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Post by Justin Walker on Feb 21, 2012 19:46:10 GMT -8
As a daily Orange Line rider I believe have the answer to the problems of headway bunching, a crappy vehicle for transporting a high quantity of bikes and disabled persons, overcrowding at peak hours and of course that pesky 60 ft.state law. The problem is that no one is thinking in the right direction. We need to go up not out. Double decker buses of course! ;D Think about it. The only overpasses on the entire route including the Chatsworth extension are the 170 and the 405. Id need to look at the EIR to see what the clearance is but it looks like there should be more than enough clearance for a double decker bus like this one they have in SLO. They are only 14 ft tall Antonio is on the right track. How about an articulated double decker? The clearance hight wise is not an issue, as the Freeway underpasses are standard hight, so a double decker has clearance. The real issue is loading and dwell time. And someone would have to develop such a transit bus. The Orange Line busway indeed has ample vertical clearance under the San Diego and Hollywood Freeways. (Remember, each freeway bridge was designed to cross over a railroad line.) State law does not allow double-deck buses taller than 14' 3". The San Diego Freeway bridge has 23' vertical clearance and the Hollywood Freeway bridge has 24' 5" vertical clearance.
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Mar 4, 2012 14:33:51 GMT -8
Here's an update on the Orange Line extension which is confirmed to open by early summer 2012. I live in the east SFV and don't have too many opportunities to check on the progress in the west SFV, but I happened to be riding my motorcycle on Canoga Avenue.
From the looks of things, construction is still ongoing. Asphalt has been paved for both the busway and the bikeway, in addition to the concrete at intersections, but markings have not been painted yet. Station awnings are up at most stations, no benches or seats are in place yet. Fencing has not been put up along the Metro owned ROW yet. Certain sections of the northbound lanes of Canoga Avenue are being widened to add right turn pockets and as of now are blocked off by K-rails (or jersey barriers). Traffic signals have been put up with most signals facing away. Not sure if this is a result of the construction, but the street signals at Canoga/Nordhoff (in front of Metro bus yard division 8) were inoperable forcing street traffic to adhere to 4 way stop rules. Traffic signals are being added just north of there at Canoga/Prairie, which is also where a special entrance is located to allow buses to travel from Metro division 8 onto the ROW. Bridges crossing the Los Angeles River (north of Vanowen), a creek just north of Parthenia, and Lassen Street are completed, with the exception of pavement for Lassen and for the approaches. Eastbound Lassen Street at the Orange Line bridge overcrossing is currently single lane (as opposed to the usual two) and will most likely return to two lanes after construction finishes.
Compared to the Expo Line progress, the Orange Line looks like it has ways to go until completion. Lets hope both are ready in time for Carmageddon part deux!
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Post by Justin Walker on Mar 5, 2012 12:08:25 GMT -8
Here's an update on the Orange Line extension which is confirmed to open by early summer 2012. I live in the east SFV and don't have too many opportunities to check on the progress in the west SFV, but I happened to be riding my motorcycle on Canoga Avenue. From the looks of things, construction is still ongoing. Asphalt has been paved for both the busway and the bikeway, in addition to the concrete at intersections, but markings have not been painted yet. Station awnings are up at most stations, no benches or seats are in place yet. Fencing has not been put up along the Metro owned ROW yet. Certain sections of the northbound lanes of Canoga Avenue are being widened to add right turn pockets and as of now are blocked off by K-rails (or jersey barriers). Traffic signals have been put up with most signals facing away. Not sure if this is a result of the construction, but the street signals at Canoga/Nordhoff (in front of Metro bus yard division 8) were inoperable forcing street traffic to adhere to 4 way stop rules. Traffic signals are being added just north of there at Canoga/Prairie, which is also where a special entrance is located to allow buses to travel from Metro division 8 onto the ROW. Bridges crossing the Los Angeles River (north of Vanowen), a creek just north of Parthenia, and Lassen Street are completed, with the exception of pavement for Lassen and for the approaches. Eastbound Lassen Street at the Orange Line bridge overcrossing is currently single lane (as opposed to the usual two) and will most likely return to two lanes after construction finishes. Compared to the Expo Line progress, the Orange Line looks like it has ways to go until completion. Lets hope both are ready in time for Carmageddon part deux! Thanks for the update, Tony! In other news, Metro staff has worked out their final recommendation for a service plan for the Metro Orange Line this summer. - All-day weekdays and weekends, except late night, two services will operate: North Hollywood-Warner Center & North Hollywood-Chatsworth
- During weekday peak hours, a Chatsworth-Warner Center "shuttle service" will also run at 15-minute headways with 40' or 45' buses and will "coordinate with Metrolink trains."
