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Post by darrell on Jun 20, 2014 15:31:04 GMT -8
Darn, a little better smartphone camera and camera work and slower video speed would have been appreciated! That's why he needs to leave stuff like this to who are good at it. It looks like direct-fixation track doesn't start until near the tunnel and westbound and eastbound tracks are different. Can't see much from the Edison-quality video though. I agree. Starting and stopping the video it appears that the eastbound track has yellow bars holding the track gauge before embedding in concrete, along the retaining wall and through the tunnel, while the westbound track is on ties even through the tunnel.
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Jun 20, 2014 20:31:31 GMT -8
Zev made a link available of the raw footage, without music or the titles blocking the bottom. You can stop at various places to see progress:
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Post by joshuanickel on Jun 20, 2014 22:00:12 GMT -8
Darn, a little better smartphone camera and camera work and slower video speed would have been appreciated! That's why he needs to leave stuff like this to who are good at it. It looks like direct-fixation track doesn't start until near the tunnel and westbound and eastbound tracks are different. Can't see much from the Edison-quality video though. I agree. Starting and stopping the video it appears that the eastbound track has yellow bars holding the track gauge before embedding in concrete, along the retaining wall and through the tunnel, while the westbound track is on ties even through the tunnel. Looks like the westbound track was put on ties temporally so that the hi-rail machines could continue to run while the eastbound track is installed. When the eastbound track is done, they will remove the ties and install the westbound track permanently while using the eastbound track to move vehicles.
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Post by darrell on Jun 20, 2014 23:08:35 GMT -8
I agree. Starting and stopping the video it appears that the eastbound track has yellow bars holding the track gauge before embedding in concrete, along the retaining wall and through the tunnel, while the westbound track is on ties even through the tunnel. Looks like the westbound track was put on ties temporally so that the hi-rail machines could continue to run while the eastbound track is installed. When the eastbound track is done, they will remove the ties and install the westbound track permanently while using the eastbound track to move vehicles. Or perhaps the westbound track doesn't need as precise of clearance? From the new video (thanks, Alexis!) there looks to be more space on the right, at least up to the portal.
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 23, 2014 8:26:38 GMT -8
The reason is that there is a retaining wall on that side and the direct fixation is required to prevent trains from colliding with the wall in case the tracks shift over time, which could happen with ballasted tracks.
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 23, 2014 8:28:05 GMT -8
New Venice Blvd median:
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 23, 2014 8:47:09 GMT -8
Last remaining pieces of the Venice Blvd Ramp (end walls) are finally under construction and should be done in a week or two: The area is otherwise ready for track installation: The jungle between Expo and freeway: The tracks are being installed on the bridge and Venice Blvd soil is being stored in the station:
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Post by joshuanickel on Jun 23, 2014 20:12:48 GMT -8
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 24, 2014 15:33:51 GMT -8
Old Venice Blvd median and new Venice Blvd median together: Really old Venice Blvd median (1929, Venice Boulevard and 5th Avenue): Dilapidated today as the rest of Venice Blvd, thanks to the loss of light-rail and poorly regulated commercial development: Trackwork progress on the Venice Blvd Bridge: Having the rails in place before the concrete slabs are cast ensures perfect alignment of the fastening hardware:
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 24, 2014 21:00:05 GMT -8
Palms Station as seen from Bagley Avenue. Note the derail. What appears to be supports for rail-crossing barriers at Bagley Avenue: Tracks are headed from Bagley Avenue to Culver City Station: Track ballast has reached the Venice Boulevard Bridge Ramp: Looking back to Palms Station: Looking toward the Culver City Station: Expo Line used to be called the Air Line but flying to Santa Monica is still faster: Interface between the Venice Boulevard Ramp and Bridge: Palms Station is 0.9-mile-away from the Culver City Station:
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jun 24, 2014 22:56:06 GMT -8
The auto expansion of Bagley-Exposition has made the intersection less safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.
The unfortunate auto benefit from the intended pedestrian enhancement with more rail transit. As a bike rider, it's definitely more intimidating crossing 4 lanes of traffic than it was with 2 lanes.
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Post by joemagruder on Jun 25, 2014 5:16:41 GMT -8
What is the reason for the S shape of the median in the Venice Boulevard ramp?
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 25, 2014 8:51:55 GMT -8
What is the reason for the S shape of the median in the Venice Boulevard ramp? Left-turn lanes.
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 25, 2014 8:57:42 GMT -8
The auto expansion of Bagley-Exposition has made the intersection less safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. The unfortunate auto benefit from the intended pedestrian enhancement with more rail transit. As a bike rider, it's definitely more intimidating crossing 4 lanes of traffic than it was with 2 lanes. No new car lanes are being added at Bagley Avenue and Exposition Boulevard. They will probably mark some left- and right-turn lanes though. Intersection will be considerably safer for pedestrians and bicycles because currently there are no signals -- just all-way stop signs -- and they will install traffic lights as part of light-rail. Turning this Class F (severe gridlock) intersection into a Class A or B intersection through the installation of traffic lights will also protect the pedestrians and bicycles from frustrated drivers.
