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Post by Elson on May 24, 2012 16:22:13 GMT -8
I would add to say that NYC's subway system names all their stations after streets or intersections. They, too have compound station names that add local landmarks (Union Sq-14 St). NYC does have duplicate station names on different lines, LA Metro is smart in avoiding that. Ironically, though Los Angeles sprawls like London, it is also an American city like NYC and is likewise built on a grid. We don't need to stick with a rigid naming system. LA should adopt a flexible station naming system and stop defaulting to cross roads. I would propose that we roughly follow the naming scheme in this order of priority: 1. Famous landmarks (e.g USC Expo Park, Watts Tower, Civic Center) 2. Neighborhood names in common use (e.g Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Palms, North Hollywood, Century City) 3. Important cross roads with significant commercial activities/destination by itself without the rail station (e.g Hollywood Vine, Hollywood Highland, Wilshire La Brea) - note that names should be used without the slash " / ". 4. Single street names + descriptive nearby place of interest (7th St + Metro Center, Pico Blvd + Staples Center, Del Mar + Old Town Pasadena, 17th St + Midtown Santa Monica, Fairfax + LACMA, Westwood Blvd + Westside Pavilion) 5. Minor cross roads (Imperial/everything, Expo/everything) 6. Single street names without context (Mission, Fillmore, Indiana, Willow) 7. Single street names that could be misleading (Anaheim, Artesia, Sierra Madre Villa) I dunno, your system seems kinda rigid in itself No slashes, plus signs, a set of rules... I don't see what's wrong with the slashes. Your proposal would be expensive being that every station name sign with a slash would have to be replaced. NYC uses a dash to denote intersections or compound station names. I don't see any evil in the slash. "Hollywood Highland" might be confusing to the uninitiated ("There's a part of Hollywood in the highlands? That must mean the Hollywood Hills, right? I guess that's where I can visit the Hollywood Sign!"). I live 3 blocks from the Vermont/Santa Monica station, my personal gateway to the Metro system for the past 13 years. I don't have any issues with that name. That's where it is, after all. And as for "Metro Center" being a place of interest...There is no such thing as "Metro Center." It was named so by the old LA County Transportation Commission, who not only named it so because it was a centralish-junction for rail lines, but because, like its Washington DC counterpart, the headquarters of the transit agency is located right there. Of couse, years later after naming 7th Street/Metro Center, the LACTC merged with the RTD to become the MTA, now Metro, and the entire operation moved to its own skyscraper at Union Station, rendering the 7th street stop's status as a "Metro Center" obsolete. It does crack me up when operators say, "7th and Metro," as if we had a Metro Avenue somewhere in L.A.
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Post by transitfan on May 25, 2012 6:04:12 GMT -8
[quote author=elson board=expoline thread=924 post=28747 time=1337905333 It does crack me up when operators say, "7th and Metro," as if we had a Metro Avenue somewhere in L.A. [/quote] Yeah, that annoyed me too. There was one operator who would always announce the full name "7th Street Metro Center". IIRC, he was a bit eccentric, he would announce stations as "Slauson Ave" or "San Pedro St", even though officially the station didn't include the street designation.
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K 22
Full Member
Posts: 117
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Post by K 22 on May 25, 2012 9:43:07 GMT -8
I don't see what's wrong with the slashes. Your proposal would be expensive being that every station name sign with a slash would have to be replaced. NYC uses a dash to denote intersections or compound station names. I don't see any evil in the slash. "Hollywood Highland" might be confusing to the uninitiated ("There's a part of Hollywood in the highlands? That must mean the Hollywood Hills, right? I guess that's where I can visit the Hollywood Sign!"). I live 3 blocks from the Vermont/Santa Monica station, my personal gateway to the Metro system for the past 13 years. I don't have any issues with that name. That's where it is, after all. And as for "Metro Center" being a place of interest...There is no such thing as "Metro Center." It was named so by the old LA County Transportation Commission, who not only named it so because it was a centralish-junction for rail lines, but because, like its Washington DC counterpart, the headquarters of the transit agency is located right there. Of couse, years later after naming 7th Street/Metro Center, the LACTC merged with the RTD to become the MTA, now Metro, and the entire operation moved to its own skyscraper at Union Station, rendering the 7th street stop's status as a "Metro Center" obsolete. It does crack me up when operators say, "7th and Metro," as if we had a Metro Avenue somewhere in L.A. On the slashes - Chicago uses slashes also - especially in the Loop (Downtown): Adams/Wabash, Clark/Lake, State/Lake. And we have about a Metro Av in I think every borough except Manhattan here in NY.