- During the late night, the only service that will run will be a North Hollywood-Warner Center-Chatsworth service.
Knowing the difficulties associated with planning a three-legged network, I'm satisfied with this service plan but Metro will have to carefully explain it to the travelling public. I also am curious to see how the Chatsworth-Warner Center shuttle concept plays out.
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Apr 19, 2012 10:09:19 GMT -8
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Apr 19, 2012 10:19:38 GMT -8
I was thinking to expand capacity on the Orange Line Metro could consider having these brought in: The Neoplan Jumbocruiser double deck articulated bus.
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Post by bzcat on Apr 19, 2012 11:40:25 GMT -8
There are no double deck articulated bus currently in production so Metro will have to commission something from scratch. Not to mention such a beast has never been used as transit bus before anywhere in the world... it would be an expensive and risky gambit. But it would be totally awesome thing for bus nerds A better solution is to ask for some sort of DOT or Caltrans exemption for 80ft double articulated bus to be used. These high capacity 80ft buses are widely used as transit bus all over the world and it will work very well on the Orange line.
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Post by tonyw79sfv on May 30, 2012 7:25:09 GMT -8
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Jun 7, 2012 9:50:48 GMT -8
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Jun 18, 2012 22:15:04 GMT -8
Metro is now conducting pre-revenue service to Chatsworth on buses with headsigns marked "901 CANOGA PARK" in addition to a placard marked "LAST STOP CANOGA STATION". Pre-revenue testing will only take 2 weeks before the opening on the 30th June 2012. This is a pic I took today of run 901-27 in addition to the take-ones from the timetable rack. Also of note, especially due to my commute which entails a 9AM eastbound ride on the Orange Line is that the 4 minute headways last a half hour longer into the late morning.
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outthere15
New Member
Take back the rails
Posts: 33
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Post by outthere15 on Jun 24, 2012 7:03:37 GMT -8
This has been a wonderful month in LA with the opening of Culver City on the Expo line and now Chatsworth is finally going to happen. I wonder what the actual increase in traffic will be from the commuter rail line.
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Jun 30, 2012 6:45:30 GMT -8
The Metro Orange Line Extension to Chatsworth is open! Reminder today that Metro will offer free rides today and tomorrow until 7pm; free fares only applies to the segment from Canoga to Chatsworth stations. Festivities will take place at Canoga and Chatsworth station; Amtrak also serves Chatsworth station for those looking to reach there alternatively. The Transit Coalition will have a booth at the Canoga Station.
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Jun 30, 2012 22:55:01 GMT -8
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outthere15
New Member
Take back the rails
Posts: 33
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Post by outthere15 on Jul 1, 2012 6:47:30 GMT -8
Did they extend the bike path all the way to Chatsworth station?
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jul 1, 2012 7:27:48 GMT -8
Did they extend the bike path all the way to Chatsworth station? Yes, rode it all back and forth yesterday.
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K 22
Full Member
Posts: 117
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Post by K 22 on Jul 1, 2012 17:13:02 GMT -8
Did they extend the bike path all the way to Chatsworth station? Yes, rode it all back and forth yesterday. How long was your trip, end-to-end?
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jul 1, 2012 18:32:52 GMT -8
How long was your trip, end-to-end? It's a very simple ride, probably 20 minutes.
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K 22
Full Member
Posts: 117
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Post by K 22 on Jul 2, 2012 11:34:47 GMT -8
How long was your trip, end-to-end? It's a very simple ride, probably 20 minutes. At first I was going to ask if you had a superbike but then I realized you must've started at or around Canoga. How long would it be to bike the whole stretch from NoHo to Chatsworth? I'm asking b/c the next time I come out there I'm itching to do just that.
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