve Bunker Hill. Over 90% of the ridership will be coming to/from Bunker Hill. Yet, Metro is building the station next to and below Bunker Hill.
So now, there is a push to build a direct connection to Bunker Hill from the 2nd/Hope station. In the proposed scenario, the station entrance would be above grade, opening to a bridge crossing over Hope Street directly to the new Broad Plaza (under construction).
Once again, they are pushing for local property owners and stakeholders to pay for it. But in the end, it may well get funding from the Metro Board.
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Post by jdrcrasher on Feb 21, 2014 19:12:30 GMT -8
Metro said that for that station to be built, local property owners would need to pay for it. They said they would not pay for it. Thus, it will not be built. Are they at least going to build pocket tracks? Mark my words, those landowners will be screaming for a station there when they see trains full of people zip right past their buildings.
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Post by gatewaygent on Feb 21, 2014 19:52:02 GMT -8
I agree jdcrasher, they'll be screaming disenfranchisement and who knows what other bloody murder.
Thank you metrocenter. Hmm? So was that always the plan: local property owners pay? Or did Metro originally plan to pay until variable "X" entered the equation?
Speaking of variables, what's going on with The Bonaventure et al lawsuit? Has that been resolved/dismissed?
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Post by metrocenter on Feb 24, 2014 9:26:51 GMT -8
The original plan included a stop at 5th/Figueroa. But this was removed during the FEIR process, due to the rising cost of the project. Metro made it optional, to be built if the local property owners would pay for it. Local property owners cried foul (as did I), and I'm sure this is part of the motivation for the Bonaventure's lawsuit. The entire Flower Street section (from ~Wilshire Blvd to 2nd Street) will be built as cut-and-cover, with a pocket track between 4th and 5th Streets. The design drawings from the FEIR are here. A new station could theoretically be built at 5th Street after the fact, although given Metro's history of "potential infill stations" never being built, I doubt it would ever happen. The one thing Metro could have done to mitigate the loss of the station at 5th, would be to build a 6th Street portal to 7th/Metro Center station, and a 3rd Street portal to 2nd/Hope station. But no, they killed those too, again citing costs as the reason. As for the status of the lawsuit: all I could find publicly was the original lawsuit filing. And, I saw a news story which said the case was going to trial in November 2013. More details are available, for a fee, here.
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Feb 24, 2014 15:53:35 GMT -8
Broad Museum Plaza set to connect 2nd/Hope Metro Station to Grand Avenue
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Post by metrocenter on Feb 25, 2014 10:43:15 GMT -8
It's a beautiful design, which they put out last week, for the plaza. But to clarify: the plaza design doesn't specify the actual connection to the station. It actually includes only stairs leading down to Hope Street.
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Post by metrocenter on Mar 17, 2014 8:48:40 GMT -8
Does anybody have any information on selection of the contractor? The bids were due nearly a year ago, and I thought the contractor was supposed to be selected by the end of 2013.
For that matter: any news on the lawsuits?
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Post by masonite on Mar 17, 2014 9:31:24 GMT -8
Does anybody have any information on selection of the contractor? The bids were due nearly a year ago, and I thought the contractor was supposed to be selected by the end of 2013. For that matter: any news on the lawsuits? They can't select a contractor until they received a full funding grant agreement from the federal government and that just happened in the last month. They are supposed to present the recommended contractor to the Board for a vote next month. Check the Construction Committee on Metro for updates/details if you want more info.
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Post by masonite on Mar 17, 2014 9:42:38 GMT -8
Does anybody have any information on selection of the contractor? The bids were due nearly a year ago, and I thought the contractor was supposed to be selected by the end of 2013. For that matter: any news on the lawsuits? They can't select a contractor until they received a full funding grant agreement from the federal government and that just happened in the last month. They are supposed to present the recommended contractor to the Board for a vote next month. Check the Construction Committee on Metro for updates/details if you want more info. It will be pretty remarkable that we will soon have 4 major rail lines under construction (not just pre-construction) and even a fifth (the Purple Line) might start in the next year.
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Post by metrocenter on Mar 18, 2014 6:54:03 GMT -8
They can't select a contractor until they received a full funding grant agreement from the federal government and that just happened in the last month. They are supposed to present the recommended contractor to the Board for a vote next month. Check the Construction Committee on Metro for updates/details if you want more info. Thanks masonite. I've been checking all the board meetings for awhile now, but what you said makes sense: they need to have the funding agreement with the Feds first.
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Post by joshuanickel on Apr 14, 2014 11:57:57 GMT -8
The RFP for the Regional Connector has been issued: see this article on The Source. The four contractors prequalified for the RFP are: - Dragados/Schiavone/Southland
(Dragados USA, Inc., Schiavone Construction Co. LLC, and Southland Contracting, Inc.)
- Skanska/Kiewit/Traylor Bros dba "Regional Connector Constructors"
(Skanska USA Civil West California District, Inc., Kiewit Infrastructure West Co.; and Traylor Bros., Inc.)
- Shea/Walsh/PTG
(J. F. Shea Construction, Inc., Walsh Construction Company, and Parsons Transportation Group, Inc.)