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Post by spokker on May 26, 2012 20:43:45 GMT -8
Edit, wrong thread.
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Post by John Ryan on May 30, 2012 10:26:00 GMT -8
Photo update: Expo Phase 2 construction moves forward
With Expo Phase 1 up and running to La Cienega — and soon to Culver City — you can expect The Source to turn its attention a bit more to the second phase of the Expo Line construction. Beginning in late 2015 or 2016, the 6.6-mile extension will carry riders from Culver City to a short walk from the pier and beach at 4th and Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, I took a photo tour of the line last year before major construction had started to document what remained of the original tracks. Until the 1950s, electric trains had run daily between the beach and downtown Los Angeles, and until the 1980s diesel freight trains made runs to lumber yards in West L.A. So, what’s changed since we last checked in on Expo Phase 2? For starters, buildings that had operated on land leased from Metro — which has owned the right-of-way for two decades — were demolished and underground utilities have begun to be relocated. In the coming months, expect to see Expo contractor Skanska/Rados digging the foundations for the bridges that will carry trains over several streets, including Venice and Sepulveda boulevards. thesource.metro.net/2012/05/30/photo-update-expo-phase-2-construction-moves-forward/#more-42505
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 21, 2012 9:04:53 GMT -8
We had a house meeting for Light-Rail for Cheviot with Skanska/Rados and Expo the other night.
Phase 2 major construction is about to start. They will start removing the Motor Avenue bridge soon and start the construction of the new one in August. Most other bridges will begin construction in a few months.
They are moving with the construction of the bridges really fast in case NFSR wins the lawsuit. This way, if NFSR wins the lawsuit, most bridges will have been completed by then and the at-grade crossings can be grade-separated without delaying the project. Of course, this is only cautionary, the chances of NFSR winning the lawsuit or having an injunction are slim at best.
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Post by joshuanickel on Jun 21, 2012 11:46:17 GMT -8
We had a house meeting for Light-Rail for Cheviot with Skanska/Rados and Expo the other night. Phase 2 major construction is about to start. They will start removing the Motor Avenue bridge soon and start the construction of the new one in August. Most other bridges will begin construction in a few months. They are moving with the construction of the bridges really fast in case NFSR wins the lawsuit. This way, if NFSR wins the lawsuit, most bridges will have been completed by then and the at-grade crossings can be grade-separated without delaying the project. Of course, this is only cautionary, the chances of NFSR winning the lawsuit or having an injunction are slim at best. Motor Ave Bridge work will start at the end of the month: www.buildexpo.org/pdf_uploads/cons_5dvq4a0h01.pdfATTENTION RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS
In preparation for construction of Phase 2 of the Expo Light Rail Line, work crews will be conducting work activities for the demolition of the Motor Avenue Bridge in the City of Los Angeles. The work is being managed and performed by the Expo Phase 2 design-build contractor Skanska-Rados Joint Venture (SRJV), and its subcontractors.
What: Motor Avenue Bridge Demolition and Reconstruction Where: Motor Avenue between National Boulevard and Manning Avenue in the City of Los Angeles
Abatement Work Tuesday, June 26 - Thursday, June 28, 2012 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Concrete Breaking and Removal Saturday, July 7, 2012 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Structure Cutting and Removal Monday, July 9 - Thursday, July 12, 2012 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Bridge Reconstruction August 2012, duration 6 - 12 months 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Work Description: Bridge demolition activities will require the use of a hydraulic hammer, torches, and cranes to break, cut, and remove the concrete and metal structural material of the Motor Avenue Bridge. Paint abatement and waste removal is also a required function of the bridge demolition process and will be completed before beginning the actual bridge demolition. The noise generated by these activities will be comparable to a jackhammer but is not continuous.
