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Post by Transit Coalition on Aug 15, 2011 21:43:21 GMT -8
Phase 2 groundbreaking will take place on September 12, 2011 (yes, 2011! LOL), 9:30 am. Who's going? I'll take the day off of work to see this! This is confirmed, right? Does anybody know where the groundbreaking will be held? Groundbreaking access is by invitation only.
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Post by rajacobs on Aug 15, 2011 23:37:26 GMT -8
Groundbreaking access is by invitation only. ...So now we'll look forward to you publishing the invitation that the Expo Authority will send to their loyal supporters, the Transit Coalition!
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Post by Gokhan on Aug 16, 2011 7:25:24 GMT -8
I was frustrated to find out that the groundbreaking will take place at 4th and Colorado. I was expecting somewhere in the middle of the line, as they had the Phase 1 groundbreaking just west of Buckingham Road at West Avenue. They must be afraid of Neighbors for Smart Rail and are having the groundbreaking as far from them as possible.
Now that it's at the end of the line in a former parking lot, not really interested in it. You don't really need an invitation to be there though. Just go there at 9:30 am on September 9/12 and if you aren't let in, simply observe it nice and high from the 4th St bridge. I expect the people there to be mostly Santa Monicans in addition to the politicians.
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Post by metrocenter on Aug 16, 2011 7:56:20 GMT -8
Santa Monica was likely chosen for a couple of reasons.
First, it will be the westernmost rail terminus of the entire system. And being at the end of the line, this tells the average Joe-sixpack (who knows nothing rail transit) that all of the area between Santa Monica and Downtown L.A. will also be served.
More importantly, a groundbreaking in Santa Monica will capture the imaginations of potential riders, showing them an exciting destination at the end of the line: the ocean, beach and pier and all of its attractions. (OTOH, if they had chosen, say, Sepulveda/Expo, most people countywide would say, "That's nice, but where is that?")
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Post by darrell on Aug 16, 2011 10:58:42 GMT -8
Interesting that the Olympic/26th street station will be on the eastside of 26th and not the westside. I'm assuming this is due to spacing needed for the Cloverfield bridge. Though unfortunate, as a station between 26th and Cloverfield would be more convenient for Water Garden, Yahoo! Center, Mtv, and Universal employees; whereas the eastside of 26th is like your Century City station dilemma; one side that abutts nothing, really. The ramp up to the bridge over Cloverfield begins just west of 26th, so that is a technical reason for the station being on the east. But south of Expo, west of 26th, is really "nothing", a self-storage warehouse (which I tried to prevent while on the Planning Commission, but the Santa Monica City Council approved, seeming to think they had no choice under the zoning law). Southeast of 26th and Olympic is the Bergamot Station arts complex, and northeast the former Papermate factory is to be redeveloped into a major mixed-use TOD. And northwest is the Water Garden; the station entrance is on the 26th end. See www01.smgov.net/planning/bergamotplan.html for the current city planning process around this station.
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Post by Gokhan on Aug 16, 2011 12:49:08 GMT -8
Groundbreaking access is by invitation only. ...So now we'll look forward to you publishing the invitation that the Expo Authority will send to their loyal supporters, the Transit Coalition! It's by invitation only and, since it's a public event, everyone is invited. Expo Phase 2 groundbreaking Colorado Ave and 4th St, Santa Monica, CA September 12, 2011 9:30 am
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Post by rajacobs on Aug 16, 2011 16:52:34 GMT -8
Now if the ground breaking would be at the east end of Phase II--on the north side of Venice, the edges of the parking lot overlooking the site would offer wonderful views of the groundbreaking.
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Aug 16, 2011 22:51:02 GMT -8
Santa Monica is an appropriate place for a celebratory groundbreaking for Phase 2, the city has been very supportive and embracing of the project. Phase 1 did break ground in another part of the city of LA at Jefferson Park almost 5 years ago.
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Post by bzcat on Aug 23, 2011 12:01:59 GMT -8
Some sort of Expo related construction is taking place on Westwood Blvd today. I drove by this morning and saw lots of workers wearing orange vest and hardhats placing traffic cones around the ROW/Exposition/Westwood intersections, and setting up "open trench" signs on Westwood Blvd.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Aug 25, 2011 18:49:32 GMT -8
I just rode my bike the length of the Expo Line from 26th/Olympic to Pico station; as I do weekly.
The separated bike path between La Cienega to National/Jefferson is open!
Looks like nothing is progressing on the Farmdale station. Hope to see it wrap up soon.
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Post by carter on Aug 26, 2011 18:36:26 GMT -8
I just rode my bike the length of the Expo Line from 26th/Olympic to Pico station; as I do weekly. The separated bike path between La Cienega to National/Jefferson is open! Looks like nothing is progressing on the Farmdale station. Hope to see it wrap up soon. Last Week they were laying down a Rubber pad for insulating the Platform from the ground to protect Passengers on platform from electric shock That sounds important!