- Shimmick/Obayashi/FCC
(Shimmick Construction Company, Inc., Obayashi Corporation, and FCC Construccion, SA)
Some names in this list are very recognizable (from their work on other projects in SoCal), while some may be less familiar. All bids are due May 21. The project is expect to be completed in 2019. And if I am still at the same job six years from now, I will have a new station one block away from work (woohoo!). It appears that Metro has finally decided on the contractor. Metro is recommending the board approve a contract with Skanska/Traylor Bros dba "Regional Connector Constructors" (Skanska USA Civil West California District, Inc., and Traylor Bros., Inc.) (The original RFP included Kiewit in the bid but they are not included here so I guess they dropped out.) The construction committee will discuss it this Thursday before it goes to the full board for approval. Here is the board report: If you read the board report you will see a note about how there will be a phased opening of the line which I assume is because of the tie-in of the line to the existing gold line tracks:
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Post by bzcat on Apr 14, 2014 15:16:53 GMT -8
Skanska has been fantastic on Expo II so I think it is a good sign that they are the recommended contractor for RC.
The phased opening is interesting... I don't recall EIR had mention phased opening for construction reasons so I assume this is for operational reasons - Metro wants to run only 1 line thru the connector at first to iron out the kinks before full 2 line operations.
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Post by joshuanickel on Apr 14, 2014 23:35:06 GMT -8
Skanska has been fantastic on Expo II so I think it is a good sign that they are the recommended contractor for RC. The phased opening is interesting... I don't recall EIR had mention phased opening for construction reasons so I assume this is for operational reasons - Metro wants to run only 1 line thru the connector at first to iron out the kinks before full 2 line operations. I believe the phased opening has to do with the connection into the existing gold line tracks. I believe the EIR mentioned that there will be a temporary bypass track built for the gold line to continue running around the construction. When it comes time to connect the new regional connector in to the gold line tracks, they will have to cut off access for the trains. I assume it will work like this: Phase 1: Regional Connector track connected to eastside gold line. Eastside gold line continues to be serviced by temporary bypass track to access gold line maintenance facility. Phase 2: Regional Connector track connected to pasadena gold line. Eastside gold line now serviced by regional connector track to access expo line and expo maintenance facility. Bypass track removed. Phase 3: Regional Connector fully open.
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 15, 2014 11:09:56 GMT -8
I'm glad someone here posted this, I just saw it on The Source.
From my reading, the entire project will essentially be built in a single phase, but the "pre- revenue operations, testing, and startup" will be completed in two phases. The complexity of the new operational plan is mostly likely why they are doing this.
I am disappointed that Metro is not doing more to get the 2nd/Hope upper entrance and bridge built. I think having the entrance at Bunker Hill level is critical to the success of the station. Local property owners rarely value transit the way they ought to, so I am pessimistic that the entrance will be funded by them.
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 15, 2014 11:33:27 GMT -8
One more thing: expected opening is September 2020. I wonder if this is the Phase 1 or the Phase 2 revenue date.
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Post by joshuanickel on Apr 15, 2014 12:00:29 GMT -8
One more thing: expected opening is September 2020. I wonder if this is the Phase 1 or the Phase 2 revenue date. The board report said project competition, so I would assume phase 2. That would put Phase 1 opening around June/July.
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Post by culvercitylocke on Apr 16, 2014 23:14:07 GMT -8
It's taken me a long time to try and figure out how the regional connector works, the recent maps have sort of helped, so correct me if I'm wrong.
After the regional connector is built:
Northbound Blue line trains begin in long beach and travel all the way to the end of the line on the Gold Line Foothill Extension. Southbound Gold line trains begin at the end of the line on the Gold Line Foothill Extension and travel all the way to Long Beach Eastbound Expo line trains begin in Santa Monica and travel all the way to the end of the line of the Gold line Eastside Extension Westbound Gold line trains begin at the end of the line of the Gold Line Eastside Extension and travel all the way to Santa Monica.
In Downtown, in between little tokyo and pico, The Gold line, Gold Line Eastside Extension, Expo line and Blue line all share tracks, which except for between 7th metro and pico is all the new regional connector track.
So when the regional connector is built the gold line name will be completely retired. and we'll have the east/west expo line and the north south blue line.
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Post by joshuanickel on Apr 17, 2014 0:00:01 GMT -8
It's taken me a long time to try and figure out how the regional connector works, the recent maps have sort of helped, so correct me if I'm wrong. After the regional connector is built: Northbound Blue line trains begin in long beach and travel all the way to the end of the line on the Gold Line Foothill Extension. Southbound Gold line trains begin at the end of the line on the Gold Line Foothill Extension and travel all the way to Long Beach Eastbound Expo line trains begin in Santa Monica and travel all the way to the end of the line of the Gold line Eastside Extension Westbound Gold line trains begin at the end of the line of the Gold Line Eastside Extension and travel all the way to Santa Monica. In Downtown, in between little tokyo and pico, The Gold line, Gold Line Eastside Extension, Expo line and Blue line all share tracks, which except for between 7th metro and pico is all the new regional connector track. So when the regional connector is built the gold line name will be completely retired. and we'll have the east/west expo line and the north south blue line.That is correct except the east/west line will be the gold line, not the expo line. Also on the north/south line, it has been mentioned that because of the length and the ridership levels some blue line trains may turn back at chinatown station using the crossover tracks at the maintenance facility.
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