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Post by bzcat on Jun 22, 2012 9:37:32 GMT -8
Finally, some sign of progress...
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Post by carter on Jun 26, 2012 21:20:45 GMT -8
It's that time again! Join us for a design update on Expo Phase 2! The Exposition Construction Authority invites you to a construction and design update community meeting for Phase 2 of the Expo Line project. Stakeholders will receive information on upcoming construction activities and design progress. Progress renderings will be available at the meeting.
The format will include a short presentation followed by an Open House session to facilitate dialogue and community input. The information presented at these meetings will be identical, so interested individuals, organizations and public agencies are welcome to attend on either of the following days: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 6:30 p.m. Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services Gymnasium 3200 Motor Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90034 Parking available on campus
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 6:30 p.m. Santa Monica Civic Auditorium East Wing Meeting Room 1855 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90401 Special Event free parking
Planned Agenda for Community Meetings 6:30 - 7:00 p.m.: Formal Presentation 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.: Open House Session
ADA Language Accommodation: If you require an interpreter, including sign language services, or other accommodations at these community meetings, please contact Expo at least five business days prior to the meeting date at 213-243-5534. P.s. I suggest everyone tweet @expoline and inquire why they provide free parking at these meetings but not a free bus pass.
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Post by joshuanickel on Jun 28, 2012 15:54:01 GMT -8
Construction will start in July for the Centinela Bridge: What: Centinela Avenue Bridge Construction Work Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday - City of Los Angeles 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday - City of Santa Monica Where: Construction will take place on the Expo Right-of-Way (Expo ROW). When: Work activities for this work are scheduled as follows:
Restriping Traffic Lanes Thursday, July 5, 2012 (Night Work) – 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
K-rail (Concrete Barrier Installation) Friday, July 6, 2012 (Day Work)
Abutment Excavation Monday, July 9 through Friday, July 13 (Day Work)
Bridge Construction (begins) Monday, July 16 ( Day Work—approximately 12 months) Work Description: Construction of the Centinela Bridge will be implemented in stages. Initial stages will include the realignment and restriping of traffic lanes on Centinela Avenue between Exposition Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard. Crews will place k-rail (concrete barriers) on both sides of Centinela Avenue at the Expo ROW crossing. Abutment excavation will take place directly behind the k-rail, to prepare the area for the actual bridge construction. All construction activities will be limited to areas behind the k-rail on the Expo ROW. Traffic Impacts: · Centinela Avenue will remain open to through traffic at all times during these construction activities. However, traffic lanes will be realigned for restriping for the k-rail installation. A lane in each direction will remain open at all times. · Electronic message boards, directional signage and/or flagmen will be used to safely direct vehicles and pedestrians around the construction zone. · Pedestrian access through the Expo ROW crossing will be maintained on the east side of Centinela Avenue via a designated walkway installed by the contractor. · Parking restrictions will be strictly enforced at all times and signage with specific restrictions will be in place in all construction areas. Advisories: · Local access to businesses and residences will be maintained throughout all construction activities. · Noise levels will be monitored to ensure work performed is within the necessary compliance levels. · Please obey all posted construction signs and do not enter the construction work zone. (Construction schedules are subject to change for various reasons including but not limited to: weather conditions, unforeseen emergencies and other acts of nature.)
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 29, 2012 14:24:40 GMT -8
Centinela bridge will be the first they will build.
They are currently stripping the lead paint off the steel superstructure of the Motor Ave bridge. Once they are done, they will cut the steel superstructure with torches and take it down. They will then widen the abutments. Once the abutments are widened, they will put falsework and make the forms. Then they will make the rebar cages inside the forms and pour concrete as you know it. After a month or two, the concrete fully dries and the forms and falsework are removed, without damaging the surfaces, as the concrete is fully dry.