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Post by Gokhan on Aug 26, 2011 18:42:15 GMT -8
Last Week they were laying down a Rubber pad for insulating the Platform from the ground to protect Passengers on platform from electric shock That sounds important! Unlike AC, you wouldn't be electrocuted by DC unless you touch both terminals because there is no capacitive effect. Also, concrete is a rather poor conductor. On top of that hardly anyone goes barefoot. So, I doubt there is any danger to begin with. Perhaps they are worried that some catenary would fall onto the platform or the canopy and touch a metal object and create a fire. This would be the main hazard due to DC electricity.
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Post by jamesinclair on Aug 26, 2011 23:30:33 GMT -8
^How about dogs?
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Post by Justin Walker on Aug 27, 2011 23:57:49 GMT -8
I just rode my bike the length of the Expo Line from 26th/Olympic to Pico station; as I do weekly. The separated bike path between La Cienega to National/Jefferson is open! Looks like nothing is progressing on the Farmdale station. Hope to see it wrap up soon. Last Week they were laying down a Rubber pad for insulating the Platform from the ground to protect Passengers on platform from electric shock That doesn't sound quite right. For safety, the platform (and most of the rail equipment, excluding the OCS contact and messenger wires) should be electrically grounded. There should be no voltage differential between any components that people might come in contact with. Whatever they were doing, it's good to see work progressing.
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Post by bobdavis on Aug 28, 2011 10:19:44 GMT -8
That item about the rubber pad to "protect passengers from shock" sounds like a "sea story", something to be viewed with skepticism. It reminds me of the time back in the 1960's, when a group of railfans was in Pasadena to watch the Santa Fe Super Chief stop at the depot. As a "preiliminary event", the local freight crew was spotting a boxcar on the "house track". A non-railroader bystander observed a brakeman bringing the car to a halt with the handbrake wheel, and wondered what he was doing. A nearby fan told him, "He's steering the boxcar into the siding."
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 11, 2011 19:09:43 GMT -8
Future Expo Phase 2 terminus at 4th and Colorado in Santa Monica, where Sears Auto used to be, is ready for the symbolic groundbreaking event tomorrow at 9:30 am.
There is a large tent with chairs and a bulldozer in front of the tent. I wonder who will drive the bulldozer, a politician or a construction worker.
For general public, who aren't invited for a strange reason, there are peepholes in the tarp on the fence. Perhaps they are afraid of the opposition? If this is the case, it's sad to see this project fading into obscurity and secrecy thanks to a few mindless naysayers.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Sept 11, 2011 21:08:16 GMT -8
Anybody going? I'll be there (trying to sneak in, I guess)!
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Post by Justin Walker on Sept 11, 2011 21:25:26 GMT -8
Anybody going? I'll be there (trying to sneak in, I guess)! I also will give it a shot.
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Post by RMoses on Sept 11, 2011 22:04:49 GMT -8
I was invited; +1?
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Post by rajacobs on Sept 12, 2011 11:17:59 GMT -8
What were the souvenirs?
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 12, 2011 12:04:57 GMT -8
Perhaps an illustrated summary of the event?
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Post by rajacobs on Sept 12, 2011 12:21:39 GMT -8
...Probably as much ground was turned with the actual shovel! Thank you.
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Post by Justin Walker on Sept 12, 2011 12:50:11 GMT -8
I missed those! Where were they?
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 12, 2011 13:09:39 GMT -8
Thanks for the photos. I see Justin Walker, Sarah Hays of Light-Rail for Cheviot, and, of course, Darrell being interviewed. There don't seem to be many from the public.
It looks like that underpass seen in the pictures will be a good way to access the station.
Now that I see it, I realize that this underpass can also be used to extend the line toward Venice in the future, like the original Expo Line (Air Line) used to run. The original Expo Line did not use to terminate here but at the MTA Venice Bus Division, which used to be the Ocean Park Car House back then.
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Post by darrell on Sept 12, 2011 14:38:54 GMT -8
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 13, 2011 11:04:23 GMT -8
Today they were working on the National Boulevard railroad bridge. Perhaps yesterday's groundbreaking was a real one, as opposed to a symbolic one? I might post a picture later. By the way, Justin, Darrell, and expolinefan, did you guys actually start working on the line yesterday while you were there? You had shovels after all?
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Post by bzcat on Sept 13, 2011 11:34:05 GMT -8
If they really allow it, I would gladly pick up a shovel and spend my weekend digging
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Sept 13, 2011 12:00:03 GMT -8
I was at the groundbreaking yesterday as well. I picked up my bike at Broadway/26th and biked back home to downtown LA via Expo ROW.
There was potholing happening on Westwood/Expo station. I saw some earthmovers levelling the ground at Expo/National. There is physical work happening...so that's great!
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K 22
Full Member
Posts: 117
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Post by K 22 on Sept 13, 2011 13:10:45 GMT -8
There was potholing happening on Westwood/Expo station. I saw some earthmovers levelling the ground at Expo/National. There is physical work happening...so that's great! I cannot wait to see this station when it's done.
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Post by rajacobs on Sept 13, 2011 14:32:38 GMT -8
Gokhan & LAofAnaheim, You guys got my hopes up... Today they were working on the National Boulevard railroad bridge. I saw some earthmovers levelling the ground at Expo/National. There is physical work happening...so that's great! But as of 3:20PM, Sep 13, at National/Expo/Palms there were were no bulldozers, no workmen, no nothing. Maybe tomorrow.
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