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Post by joemagruder on Jun 25, 2014 9:26:56 GMT -8
Gokhan, I meant the light rail ramp to the Venice bridge, not the street, The divider between the two track beds is anything but straight.
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 25, 2014 9:34:52 GMT -8
Gokhan, I meant the light rail ramp to the Venice bridge, not the street, The divider between the two track beds is anything but straight. It's just a walkway with electrical conduits inside. Probably to avoid the OCS foundations along the way.
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 25, 2014 9:35:46 GMT -8
This morning I saw that the control point for the Bagley rail-crossing barriers has been brought to the location.
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Post by darrell on Jun 25, 2014 11:27:49 GMT -8
Gokhan, I meant the light rail ramp to the Venice bridge, not the street, The divider between the two track beds is anything but straight. It's just a walkway with electrical conduits inside. Probably to avoid the OCS foundations along the way. Dwight asked, "What is the reason for the S shape of the median in the Venice Boulevard ramp?" A Skanska person replied, "It's to give an architectural feel."
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Post by metrocenter on Jun 25, 2014 11:29:56 GMT -8
What is the reason for the S shape of the median in the Venice Boulevard ramp? Left-turn lanes. I was thinking, "Wow, a left turn lane for trains ascending the rail bridge, now that's vision!"
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Post by joshuanickel on Jun 25, 2014 15:50:07 GMT -8
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 25, 2014 21:50:13 GMT -8
Hundreds of gallons of hydraulic oil is filled and the Palms Station elevators are installed and working:
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Post by tramfan on Jun 26, 2014 12:53:50 GMT -8
After a week of unsuccessful efforts of posting photos of the Military crossing on this thread I gave up and asked if Dwight could post them on his Expoline fan Ipernity page. You can see my amateur photos there. If there's anybody who can give me a step by step instruction how to post images on this thread please contact me.
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Post by joshuanickel on Jun 27, 2014 15:14:49 GMT -8
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 28, 2014 1:48:22 GMT -8
Bagley Avenue:
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Post by benh57 on Jun 29, 2014 23:52:00 GMT -8
Really old Venice Blvd median (1929, Venice Boulevard and 5th Avenue): I love that station. That's all you really need. A bench. Were it not for lawyers and safety paranoia, today's expo stations might look similar.
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 30, 2014 9:18:34 GMT -8
They were hooking up the Clarington Avenue TPSS this morning. Once the OCS is in place in a couple of months, the line will be ready to run. It's too bad the line probably can't open for at least a year after it's completed, until Spring 2016, because of train shortage. Venice Blvd Bridge rail slabs are cast. Note that after the slabs are cast, rail has been detached from the fasteners. Its purpose to be there before the slabs were cast was to align the fasteners: Note the special fastener at the end of the old rail, which was just installed.
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Post by Philip on Jun 30, 2014 10:53:06 GMT -8
It's too bad the line probably can't open for at least a year after it's completed, until Spring 2016, because of train shortage. Huh? I thought we debunked the whole "lack of trains will delay Expo's opening" rumblings weeks ago.
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 30, 2014 10:57:28 GMT -8
It's too bad the line probably can't open for at least a year after it's completed, until Spring 2016, because of train shortage. Huh? I thought we debunked the whole "lack of trains will delay Expo's opening" rumblings weeks ago. I am now doubting that Metro will open the line before they can run 6-minute headways. Phase 2 ridership will be very high and I don't think they would risk a bad initial impression with very overcrowded trains.
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Post by Philip on Jun 30, 2014 11:13:11 GMT -8
Fair point, but consider - the Red Line has far higher ridership and gets by with 12-minute headways during the day and 10-minute during rush hour. Expo, even with Phase 2, will probably barely crack 55,000 riders/day. It will take time to build the ridership up to a point where the trains will be that packed.
Also, after the debacle of Phase 1's opening, I can't imagine Metro holding up an opening for an already-complete Phase 2. If anything, I'd be surprised if they didn't try to open sooner.
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Post by joshuanickel on Jun 30, 2014 11:39:05 GMT -8
Fair point, but consider - the Red Line has far higher ridership and gets by with 12-minute headways during the day and 10-minute during rush hour. Expo, even with Phase 2, will probably barely crack 55,000 riders/day. It will take time to build the ridership up to a point where the trains will be that packed. Also, after the debacle of Phase 1's opening, I can't imagine Metro holding up an opening for an already-complete Phase 2. If anything, I'd be surprised if they didn't try to open sooner. The red line vehicles also hold more people compared to the light rail vehicles. Also, the ridership estimates are 64,000 for 2030, though going by phase 1, it is possible to hit that figure much much earlier.
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