They will also build most of the other bridges soon, as much as the overhead wires allow them. Venice Blvd bridge will have to wait for a while for that reason, until LADWP and other utilities remove the wires, perhaps in about a year.
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Post by metrocenter on Jun 29, 2012 14:41:00 GMT -8
Fantastic progress! It's great to see the new bridges about to be built. I *am* glad I don't have to drive in the Westside this summer (with both this and "The Rampture" being built).
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Post by bobdavis on Jun 30, 2012 23:04:06 GMT -8
Skanska is getting into practice for the Centinella and other bridges with the Iconic Freeway Structure for the Gold Line. They recently completed a 2200 cubic yard concrete pour and it's curing right now.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 5, 2012 14:31:40 GMT -8
Enjoy the Expo board-meeting audio. The new chair gave the public commenters only one minute of time and she rudely interrupted them at the end of the minute, not even letting them wrap up their comments. Ingeborg of Friends 4 Expo spoke enthusiastically in favor of the line, but when she was just starting to talk about the issue she came to talk about on, her one minute was over and she was cut off. It's really unacceptable how they treat the very few people who take hours of their time and pay their transportation to cast their opinions. It also turns out that the difference from the at-grade for the Sepulveda grade separation will be more than the originally estimated because they somehow forgot (!) to include the cost of the relocation of the overhead power and communication wires with the aerial option. They are currently coming up with a new estimate. I think they threw many things under the rug with the Sepulveda grade separation because of the push by some board members and the actual cost difference is a lot more. Casden project probably played an important role in the original decision to go aerial. Expo board meeting 2012/07/05
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Post by darrell on Jul 8, 2012 13:06:25 GMT -8
Here are three photos of the demolition of the Motor Avenue bridge, taken by Alan Weeks yesterday mid-day (thanks, Alan!). The first step was to remove the concrete deck; below you see the steel cross-members being cut off and loaded into a dumpster. And here's a 2007 photo looking west on the bridge for contrast. Added: Dwight Sturtevant posted some good photos today on his Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/expoline-part-2/, showing nothing left but the side plate girders and a handful of cross-members keeping them upright.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 8, 2012 14:05:19 GMT -8
Those cross beams appear to be attached with nuts and bolts. Don't these guys know how to use a wrench? They spent days in preparation to grind the lead paint away before they are allowed to cut them with torches. LOL
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 8, 2012 14:16:03 GMT -8
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Post by Elson on Jul 8, 2012 20:21:07 GMT -8
LOL, NIMBYs are forming street gangs now!
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jul 8, 2012 21:04:06 GMT -8
They must hate the Flower Street segment of the Expo Line. I feel like that sometimes.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 8, 2012 22:11:01 GMT -8
My best guess is that it was tagged by one of the " Motor Yard" graffiti artists, who are no longer able to continue their work because of Expo.
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Post by joemagruder on Jul 9, 2012 3:50:43 GMT -8
The bridge appears to be constructed with rivets, not nuts and bolts. (Removing nuts and bolts wth years of rust and paint wouldn't be an easy task.)
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 9, 2012 22:13:41 GMT -8
Well, the bridge is going to come down around midnight if it hasn't come down already. I live around the corner but not staying up for it. They will lift it with the crane, spin it around, put it on the street, cut it into six pieces, load the pieces onto six trucks, and scrap it at Long Beach. I am sure you will see tons of pics and videos from others tomorrow.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 11, 2012 11:55:36 GMT -8
At yesterday's Palms / Cheviot Hills meeting, Skanska/Rados claimed that Phase 2 will be completed in two years in 2014 and open in 2015.
The travel time is expected to be 46 minutes.
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Post by RMoses on Jul 11, 2012 12:23:12 GMT -8
At yesterday's Palms / Cheviot Hills meeting, Skanska/Rados claimed that Phase 2 will be completed in two years in 2014 and open in 2015. The travel time is expected to be 46 minutes. Including the California "Balanced Budget" 2015 is one of the most ridiculous claims of late and 46 minutes is the 2nd.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 11, 2012 12:43:18 GMT -8
At yesterday's Palms / Cheviot Hills meeting, Skanska/Rados claimed that Phase 2 will be completed in two years in 2014 and open in 2015. The travel time is expected to be 46 minutes. Including the California "Balanced Budget" 2015 is one of the most ridiculous claims of late and 46 minutes is the 2nd. Explain why so for both.
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Post by RMoses on Jul 11, 2012 14:00:52 GMT -8
Including the California "Balanced Budget" 2015 is one of the most ridiculous claims of late and 46 minutes is the 2nd. Explain why so for both. Primarily because Expo can't keep a timeline and it is always a creeping due date. www.buildexpo.org/pdf_uploads/desi_kft2b47u7d.pdfProject Completion in 2015, which in Expo talk means at least 2016, and in approx 20 rides from CC to 7th it has averaged over 38 min and has exceeded 45. Unless street running conditions are significantly improved for both ends 46 min will be a best case condition estimate at best. I will gladly take bets on a 2015 opening fully to 4th and Colorado, no shortcut to 17th and call it within scope. In addition, santamonica.patch.com/articles/expo-line-details-shared-at-community-meeting"Trains will be operational in 2016"
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 11, 2012 14:35:29 GMT -8
Let's not compare apples and oranges. Phase 2 is being built by a much more competitive contractor, who, unlike the Phase 1 contractor who had no previous experience in rail, has tremendous experience in rail construction.
They will finish all bridges by the end of next year and they should finish most of construction by the end of 2014. When they say 2015 opening, they mean late 2015; so, it will give them plenty of time to work out the train controls and testing. Sure, there are risky items, such as the Venice Blvd bridge, but a late-2015 opening is not unrealistic at this moment.
The section between USC and Culver City is always running faster than the schedule or on schedule. I am sure they will eventually work out the Flower St segment as well.
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Post by masonite on Jul 11, 2012 15:21:09 GMT -8
Let's not compare apples and oranges. Phase 2 is being built by a much more competitive contractor, who, unlike the Phase 1 contractor who had no previous experience in rail, has tremendous experience in rail construction. They will finish all bridges by the end of next year and they should finish most of construction by the end of 2014. When they say 2015 opening, they mean late 2015; so, it will give them plenty of time to work out the train controls and testing. Sure, there are risky items, such as the Venice Blvd bridge, but a late-2015 opening is not unrealistic at this moment. The section between USC and Culver City is always running faster than the schedule or on schedule. I am sure they will eventually work out the Flower St segment as well. That is good news. I am glad they are confident enough to still say 2015 is a possibility. Given the problems with the design and utility relocations, this is a bit of a surprise at least to me. I am really glad we are going to see some real construction on Phase II here now.
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Post by joshuanickel on Jul 11, 2012 15:40:17 GMT -8
At yesterday's Palms / Cheviot Hills meeting, Skanska/Rados claimed that Phase 2 will be completed in two years in 2014 and open in 2015. The travel time is expected to be 46 minutes. Here is the presentation from the meeting which includes a timeline of construction: www.buildexpo.org/pdf_uploads/comm_0bl6c4ed38.pdf
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Post by darrell on Jul 11, 2012 20:42:46 GMT -8
At yesterday's Palms / Cheviot Hills meeting, Skanska/Rados claimed that Phase 2 will be completed in two years in 2014 and open in 2015. The travel time is expected to be 46 minutes. Here is the presentation from the meeting which includes a timeline of construction: www.buildexpo.org/pdf_uploads/comm_0bl6c4ed38.pdfThanks for posting. Here is the timeline text from page 10 (the activity description for each line begins mid-year and extends into the following year): 2011 - Pre-Construction Activities 2012 - Bridge Construction, Utility Relocations, Guideway Excavation, and Soundwalls 2013 - Station Construction, Soundwalls, and Track Installation 2014 - Roadway Improvements, Station Construction, Electrical System and Train Control 2015 - Train Testing and Landscaping Installation This seems reasonable, if not slow, even given how long phase 1 activities took. If the bridges and track are finished in 2013, surely phase 2 can open in 2015!
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